snoring and sleep obstructive apnoea - Sydney Dentist

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snoring and sleep obstructive apnoea

If you or your partner snore, you may have sleep apnoea.

Snoring is often more than just a noisy social nuisance.

Snoring may be an indicator of a serious underlying condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
(OSA).

Many snorers with OSA are unaware that they may have it. Try the Epworth Sleepiness Test to see if
you suffer from OSA.

Whatever your result, you should treat your snoring to improve your health and to improve the
sleep quality of those that you share your life with.

The SomnoMed MAS? has been proven to be effective in the treatment of snoring.

If you would like to know more about treatment for snoring and OSA then please contact our office
on 98949333.

A Brief Explanation About Snoring

Regular Breathing

When we breathe, air should pass through our nose and past the flexible structures at the back of
our throat, including the tongue, soft palate and uvula. While we are awake, muscles hold our
airway open. Normally when we fall asleep these muscles relax, but our airway remains open.

Snoring is simply the sound of obstructed breathing during sleep. While snoring can be harmless, it
can also be the sign of a more serious medical condition called obstructive sleep apnoea, or OSA
(see below)

Why Do We Snore?

Snoring occurs when the structures in our throats are large and our muscles relax enough to cause
our airway to narrow and partially block the flow of air. Air tries to pass through these blockages,
and our throat structures vibrate causing the sound we know as snoring. Large tonsils, a long soft
palate, an enlarged uvula and excess fat deposits contribute to our airway narrowing and causing
us to snore. When our throat muscles relax in sleep, they are less effective in holding our breathing
passages open. The soft sides of our airway tend to collapse, and the air has to move faster
through a smaller space. This creates vibrations of the soft tissues and generates the noise called
snoring. It has been shown that excess body weight, heavy alcohol consumption, sedatives and
sleeping on your back can increase the severity of snoring.

While not everyone who snores suffers from sleep apnoea, we suggest that if you have been
heard to gasp for breath or have sudden spells of drowsiness during the day, then you should
obtain a referral to a qualified specialist. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea is an extremely serious medical
condition and if left undiagnosed it may lead to a number of serious health problems or possibly
even death.

Level 1, 251, Old Northern Road, Castle Hill NSW 2154 T. 02 9894 9333 F. 02 9894 9766
www.dentalexcellence.com.au [email protected]

dental excellence

smile... change your life

snoring and sleep obstructive apnoea

Treatments for Snoring

Treatments for snoring vary greatly from simple measures and precautions to surgery. The success is
difficult to measure by sound recording or tests because the most important factor for snoring is the
partner affected by the snoring. Their satisfaction is the ultimate measure of success. Thus, if you can
decrease your snoring so that your bed partner can sleep well treatment is considered successful.

It is a primary concern of Dental Excellence that the patient does not have sleep apnoea. The
treatment for OSA may be different than that for snoring.

Lifestyle

In some instances the avoidance of alcohol and any sedating medications in conjunction with
regular good quality sleep may help to decrease the volume of snoring. Most snorers are loudest
while sleeping on their backs, therefore positioning strategies or an extra pillow can help control
snoring. However, except in the mildest cases, additional measures are usually needed.

If the main concern is a bed partner, strategies that allow the non-snorer to sleep first can often limit
the irritating effects of even the loudest snorer. In individuals that are overweight, significant weight
loss can dramatically reduce the level of snoring. Maintaining this weight loss over time can be
difficult for many individuals, but for those that are successful this can be a very effective strategy.
Any extreme dietary measures or long term use of dietary medications should be reviewed with
your doctor.

Surgery

There are a wide range of surgeries performed to help control snoring. Although they differ
significantly in the overall patient experience, most are relatively successful in controlling the sound
produced with snoring. The first surgical procedure used for snoring was the Uvulopalatopharyngo-
plasty or UPPP. Though designed for sleep apnoea, it was very effective in controlling the snoring
also found in these patients. This is an operating room procedure.

A variation of the UPPP that can be done in the medical office over several visits was developed
called the Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty or LAUP. However, the pain of this procedure and the
need for up to five treatments has limited this technique's popularity. Over the last few years, a
number of new methods of palatal treatment have been created, all of which are invasive.

Oral Devices

An oral device is a small appliance worn in the mouth similar to an orthodontic retainer or sports
mouthguard. Oral device therapy involves the use of a specially designed appliance that, when
worn during sleep, maintains an opened, unobstructed airway in the throat. These appliances
promote adequate air intake and help to provide normal sleep in people who snore and have the
medical condition known as obstructive sleep apnoea. There are two basic types of oral appli-
ances.

Level 1, 251, Old Northern Road, Castle Hill NSW 2154 T. 02 9894 9333 F. 02 9894 9766
www.dentalexcellence.com.au [email protected]

dental excellence

smile... change your life

snoring and sleep obstructive apnoea

Tongue Retaining Devices

Tongue retainers function by directly holding the tongue in a forward position by means of a
suction bulb. When the tongue is in a forward position, the back of the tongue does not collapse
during sleep and obstruct the airway in the throat.

Mandibular Advancement Splints

Mandibular repositioning appliances work by repositioning and maintaining the lower jaw
(mandible) in a protruded (forward) position during sleep. This opens the upper airway by
tightening the tissues at the back of the throat. Since the tongue is attached to the lower jaw,
repositioning the lower jaw in a more forward position also holds the tongue in a more forward
position away from the throat thus eliminating snoring sounds.

Advantages of Mandibular Advancement Splints

MAS treatment is not painful and invasive like surgery. In addition it is completely reversible. If
complications arise, then the patient simply stops wearing the device. They are comfortable and
easy to wear. Most people find that it only takes a couple of weeks to become acclimatized to
wearing the appliances. Finally, mandibular advancement splints are small and convenient making
them easy to carry when traveling.

The SomnoMed MAS TM

The SomnoMed MASTM design incorporates a number of key features which represent advances on
existing MAS oral appliances, including:

The SomnoMed MAS TM is an oral appliance in the class of Mandibular Advancement Splints ("MAS")
that treats both snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea by advancing the lower jaw forward. It is a
custom made device consisting of upper and lower dental plates with a unique patented fin-
coupling mechanism. If required, a component can be added to make the device adjustable,
thereby providing incremental jaw advancement to the necessary degree depending on the
distance required to alleviate snoring and reduce OSA.

The SomnoMed MASTM design incorporates a number of key features which represent advances on
existing MAS oral appliances, including:

Permits full range of mouth opening and closing;
Minimises disruption to normal oral functions like speech, drinking and yawning;
Provides contact at both the anterior(front) and posterior(rear), meaning a more stable
occlusion (bite);
Minimises impingement on the oral airway and the tongue space; and enables the wearer
to open the mouth, yet have the jaw remain forward at all times.

Level 1, 251, Old Northern Road, Castle Hill NSW 2154 T. 02 9894 9333 F. 02 9894 9766
www.dentalexcellence.com.au [email protected]