Do you or your partner snore?

This can put a lot of pressure on relationships often causing partners to sleep in a separate room to avoid having to listen to the industrial air conditioning unit all night!

Snoring can also be a sign of a more serious condition, so it should not be ignored…

It can be a symptom of an underlying Obstructive Sleep Apnea(OSA).This is when there is a partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway many times a night which can lead to disruption of sleep quality and a desaturation of oxygen in the blood. This can have the effect over time, of making you more vulnerable to cardiovascular complications ie high blood pressure and possible stroke or heart attack!

It can also cause reduced quality of life as you are always feeling tired. You may have thought it was just due to your busy life. Wouldn't it be nice to wake up feeling refreshed in the morning bounding with energy to tackle the day?

In the past, treatment options were limited. The standard treatment used to be a CPAP machine. This stands for Continous Positive Airway pressure and involves a mask hooked up to a machine.*

Another option was painful surgery to the soft palate which had varying results. However, now we have a simple device available to treat snoring and mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It is called a Mandibular Advancement Splint and is basically a double mouthguard which holds the lower jaw and tongue forward during sleep which has the effect of enlarging the upper airway space and minimizing the potential for collapse of the soft tissues in this area.

At Avalon Beach Family Dental, we will conduct a thorough snoring assessment. If sleep apnea is suspected we can refer you to the right channels for a sleep study. This is very important diagnostic test which can help us ascertain the degree of sleep apnea present and whether the treatment we offer is appropriate for you. If referred through the right channels there is minimal out of pocket expenses associated with this procedure.

If you are diagnosed with simple snoring or mild OSA a Mandibular advancement splint can easily be made for you . Patients in the past who have received one of these splints have been surprised of the difference it has made to their life...and marriage!

Come and have a chat today and let's get the ball rolling…

*With patients diagnosed with moderate to severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea , this is still the recommended treatment . Modern CPAP machines, however, are much less obtrusive than they once were and there are many different types available for hire. So, if you fall into this category, don’t worry! It is pretty simple to get used to! Also remember, the benefits far out weigh any disadvantages.