Sleep Apnoea

Do you or your partner snore? Have you been more forgetful lately? These are just a few of the signs that you might be suffering from sleep apnoea.

Sleep apnoea or obstructive sleep apnoea results from the collapse of the tongue and soft palate onto the back of the throat. This can obstruct the upper airway and cause airflow to be restricted or completely stop. The process may then repeat itself throughout the night and as it occurs while people are asleep they are often unaware of their suffering.

Some common signs and symptoms may include snoring, daytime sleepiness, poor memory, worn teeth from grinding, depression or even gasping for air.

Such undiagnosed sleeping patterns can result in health concerns and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, depression, poor motor skills and memory impairment.

At Perfect Smile we work in conjunction with your GP and a sleep physician to ensure a correct diagnosis. Treatments available are prescribed depending on the results of an individual sleep study. Severe cases may require a CPAP machine while a mild to moderate apnoea patient may be treated with a dental device such as a mandibular advancement splint. This device which is worn while you sleep advances the lower jaw, tongue and soft tissues to prevent airway collapse and reduces both snoring and apnoeic events.

At Perfect Smile our accredited team are trained to fit a range of devices including the Somnomed and Oventus products. Please book a consultation for an assessment today.