Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Treatment at Chatswood Dental Associates

Name: Chatswood Dental Associates
Address: Suite 19, 809 Pacific Highway, Chatswood, NSW, 2067, AU
Telephone: (02) 9412 4488
Price range: $$

Woman covering her ears with a pillow while man snores Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a type of sleeping disorder that affects almost a million Australians. It’s characterised by pauses in breathing that can cause brief awakenings throughout the night.

Although a person with OSA may not remember these multiple awakenings, interrupted sleep can affect health and wellbeing. OSA has been associated with conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and stroke, as well as an increased risk of work- and driving-related accidents.

What Causes OSA?

While you sleep, all of your muscles relax, including those that control your tongue and throat. The soft tissue at the back of your mouth may sag, narrowing and constricting the airway.

This condition often presents as snoring, which can certainly be an annoyance, but not everyone who snores has OSA. If, however, the snoring is accompanied by gasping and choking sounds, it’s important to speak with your doctor about whether OSA could be involved.

Sometimes, the only outward sign of OSA is a constant feeling of exhaustion or fatigue throughout the day, even if you appear to have had plenty of sleep.

Risk factors for OSA include obesity, a large neck circumference, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, nasal congestion, and a family history of the condition. Untreated OSA may affect overall health and quality of life.

Diagnosing OSA

If you snore or are excessively tired throughout the day, or your partner reports pauses in your breathing while you sleep, ask for a referral to a sleep physician. This specialist can conduct the necessary tests to determine whether OSA is present as well as its severity.

Treating OSA With CPAP and SomnoMed®

CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy is commonly used to manage OSA and is generally considered the gold-standard treatment for moderate to severe OSA.

For some people with mild to moderate OSA, an oral appliance such as a SomnoMed device may be an option. These custom-made appliances are designed to gently reposition the lower jaw to help maintain the airway during sleep.

Here’s why we chose to offer SomnoMed at our practice:

Comfort and fit: Custom-made to fit your teeth and designed with comfort in mind.
Functionality: Designed to allow natural mouth movement so you can talk, drink, and open or close your mouth.
Customisation: The positioning can be adjusted according to your individual needs.

Oral appliances also help reduce snoring that isn’t associated with OSA. If you snore regularly, however, it’s important to speak with your doctor to rule out sleep apnoea before deciding on an appropriate approach.

SomnoDent Avant® for Back Sleepers

For people who tend to sleep on their back, SomnoDent Avant may be an oral appliance option to consider. Like other SomnoDent® appliances, it is custom-made for your teeth and jaw and designed to position the lower jaw forward while you sleep.

SomnoDent Avant has upper and lower splints that are digitally designed to the shape of your teeth and manufactured from a single piece of dental acrylic. A soft b-flex Comfort Liner® cushions the teeth and helps the appliance remain securely in place overnight.

Its design also gently encourages the mouth to remain closed, which may promote nasal breathing and help reduce dry mouth. This feature may be particularly useful for some people who sleep on their back.

Your dentist can assess whether SomnoDent Avant is appropriate for your teeth, jaw, sleeping habits and individual needs. If sleep apnoea is suspected, medical diagnosis and assessment are also important in determining the appropriate treatment approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a dental appliance help with snoring?

For some adults, an oral appliance helps reduce snoring by positioning the lower jaw forward to help maintain the airway during sleep. Because snoring can sometimes be associated with obstructive sleep apnoea, it’s important to investigate possible OSA rather than assuming snoring is harmless.

What is SomnoDent Avant?

SomnoDent Avant is a custom-made oral appliance designed to position the lower jaw forward during sleep. Its upper and lower splints are made specifically for your teeth and include a soft b-flex Comfort Liner designed to cushion the teeth and help keep the appliance in place.

Is SomnoDent Avant suitable for back sleepers?

It was designed for people who tend to sleep on their back. The appliance is designed to gently encourage the mouth to remain closed, which may promote nasal breathing and help reduce dry mouth. Your dentist can determine whether its design is appropriate for your individual needs.

Can an oral appliance replace CPAP?

That depends on the type and severity of sleep apnoea and your individual circumstances. CPAP is commonly recommended for moderate to severe OSA, while oral appliances may be considered for some people with mild to moderate OSA or in other circumstances following appropriate medical assessment where CPAP is not tolerated. Your sleep physician and dentist can help determine which approach is suitable for you.

Should I get checked for sleep apnoea before getting an appliance?

If sleep apnoea is suspected, it should be appropriately investigated and diagnosed before treatment is determined. A sleep physician can assess and diagnose OSA, while your dentist can assess your dental suitability for an oral appliance and manage its fitting and ongoing dental care.

You Deserve a Restful Night’s Sleep

Our dentists are here to help you understand the dental appliance options that may be available for snoring and sleep apnoea. Contact us today to find out whether a dental sleep appliance at Chatswood Dental Associates, such as SomnoDent, may be appropriate for your individual needs.

* Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

divider