6 Concord Street, Nashua, NH 03064
What is Sleep Apnoea
Sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder characterised by pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep. These pauses can last for a few seconds up to a couple of minutes and may occur multiple times throughout the night. The most common type is obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), where the throat muscles intermittently relax and block the airway. Another form of sleep apnoea is central sleep apnoea (CSA), which results from a failure of the brain to send appropriate signals to the muscles that control breathing.
Sleep apnoea treatments
If you suffer from obstructive sleep apnoea, there are several possible treatments to help your condition. Some steps include:
* Weight loss: Losing ten per cent of your body weight can make a difference in sleep apnoea
* No alcohol or sedatives: Avoiding alcohol and sleeping pills help your airway close during sleep. It can keep you breathing for longer periods
* Sleeping on your side: This can help if you only have mild sleep apnoea when you sleep on your back
* Nasal sprays: These can treat sinus problems if nasal congestion makes it harder to breathe while you sleep
Many patients with sleep apnoea will require more treatment beyond these simple steps.
* Oral appliances: Do you have mild or moderate sleep apnoea? We can create a custom-made dental appliance, or "oral mandibular advancement" device. These appliances keep your tongue from blocking your airway as you sleep. Our experts can decide which ones may be right for your OSA.
* Mandibular Advancement Splint (MAS): Worn by patients as they sleep, this device helps the bottom jaw slightly protrude forwards in order to tighten certain muslces in the upper airway and allowing for more stable breathing throughout the night.
* Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): These devices can include masks that you wear over your nose, mouth or both. An air blower forces constant air through your nose or mouth. The air pressure is just enough to keep your upper airway's tissues from relaxing too much while you sleep. A similar device is the BPAP which has two levels of airflow that change when you breathe in and out. CPAP machines are the most effective treatment for OSA, reducing daytime sleepiness and improving sleep quality. However, some people with OSA find the mask or feeling of pressure difficult to tolerate.
* Surgical Treatment: Doctors rarely use surgery to treat OSA. Some treatments include the uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). This procedure removes some of the throat's soft tissues that collapse the airway during sleep. Although it's effective at reducing snoring, it doesn't always treat obstructive sleep apnoea.
What to expect from your sleep apnoea appointment
If your doctor has recommended seeing a dentist for a sleep mouthguard, here’s what you can expect from the process:
* Your dentist will perform an examination, and may take x-rays to assess your mouth and oral health
* Your dentist will take impressions of your teeth using a soft clay-like material that you will bite into
* These impressions will be sent to a lab that will make your custom sleep mouthguard
* It will take 2-3 weeks for the lab to make your sleep mouthguard and send it to your dentist
* You will return to your dentist to pick up the splint and ensure it fits well
* Your dentist will advise you on proper wear and care
* Be sure to bring your sleep mouthguard to your future dental check-ups so they can check how well it is wearing
If your general practitioner has advised you get a custom-made mandibular advancement splint, you will need to contact a dentist to have one made.
