Best Treatments for Sleep Apnoea in Wantirna South

Sleep is something so crucial for our health and well-being. It’s not just about hitting the bed and getting 7 or 8 hours of sleep. It’s a form of rejuvenating your body and mind for a healthier and happier version of yourself. 

However, if you’re getting those 7 or 8 hours of sleep just to wake up in the morning feeling exhausted, you could be dealing with a sleep disorder. 

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is the most common sleep disorder many suffer from. Not only can it disrupt your sleep cycle, but it can also impact everything from work to your relationships and cause mood swings, memory lapses and poor health. 

At Studfield Dental Group in Wantirna, we’ve got your back with sleep apnoea treatments that will help you enjoy a good night’s sleep and energised mornings. 

What is Sleep Apnoea? 

Sleep apnoea isn’t just a case of occasional snoring. It’s a serious medical condition affecting many Australians that can cause you to repeatedly stop breathing for a few seconds or longer. 

While there are two types of sleep apnoea: Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) and Central Sleep Apnoea (CSA), the former is the most common type, while the latter is rarer. 

With OSA, what happens is that the muscles in the back of your throat go into a relaxed state while you sleep. While it may sound harmless, this is far from reality. When this happens, it causes your airways to narrow as you breathe in, resulting in partial or complete blocking of the airway.

You may also stop breathing for about 10 seconds or longer, with these interruptions happening multiple times overnight. In severe cases, you may experience more than 30 interruptions while sleeping. 

CSA (the rarer form) occurs when the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe due to disruptions to the mechanisms that control the rate and depth of breathing. As a result, your breathing may stop during sleep and there may be a pause before you resume breathing again. 

What Causes Sleep Apnoea? 

• Age: As you age, your throat muscles tend to relax more during sleep. 
• Obesity: Weight gain can cause sleep apnoea because additional fat stored around the neck can narrow your throat.  
• Genetics: Having family members with this condition can increase your risk of developing it. 
• Alcohol, sedatives or tranquillisers: These substances can make your throat muscles relax more during sleep, resulting in sleep apnoea and snoring. 
• Medical conditions: Illnesses such as reduced thyroid production or large goitres can disrupt sleep. 

When is it Time to Visit the Dentist/Sleep Specialist? 

When it comes to issues such as a leaky pipe or when your car breaks down on the highway, seeking help is a no-brainer. However, it might be harder to decide what to do or when you should get help when it comes to sleep apnoea. 

So, if you’re wondering when to seek treatment, here are some signs you should watch out for:

• Loud and chronic snoring 
• Gasping or choking sound during sleep 
• Pauses in breathing when asleep (often noticed by another person in the same room)
• Excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue 
• Headaches in the morning 
• Difficulty concentrating and forgetfulness 
• Depression, anxiety, irritability and mood swings 
• Dry mouth upon waking
• Waking up frequently during the night

Remember, sleep apnoea might seem like a minor inconvenience, but left untreated, it can deliver a heavy blow to your career and relationships and even put lives in jeopardy when you’re behind the wheel. That’s why it’s important to seek help. 

When you visit us with the suspicion of a sleep disorder, we will set the treatment in motion by referring you to a sleep study (one of the best ways to diagnose sleep apnoea). 

This sleep study that you can undertake at home or at a specialised sleep clinic will monitor everything from brain signals, limb movements, sleep positions, oxygen levels in your blood, heart rate and snoring to diagnose OSA and its underlying cause and severity.

Once we’ve identified the cause and the severity of your condition, we will come up with a personalised treatment plan just for you! 

Sleep Apnoea Treatments in Wantirna South 

When you think of sleep apnoea treatment, a CPAP machine with a mask and a hose may be the first thing you think of. While it may appear uncomfortable, the good news is that while CPAP therapy is the most popular treatment option, it’s not the only one. 

CPAP Therapy 

This effective treatment option involves wearing a mask connected to your nose and/or mouth, which delivers a constant stream of pressurised air to your throat to keep the airway open using a small pump to blow air into the mask through the tubing. 

While highly effective for moderate to severe cases of OSA, some may find this trusty device inconvenient and uncomfortable to wear at night.

Oral Appliances 

Oral appliances (also known as dental appliances) are a more non-invasive approach to sleep apnoea treatment. Used to address mild to moderate cases, they include devices such as Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS) and Tongue Stabilising Devices. 

The MAD works by pushing your lower jaw forward to open the airway and prevent any obstructions or snoring, while the tongue stabilising device keeps the tongue from sliding down the throat to keep the airway open. 

Lifestyle Changes 

Treating the root cause is the best way to tackle sleep apnoea head-on. So, if certain lifestyle habits, such as smoking, are causing this condition, making relevant changes to your lifestyle would be a good place to start. Here are some things you can do: 

• Weight loss: Since being overweight can increase your risk of sleep apnoea, losing weight may help reduce the severity of the condition. 
• Get your body moving: Exercise not only improves overall health but can also tone up those muscles in your throat, keeping your airways open. 
• Limiting alcohol consumption: Since alcohol can relax the muscles in your throat and interfere with breathing, the best thing to do is quit alcohol consumption. But if you find it hard, you can cut it down or make sure to drink at least 4-5 hours before sleep. 
• Change your sleeping position: Swap out sleeping on your back for sleeping on your stomach or your side. Why? Because sleeping on your back encourages your jaw, tongue and soft palate to drop back towards the throat, narrowing your airway. 

Surgery 

Considered a last resort, surgery may involve removing excess tissue from the throat, adjusting the position of the upper and lower part of the jaw or implanting a device that stimulates the nerve controlling the tongue.  

Chronic fatigue from sleep apnoea can stop you from living the life you deserve. If you notice any signs of sleep apnoea, don’t brush it off as just another stress-related issue. 

Whether it’s chronic and loud snoring or drowsiness during the day, having it checked out won’t do any harm. With years of experience treating patients with sleep apnoea, our team can help you reclaim your sleep, health and life. 

Contact us at SDG Dental for sleep apnoea treatments tailored just for you.