Snoring Treatment

If you’re ever baffled by the realisation, ‘I woke myself up with my snoring’? You may need to take action towards treatment. The cause of your disturbance of sleep isn’t because you were snoring, but because you may have stopped breathing.

St Lucia Dental uses snoring and sleep apnoea solutions that can help to improve your nightly rest.

Our treatment method; Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) is used most commonly in conjunction with the Mandibular Advancement Splint (MAS) device. MASs have a high success rate, reducing both snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea. A MAS device is a custom-fitted oral appliance that you wear each night to get a peaceful and refreshing night’s sleep.

MASs are the more comfortable alternative, when compared to other devices, including Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines.

Benefits of the Mandibular Advancement Splint

Safe to use

Clinically proven effectiveness

Non-intrusive and pain free

Comfortable

Custom-fitted

Simple adjustment

Discreet and unobtrusive

Easily transportable

Cost effective

Procedure

The first step is to diagnose your sleep apnoea. This can be achieved two ways; conducting an in-house sleep study or by referring you to a sleep clinic. The sleep study will help identify the severity of your snoring as well whether you are affected by sleep apnoea (Over 10% of snorers have Obstructive Sleep Apnoea to a substantial degree.).

The next step is to utilise a multi-disciplinary team approach, this involves working with a network of sleep professionals including Ear, Nose and Throat specialists and respiratory physicians.

If a Mandibular Advancement Splint is required, we create and custom-fit the device.

Finally, you begin use of the oral appliance each night so that more airway space can be utilised while you sleep, to prevent the airway from collapsing.

FAQ’s

What exactly is a Mandibular Advancement Splint?

A Mandibular Advancement splint is an oral device which is custom-fitted to the individual user and is made up of two dental plates, similar to specially-fitted sports mouthguard.  The oral appliance is worn each night to ensure the increase of oxygen flow created by encouraging growth of the airways.

What are the health complications associated with snoring?

Incorrectly regarded as harmless, left untreated, snoring will worsen over time. This will lead to an increase in effects that will worsen over time.

Loud snoring also causes deprivation to other individuals’ quality of sleep but isn’t serious as over the counter earbuds should block any noise loud enough to disturb your sleeping habits.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea?

OSA is caused during sleep by your tongue falling back in your throat, obstructing the airway, reducing airflow and forcing you to gasp for air.

This constant obstruction cycle leads to a significantly reduced sleep time and can prevent an individual from reaching REM sleep which is needed by the body to repair cells.

What are the symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea?

There are many known symptoms including:

Loud Snoring

Pause of breathing or flow of air (called “hypoapnea”) more often than normal.

Constant Loud Snorts or Choking sounds during sleep

Have breathing pauses five or more time per hour during sleep

Abnormal Snoring

Daytime Sleepiness

irritability

Wondering whether you may have OSA?

St Lucia Dental provides sophisticated and accurate diagnostic technology to help diagnose any snoring and sleep apnea related problems you may be experiencing. Please call us on (07) 3870 8811 today to book a consultation with one of our dental professionals.