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- 1 Dental Appliances for Sleep Apnoea
Dental Appliances for Sleep Apnoea
Sleep apnoea is a condition many individuals face, especially those who snore. It can make you feel tired and sleepy even after a full night’s sleep.
Nobody wants that! That’s where our night splints and sleep apnoea appliances come in. These custom-made dental appliances will save you from disturbed sleep, allowing you to drift away into a peaceful slumber. You can wake up every morning feeling well-rested and ready to take on the day with night splints and sleep apnoea appliances from With U Dental.
What is Sleep Apnoea?
Also known as Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA), sleep apnoea is a condition where you stop breathing for about 10 to 90 seconds before your breathing restarts. This happens when the walls of your throat collapse and become narrow as you breathe, partially or entirely blocking the airflow.
When you have sleep apnoea, these breathing pauses can happen multiple times while asleep. While you may not be aware of these episodes most of the time, they can leave you tired in the morning, affecting your quality of life as you’ll be sleepy and tired during the day. Moreover, it can also result in poor memory, lack of concentration, headaches, moodiness and an increased risk of health problems such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
Common signs of sleep apnoea include loud snoring, choking or gasping for air during sleep, and excessive daytime sleepiness. This is where treating sleep apnoea becomes important, and one of the most common treatment forms for sleep apnoea includes using oral appliances while sleeping.
What is Oral Appliance Therapy for Sleep Apnoea?
With night splints and sleep apnoea appliances, you don’t have to suffer from restless, disturbed sleep. These oral appliances are perfect for patients with snoring and moderate obstructive sleep apnoea. They are also a more convenient and comfortable alternative to traditional sleep apnoea treatments, such as CPAP machines, which deliver continuous airflow into the airway through a mask attached to a machine that patients wear. CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is more commonly used to treat severe forms of sleep apnoea.
How to Diagnose Sleep Apnoea
If you think you have sleep apnoea, the best way to diagnose it is through a sleep study. Sleep studies are medical tests that are used to diagnose sleep disorders. These sleep studies help to diagnose the cause of sleep apnoea and to determine its severity. As the results provide a comprehensive understanding of the condition, this also helps our dentist determine the best treatment option for you.
Sleep studies involve attaching a portable machine and placing monitoring leads on your body to track your sleep. They typically measure the following:
- Brain signals
- Oxygen levels in blood
- Sleep position and limb movements
- Heart rate
- Breathing and snoring
Sleep studies can be done in a clinic or at home. The latter can make the sleep study a more accurate representation of your usual sleep. You can complete a sleep study at a clinic through our referral. Seeking professional medical advice is crucial for proper diagnosis and management of sleep apnoea.
How Do Sleep Apnoea Appliances Work?
Sleep apnoea, as we now know, is a serious condition that can affect your quality of life by causing poor sleep and potential health conditions. If you suffer from mild or moderate sleep apnoea, night splints and sleep apnoea appliances may help you.
There are two types of sleep apnoea appliances:
Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS)
Also called Mandibular Advancement Device or Mandibular Repositioning Device, this is the most common oral appliance. It works by slightly pushing your jaw forward to open up your airway. All you need to do is to put them in your mouth before you go to sleep at night. These splints are custom-fitted by our experienced dentists and are adjusted to ensure the optimal position for keeping the airway open during sleep.
Tongue Retaining / Stabilising Device
A tongue stabilising device treats sleep apnoea by stabilising your tongue. It contains a suction bulb that holds the tongue in a forward position without affecting the mandible or the teeth. It prevents the tongue from sliding back down your throat, keeping your airway open. They are designed to be comfortable and easy to use. Unlike some other anti-snoring devices, they do not directly affect the positioning of your jaw.
At With U Dental, we can help you manage sleep apnoea and improve your sleep by providing effective sleep apnoea appliances after a comprehensive assessment of your situation.
What Does Sleep Apnoea Treatment Cost?
The cost of night splints and sleep apnoea appliances will depend on factors such as the type of appliance used and the severity of the condition. When you come in for a consultation with our dentists at With U Dental, we can give you an accurate quote, helping you make an informed decision. We also offer flexible payment plans, making quality dental care more accessible and affordable to all.
Custom Night Splints & Sleep Apnoea Appliances At With U Dental
At With U Dental, our dental professionals are skilled and experienced in treating patients with sleep apnoea and snoring. We understand that each person has a different mouth and anatomy, and that sleep apnoea conditions may vary from person to person. That’s why we provide personalised treatment plans and oral appliances suitable for your unique situation.
Equipped with the latest technology and advanced techniques, we will use 3D scanning and digital imaging combined with our expertise to craft your custom-made oral appliances.
Combining cutting-edge technology, experience and a patient-centric approach, we are committed to helping you improve your quality of life with our night splints and sleep apnoea appliances.