Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Treatment in Clifton Hill, VIC

Loud snoring is annoying and sometimes makes it necessary for partners to sleep in separate rooms in order to get rest, which can have a negative impact on intimacy. Snoring can also indicate the presence of sleep-disordered breathing – a condition called obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).

Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnoea

In addition to loud snoring, the following signs can indicate the presence of sleep apnoea.

• Choking or gasping whilst sleeping
• Daytime fatigue
• Weight gain or obesity
• Moodiness and depression
• A sore throat
• Teeth grinding 
• Frequent nighttime urination
• Headaches upon waking

If your partner has complained of snoring or if you find you have some of the symptoms listed above, it might be time for a sleep evaluation.

Who Is at Risk for OSA?

While it is more common for men over 40 to receive a diagnosis of OSA, it can impact people of any age or gender, including children. Some risk factors increase the likelihood that sleep apnoea will develop.

• Excess weight
• Thick neck circumference
• Tobacco and alcohol use
• Teeth grinding and jaw disorders
• Certain medications

Diagnosing OSA

Whatever your age or health concerns, a diagnosis of sleep apnoea that leads to treatment can improve your health and even save your life. Untreated OSA can lead to a number of serious medical conditions.

• Cardiac arrest
• Hypertension
• Stroke 
• Obesity
• Complications with diabetes
• Anxiety and depression
• Difficulty concentrating
• Vehicular accidents
• Jaw dysfunction and teeth grinding
• Gastric reflux

Diagnosis requires a sleep analysis either with an at-home device or overnight at an accredited sleep clinic. Once the report is evaluated by a sleep practitioner, they will make a recommendation for treatment.

Treatment of Sleep Apnoea

In most cases, the first line of treatment for sleep apnoea included CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) therapy delivered via an oxygen machine and facemask during sleep. While the effectiveness of CPAP therapy is not up for debate, compliance with the machine is difficult for some people to adjust to and leads to patients removing the device during sleep or failing to use it altogether.

At Clifton Hill Dental, we offer treatment for OSA that provides patients with a convenient alternative to CPAP therapy. Continuous open airway therapy (COAT) involves a custom oral appliance designed by your dentist and made by SomnoDent that gently repositions the jaw and throat tissues to open the airway during sleep.

Most patients, especially those who travel frequently, find that COAT therapy is far easier to acclimate to and that it allows for free movement during sleep.

You’re Invited to Contact Clifton Hill Dental

If you have been looking for a more discreet and convenient alternative for your sleep apnoea, give our dental clinic a call to arrange a consultation with one of our dentists. We have been providing patients with effective sleep apnoea treatment since 2016.