What is Sleep Apnoea?
Today in our nonstop western society, good sleep can be hard to come by. Whether it’s the rush of day to day life, the increased presence of technology or even higher stress levels, sleep has slowly become one of our more precious commodities. Along with an increased pace of life we are now all living longer, and with age it is not uncommon to see more sleep issues arise.
One of the sleep issues that may be brought on by aging is called Sleep Apnoea. As we get older, air-way problems can develop due to a loss of tissue tone in our throat and an increase in body weight. As we breathe in while we sleep, this poorly toned throat tissue begins to ‘collapse’, causing a blockage and consequently a drop in oxygen travelling to the brain. Eventually your brain is alerted to the loss of oxygen and sends a message to your body to wake up. This process can happen frequently throughout the night resulting in not only a poor night’s sleep, but other negative health issues.
How Sleep Apnoea is treated
Luckily in today’s advanced society, there are a range of treatments for sleep apnoea:
A Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device (CPAP). This is used to ‘inflate’ the airway by positive pressure, holding it open to allow airflow
A Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD). A mouthguard that manually moves tissues forward so they do not collapse under ‘negative pressure’, allowing enough clearance in the throat for air to pass.
While these are currently the most reliable ways of treating sleep apnoea, advancements continue to develop in surgical and non surgical treatments.
CPAP or MAD. Which is best for me?
When choosing a device it’s good to have a strong understanding of both the upsides and the downsides associated with it. While the CPAP is often considered the gold standard in sleep apnoea treatment due to its effectiveness, many people do not like being plugged into a machine every night, and travelling with these devices can be a cumbersome and difficult activity.
The MAD mouthguards also come with their own set of positives and negatives. These devices lock around the maxillary and mandibular teeth very accurately and are compact enough to easily take with you if travelling. However, MAD’s are specifically designed to be large so they push the lower jaw forward and can be difficult or uncomfortable for some people to wear due to their shape. The force of these mouthguards can also push onto the teeth, causing teeth to move, changing a patient’s bite. This is why anyone wishing to trial a MAD as treatment should only be fitted by a trained dental professional to avoid any irreversible damage that can occur by a poorly fitted device.
It is important that before you consider any of these options that you go through a sleep study first. These tests will monitor you as you sleep to see if sleep apnoea is the cause of your sleep disruptions. Once diagnosed your specialist along with your dentist will be able to map out a suitable treatment plan for you.
If this is an area you believe needs to be investigated, book an appointment with one of our friendly dentists to discuss your situation.
