Do you snore? Or is your partner keeping you awake at night? Are you yawning again? Are you always hitting the snooze button?
Snoring and excessive daily restlessness may be an indication of a more serious disorder called obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). OSA is a serious sleep disorder that can occur when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. It’s estimated about 5% of Australians suffer from OSAm it is 3 times more common in men than women in the over 30 age group.
If you have OSA while you are sleeping and breathing your throat muscles will collapse and become narrow. When air is travelling through the narrowed airway it causes vibrations in the back of the throat producing sounds commonly known as snoring. Sometimes the throat collapses so much that no air gets into the lungs, breathing usually resumes with a loud gasp or body jerk.
OSA can lead to many medical problems like increased blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms and increased risk of heart attack and stroke. In addition, OSA can also impact the health of your teeth and gums. Signs that may be an indication of OSA may include TMJ pain, bruxism, tooth sensitivity due to worn teeth and dry mouth because of tendency to mouth breath leading to increased risk of tooth decay. Hence a routine dental examination can help detect signs of symptoms of OSA and prevent irreversible dental problems.
Treatment of OSA may involve some lifestyle changes such as losing weight, ceasing smoking and or reducing alcohol intake. Another common treatment method is the use of a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine which delivers pressure air into the airway to prevent the throat from collapsing.
However dentists can also play a role in treating OSA with the use of a mandibular advancement splint (MAS). These specially made oral appliances are designed to pull the lower jaw forward thus also bringing the tongue forwards thereby creating more room in the throat allowing more efficient breathing and reducing airway obstruction.
Dr Jamie Chua completed a Graduate Diploma in Dental Sleep Medicine and is qualified to assess whether MSA is the correct treatment modality for your snoring and sleep apnoea. Please contact us for further information.