Sleep problems and snoring can have serious ramifications. The team at Robert Duhig Dental is specifically trained to assess and treat patients with sleep disorders, including sleep apnoea.

Sleep Apnoea

About 20% of the adult population snores. While snoring can be annoying for partners, it isn’t a medical concern in itself. In some cases, though, snoring can be a warning sign of a serious condition, called Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.

People with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea find their airway collapses during sleep which stops them breathing for between 10 seconds to one minute. This broken sleep pattern causes sufferers to wake up feeling very tired.

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and other sleep breathing disorders can be linked to more serious health concerns, including high blood pressurem, stroke and heart attack.

These disorders can also cause excessive daytime sleepiness which can markedly increase the risk of:

• motor vehicle accidents
• home- and work-related injuries
• poor school performance in children

Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea include:

• gasping or choking at times during sleep which can lead to a dry, irritated throat
• excessive tiredness during the day
• falling asleep easily during the day
• a reduction in concentration and memory
• loss of function at work
• increased irritability which can contribute to anxiety and depression

Treatment methods

Success rates for Oral Appliances are 90% for snoring problems, and 70% for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.

The three main treatment methods are:

• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), CPAP is very effective at treating sleep apnoea, but some people find this device difficult to sleep with as a long-term solution.
• Surgery, This can be very effective where suitable.
• Oral Appliances, This is a simple and effective way to treat sleep apnoea. The appliance positions the lower jaw forward which helps prevent the airway collapsing during sleep. This method is best suited to people with good dental health and no pre-existing jaw joint problems.

What to do if you snore

If you are aware that you snore, or if you suspect you suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, then correct diagnosis is very important.

Step 1 – You will firstly need to see an ENT Surgeon to ensure that there is no wider pathology affecting your case.

Step 2 – You will then need a consultation with a Sleep Physician who will identify the nature of the sleep-related breathing disorder and organise a polysomnogram (PSG). This will involve the overnight monitoring of your sleep patterns to diagnose the problem, its severity and what course of treatment is best for you.

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