Obstructive Sleep Apnoea is a highly prevalent sleep disorder with significant comorbidities associated with it. During sleep, the walls of the upper airway collapse and disrupt normal breathing pattern. This can lead to brain microarousals and lack of oxygenation in the body systems. Not all snorers have OSA, but mostly all apnoeics are snorers. If your snoring highlights any of the following symptoms, it may be an indication that you should seek further evaluation from a professional.

OSA can have a profound effect on one’s quality of life; interrupted sleep on an ongoing basis, can lead to increased fatigue on waking and throughout the day. this increases the risk of developing other medical conditions through an inflammatory process.

If you are experiencing symptoms of sleep apnoea, it’s important to seek professional evaluation. Please fill out our consultation form on our website to schedule an appointment with our specialist who can provide a comprehensive assessment and discuss suitable treatment options.

Sleep apnoea is primarily caused by a physical blockage of the airway, often when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep. Factors that can contribute to the risk of this blockage include:

• Excess weight, which can put pressure on the airway.
• Anatomical differences such as a narrow throat, enlarged tonsils, or adenoids.
• Use of alcohol or sedatives, which relax the muscles in the throat.
• Smoking, which can increase inflammation and fluid retention in the throat.
• Age, as sleep apnea is more common in older adults.
• Family history and genetics, indicating a possible inherited risk.

Preventing sleep apnoea involves adopting several lifestyle changes:

• Maintain a healthy weight, as obesity can increase the risk.
• Reduce alcohol consumption, especially before bedtime.
• Quit smoking, as it can increase inflammation and fluid retention in the airway.
• Treat nasal congestion or allergies that might block airways.
• Adopt a sleep position that helps maintain open airways, such as sleeping on your side.
• Ensure regular physical activity to improve overall health and reduce risk factors.

Implementing these strategies can help lower the risk of developing sleep apnoea or alleviate the symptoms if you already have the condition.

Dentists are pivotal in identifying those patients at risk of Sleep Disordered Breathing which include, Snoring, Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome and OSA.

This is an upper airway disease and dentists and their hygienists are well placed to be able to note signs and symptoms pertaining to underlying sleep disorder from their own patient base.

Patients often ask a dentist to help with snoring but these patients may be suffering with more than snoring and a dentist can screen and assess and either refer on to a sleep specialist or treat if deemed appropriate.

A dentist can also carry out a Home Sleep Apnoea Test (HSAT) to screen for an underlying problem and manage the patient appropriately depending on the reported results of the sleep test.

A trained dentist is duly qualified to provide a Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) for snoring, sleep apnoea and in some cases, Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS).