Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Are you noticing that you’re getting a good night sleep and still feeling tired the next day? Are you constantly feeling tired and unable to function during the day?  Is your fatigue affecting your social and working life?

If so, then you shouldn’t rule out Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) being a potential diagnosis.  Treatment for OSA can be managed by your orthodontist.  OSA is the most common respiratory disorder and >80% of adults with moderate to severe OSA remain undiagnosed.

OSA refers to the temporary stoppage of your breathing due to an obstruction in your upper airway.  This is because the tongue, throat and jaw muscles relax and interrupt normal breathing.

Typical symptoms of OSA is excessive daytime sleepiness and results in snoring, snorting, gasping and the cessation of breathing which your partner will notice.  OSA can lead to depression, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

The current strategies to manage OSA include:

1. Lifestyle changes
   Research has shown that 60% of people with moderate to severe OSA are attributed to obesity.  It is therefore recommended that weight loss and exercise is the first line of treatment for such patients.  Exercise has shown to reduce outcomes such as excessive daytime sleepiness and oxygen desaturation.  It is also recommended to stop smoking and reduce alcohol intake which can aggravate symptoms.

2. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
   CPAP is regarded to be the gold standard for treating OSA, especially for moderate to severe cases.  CPAP presents the collapse of the upper airway.  However, compliance of using CPAP can be poor as it can be loud, lead to dry mouth, bloating and socially unacceptable.  It can also be quite loud making it difficult to sleep.

   Typically, a respiratory physician should be consulted for this treatment.

3. Dental Appliances (Mandibular Advancement Devices)
   Dental appliances can be an alternative to CPAP and can be less invasive. The mandibular advancement devices aim to advance the lower jaw forward and in turn, enlarge the upper airway and prevent it from collapsing.

   The mandibular advancement device can be well tolerated and has shown to reduce snoring and improve daytime sleepiness.  The mandibular advancement device has been shown to be the first line of treatment for mild cases of obstructive sleep apnoea.

It is usually advisable to contact your GP as the first port of call who can then refer you to the respiratory team who can conduct a sleep study to diagnose OSA.

Alternatively, for private referrals for snoring or OSA, please feel free to contact me for a consultation and construction of a mandibular advancement device.  Snoring consultations will be carried out in Bristol (Clifton Orthodontics) and Weston Super Mare (Weston Orthodontics).