Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Treatment Sydney CBD

Do you have a problem with snoring, or sometimes wake up choking or gasping in the night? You could have Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA).

Sleep apnoea can put your health at risk in a number of ways, so it's important to see a health professional if you think you might be affected. Our dentists in Sydney CBD can recommend treatments tailored to your situation, or we may refer you to a specialist.

If you think you or someone in your home might have sleep apnoea or another sleep problem, talk to our Sydney dentists today about anti-snoring devices and other treatments. Call us on (02) 9232 3900 or book an appointment online.

What is obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)?

Obstructive sleep apnoea is a common sleeping disorder that can occur when the airways are frequently blocked during sleep.

This usually happens for between 10 seconds and 1 minute at a time, and can occur up to hundreds of times per night in severe cases. OSA can cause people to wake up suddenly and struggle for breath, disturbing their restful sleep and causing them to feel tired during the day.

OSA can affect men, women or children of all ages. It's more likely to happen if you are overweight or have a narrow throat or large tonsils, as this increases the chance of the airway getting blocked. Drinking alcohol regularly can also increase the risk of OSA.

What are the symptoms of sleep apnoea?

Loud snoring is the most common sign of obstructive sleep apnoea, although it isn't always related. Knowing the warning signs of sleep apnoea can help you decide whether you need to talk to a health professional.

Night time symptoms can include:

loud and persistent snoring
waking up choking or gasping for air
heartburn during the night
bed wetting (usually affecting children)

Daytime symptoms can include:

waking up with a headache
waking up with a dry mouth
tiredness or fatigue during the day
forgetfulness or lack of concentration
mood disorders such as anxiety or depression
reduced libido

If you recognise some or most of these symptoms, we recommend making an appointment to see a dentist today. Call Sydney CBD Dental on (02) 9232 3900.

What health risks are associated with sleep apnoea?

Getting a good night's sleep is vital for helping your body and mind to feel rested and refreshed. Obstructive sleep apnoea can deprive people of sleep and make it more difficult to enter a state of deep sleep.

Sleep apnoea has been linked to a number of serious health problems and can sometimes be life threatening. Studies have shown that OSA can increase the risk factor for:

heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems
high blood pressure
stroke
diabetes
cognitive impairment
cancer
sudden death

Tiredness and lack of concentration can also put OSA sufferers at higher risk of motor vehicle accidents and workplace accidents.

If you think you might be affected by obstructive sleep apnoea, it's important that you seek treatment as soon as possible, as delaying treatment can increase these health risks.

How is sleep apnoea diagnosed?

Loud snoring is not always a sign of sleep apnoea, but it's still recommended that you consult a health professional to get a reliable diagnosis and discuss suitable treatment options. You can talk to your doctor, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist or your dentist.

At Sydney CBD Dental, our dentists work with sleep physicians to help with the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea and other sleep disorders. If we think you might have sleep apnoea, we may refer you to a sleep specialist to complete a sleep study (also called polysomnography). This study may be conducted in a sleep clinic or your own home.

A sleep study gives a sleep physician the chance to monitor your breathing and physical and mental activity while you sleep. By observing your OSA symptoms as they happen, we can better understand what you are experiencing and prepare a personalised sleep apnoea treatment plan.

Obstructive sleep apnoea treatment

Treatment for sleep apnoea depends on the individual case. At Sydney CBD Dental, we will recommend treatments based on the specific symptoms you're dealing with and how severe they are. This may involve:

Lifestyle changes

Sometimes, making adjustments to your sleeping habits or lifestyle can help to treat or manage OSA symptoms. Depending on your situation, this could include:

changing your sleeping position
following a regular sleeping routine
losing weight
avoiding alcohol, tobacco and sleeping pills

Anti-snoring devices

Our Sydney dentists are trained in the use of Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) and can provide custom-made devices to help keep your airways open during sleep.

A Mandibular Advancement Splint or Device (MAS/MAD) can be worn at night and moves the jaws forward to prevent the tongue from entering the throat during sleep.

As well as helping to alleviate symptoms such as loud snoring and choking, a sleep apnoea mouthpiece could help you to overcome your condition over time.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

For more severe OSA cases, CPAP therapy may be recommended. This involves wearing a breathing mask at night, attached to a machine that administers a continuous supply of air into the lungs. This holds the airway open to allow for normal breathing.

CPAP therapy is not preferred by some patients however, who may find wearing the mask uncomfortable or may be disturbed by the noise produced by the CPAP machine.

Surgery

In the most severe OSA cases when conventional treatments are not likely to be successful, outpatient surgery may be the only option to remove the obstruction. This may involve removing excess tissue from the throat or nasal cavity or repositioning the jaw to make breathing easier.