Good news is Dr Jack may have a solution to you!
Snoring is caused when muscles in your throat, roof of your mouth and tongue relax during sleep. This causes a partial blocking of the airway and vibration when you breathe.
Snoring is fairly common, and is not itself a health issue. However, it may be an indicator another serious sleep condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA.
OSA is when the soft tissue and muscles block the air passage completely and cause your breathing to stop. These episodes of non-breathing can last anywhere from 10 to 60 seconds. If you suffer from a severe case of OSA you may have hundreds of non-breathing episodes per night.
When you stop breathing, you gasp for air, briefly wake and resume breathing. You usually fall back to sleep immediately without any memory of the situation.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea’s disruptive sleep patterns can lead to fatigue, contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. If you think you or your partner may have OSA it is important to have the condition diagnose and treated early, talk to Dr Jack if you notice any of these symptoms:
Common signs related to snoring and sleep apnea
• Loud and chronic snoring
• Daytime sleepiness, no matter how much time you spend in bed
• Choking, snorting or gasping during sleep
• Morning headaches
• Restless sleep, insomnia or night time awakenings
• Long pauses in breathing
• Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
• Waking up feeling out of breath
• Forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating.
Dr Jack will discuss the treatment options that are best for your personal needs. He may recommend a dental splint, a plastic mould designed to reposition your jaw, soft palate and tongue. This device helps open your airway to make breathing easier while sleeping.
In some cases you may need a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. A CPAP machine has an air pump, tube and face mask worn over the nose and sometimes mouth. It produces a constant flow of low pressure air into the throat. This prevents the airway from collapsing and stops snoring instantly.
Although Dental splints and CPAP machines help prevent OSA they do not cure it. If you stop using these devices, snoring and Sleep Apnea will re-occur.
At Infinity Dental Care Winston Hills Dr Jack can assess the position of your jaw while it’s relaxed and determine if your OSA symptoms could be resolved with the use of a night splint or CPAP. Dr Jack work closely with ENT (Ear Nose and Throat) specialists and Sleep Physicians to achieve the best results for you.
Book a consultation appointment with Dr Jack to find out how he can help you with snoring and sleep apnea. Speak to our friendly team on (02) 9838 9111, visit our practice at 180 Caroline Chisholm Drive, Winston Hills or book online here.