What is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)?
Simple snoring with just a disruptive snoring sound at night is caused by back-of-throat soft tissue vibration due to the partial closure and reduction in airflow through the upper airway during sleep.
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is caused by the intermittent collapsing of the airway tissues during sleep, resulting in complete (apnoea) or partial (hypopnoea) obstruction of the airways for 10 seconds or more. It seems the sufferer is going through phases of breathing interruption, followed by struggling to snort or gasp.
What are the adverse health-related quality of life effects caused by Obstructive Sleep apnoea (OSA)?
The snoring could produce a noise ranging from 50 to 100 decibels, equivalent to a pneumatic drill. Snoring can lead to mental health deterioration and exhaustion due to increased risk of stress, depression, daytime sleepiness, lack of concentration and serious relationship problems. Serious adverse health consequences have been reported for sufferers, and their bed partners may include increased risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, strokes, diabetes, etc.
Severe snoring could lead to a potentially life-threatening condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnoea if left untreated.
If you suffer from any of the above-mentioned side effects, we recommend visiting a medical professional for advice.
Severe snoring could lead to a potentially life-threatening condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnoea if left untreated.
If you suffer from any above-mentioned side effects, we recommend visiting a medical professional for advice.
What treatments for Snoring are available from your dentist?
You should visit your dentist for treatment of such a common condition if you are suffering from the signs and symptoms mentioned above.
Dentists play a pivotal role in practising dental sleep medicine by assessing and screening patients and managing these life-threatening sleep disorders. Dentists who are specialised or trained in dental sleep medicine will assess the risks of suffering from OSA before they can make an initial diagnosis and embark on any treatment for snoring.
Based on the clinical assessment and the findings from the questionnaire, you may be provided with an appliance called a Mandibular Advancement Splint (MAS), or in questionable circumstances, you may be initially referred for a sleep study or polysomnography (PSG). The sleep study will be conducted in a sleep clinic or at home to determine the presence and severity of the OSA.
Several options are available for the treatments of Snoring and OSA. Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS) are an effective device to treat OSA by forward positioning of the lower jaw and preventing the airway from spontaneous self-obstruction. MAS devices work by holding the lower jaw forward and preventing it from collapsing back during sleep and obstructing the airway.
The evidence from extensive clinical studies suggests that the Sleepwell appliance is the most popular and clinically efficient MAS appliance. Utilising a unique manufacturing process and design, Sleepwell appliance has been proven to be the most comfortable and efficient MAS.
We are certified clinicians at London Dental Specialists clinic who want to make a difference for our patients, raise awareness, and solve their snoring problems.
Please contact us for an assessment and consultation.
FAQ – What do patients usually ask about Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)?
Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) may be life-threatening to our general health if left untreated!
It is estimated that 1.5 million people in the UK are suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) – of these, 85% remain undiagnosed.
OSA affects over 40% of the UK adult population, unaware that effective treatments are available for snoring. Certain factors such as gender, sleeping position, increasing weight, age, alcohol, and smoking have been associated with an increased likelihood of snoring and OSA.