A woman sleeping on her side

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is mainly associated with the feeling of tiredness and snoring during sleeping and it is a serious medical condition.

Someone who has sleep apnea will either completely stop breathing (apnea) whilst they are asleep or have their breathing severely restricted (hypopnea). When this happens, your cells are starved from vital oxygen and there is an increase in carbon dioxide (the waste product of breathing) in the blood. The lack of vital oxygen in the cells and the body sends signals to the brain to wake up and re-start the breathing cycle. In some people, this may happen over 30 times every hour which puts enormous strain on your body.

Sleep apnea can severely impact your health and the quality of life, and can also be associated with other medical conditions such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. It is important to take sleep apnea seriously.

Common Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

The most common symptoms of sleep apnea are snoring, gasping and choking sounds whilst asleep. This is usually observed by a partner.

Other Symptoms

  • Constant tiredness

  • Poor concentration

  • Morning headaches

  • Depressed mood

  • Night Sweats

  • Weight gain

  • Lack of energy

  • Forgetfulness

  • Frequent urination at night

Please note that not all symptoms mentioned above may relate to sleep apnea. Please make sure you discuss any concerns with us to ensure that an accurate diagnosis is made.

Who is at Risk? 

Sleep apnea can affect people regardless of sex, race, or age. However, risk factors include:

  • Being male (mostly ages above 65)

  • Excessive weight

  • Anyone above 40 years of age

  • Large neck size (greater than 16–17 inches)

  • Enlarged tonsils or tongue

  • Small jaw bone

  • Gastroesophageal reflux

  • Allergies

  • Sinus problems

  • A family history of sleep apnea

  • Deviated septum (nose blockage)

  • High blood pressure

Types of Sleep Apnea

There are three main types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), central sleep apnea (CSA) and mixed sleep apnea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea, making up 84% of sleep apnea diagnoses. (Science Daily, 2011)

In most cases of obstructive sleep apnea, the air stops flowing to the lungs because of a blockage (or obstruction) in the upper airway– that is, in the nose or throat.

The upper airway could become blocked due to:

  • The muscles around your airway relaxing too much during sleep, which blocks sufficient air from getting through. This narrow airway causes a vibration in your throat, which creates the sound of snoring.

  • The weight of your neck narrowing the airway.

  • Inflamed tonsils, or other temporary reasons.

  • Structural reasons, like the shape of your nose, neck, or jaw.

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) is a less common type of sleep apnea.

In some cases, the airway is actually open but air stops flowing to the lungs because no effort is made to breathe. This is because the communication between the brain and the body has been affected so the automatic action of breathing stops. This results in lower-than-normal oxygen levels and a build up of carbon dioxide.  These conditions of hypoxia and hypercapnia will trigger additional effects on the body eg. Brain damage and even death in severe cases. People with CSA don’t often snore, so the condition sometimes goes unnoticed.

Mixed Sleep Apnea

This is a mixture of both obstructive sleep apnea OSA (where there is a blockage or obstruction in the upper airway) and CSA (where no effort is made to breathe). Your doctor can help you understand more about this if you need to.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

The good news is there is a treatment for it, and most people experience a whole range of benefits from being treated. Being proactive and treating your sleep apnea may help lower associated risks and improve your overall health. The treatment has been shown to improve daytime sleepiness, depressed mood, reduced memory and concentration and reduced quality of life.

Treatment of OSC is different than that of central sleep apnea. For moderate to severe sleep apnea, the most common treatment is the use of CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure). Although CPAP therapy has been shown to be effective in reducing apneas some people find it uncomfortable. Some complain of feeling trapped, having chest discomfort, and skin or nose irritation.

At Friendly Smiles Dental, we are happy to give you an alternative treatment to treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. A large number of men and women have discovered the efficacy of SomnoDent to be perfect for ending their snoring problems.

Somnodent sleep apnea oral appliance is ideal for treatment for patients who have been diagnosed with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea and for severe OSA who are unable or unwilling to tolerate CPAP therapy/surgery.

You may need to have a sleep study and see an ENT specialist before getting a SomnnDent device.

Phone one of our lovely receptionists at (07) 3397 0610 now to book in a consultation to see if you are a candidate for SomnoDent.