Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Treatment

Nearly everyone snores at some point in their life, but for some people it can be a chronic problem and indicative of a health problem. While in some cases lifestyle changes, like losing weight, avoiding alcohol or sleeping on your side can help snoring to cease, in other cases medical treatment may be advised depending on the severity of your condition. If snoring is serious, it can be classified as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). If snoring is classified by any of the following symptoms, it is worth consulting with a doctor about your condition:

  • Witnessed breathing pauses during sleep.
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness.
  • Difficulty concentrating.
  • Morning headaches.
  • Sore throat upon awakening.
  • Restless sleep.
  • Gasping or choking at night.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Chest pain at night.
  • Your snoring is so loud it is disrupting your partner’s sleep.
  • In children: poor attention span, behavioural issues or poor performance in school.

Relief from Snoring and Sleep Apnoea

Sleep Apnoea Diagnosis

Your doctor will perform a physical evaluation and may consult with your partner about the severity of your condition. If the patient is your child, you will be consulted. Your doctor may request an imaging test such as an X-Ray, computerised topography scan or magnetic resonance imaging.  These tests check the nose and mouth structures for problems. If your condition is especially serious, the dentist may request a sleep study be conducted at a special laboratory.

Treatment

Treatment will often start with recommendations to make the lifestyle changes outlined in the first paragraph of this page. For snoring accompanied by OSA, the dentist may recommend oral appliances (to keep your air passage open while sleeping), continuous positive airway pressure (wearing a mask connected to a small air pump while sleeping) or upper airway surgery (trimming nasal and mouth tissue to open airways more effectively or moving the upper and lower jaws forward). In any case, your local Campsie dentist at Campsie Laser Dentist will be able to recommend a treatment following assessment of your condition.

Contact Campsie Laser Dental on 02 9789 6219 to book an appointment for a snoring and sleep apnoea consultation today. We are open for business Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 6:00pm, and Saturday 9:00am to 4:00pm.