Sleep Apnoea

What is Sleep Apnoea?

The word “apnoea” literally means “without breath.”

There are three types of apnoea. In all three, people with untreated sleep apnoea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer.

• Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), the most common is usually caused when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep.central, and mixed.
• Central sleep apnoea, is not caused by a blocked airway but rather the brain’s failure to signal the muscles to breathe.
• Mixed apnoea, is a combination of the two.

With each apnoea event, the brain briefly arouses people with sleep apnoea in order for them to resume breathing, but consequently sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality.

Sleep apnoea is very common and affects more than 3.5 million in the UK, .

Risk factors include being male, overweight, and over the age of forty, but sleep apnoea can strike anyone at any age, even children. Yet still because of the lack of awareness by the public and healthcare professionals, the vast majority remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated, despite the fact that this serious disorder can have significant consequences.

Untreated, sleep apnoea can cause:

• Daytime sleepiness
• Poor motivation
• High stress levels
• Lack of energy
• Driving while tired
• Less effective at work
• Weight gain
• headaches
• Increased blood pressure/ hypertension
• Increased risk of diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Impotency

Fortunately, sleep apnoea can be diagnosed and treated. Several treatment options exist, and research into additional options continues.

Treatment

Where Sleep Apnoea is suspected an anti-snoring device may still be prescribed. Not everyone that snores suffers from Sleep Apnoea – but nearly everyone who suffers from Sleep Apnoea will snore.

Dr.

Mee can make a custom-fit plastic mouthpiece for treating sleep apnoea. The mouthpiece will adjust your lower jaw and your tongue to help keep your airways open while you sleep.

Can Anyone Use This Appliance?

The appliance can not be made if you have no natural teeth or only a few natural teeth. Your dentist will be able to advise you as to your own situation.

What Happens Next?

Dr. Mee will ask you to complete a questionnaire (if possible with your partner) and then take moulds of your upper and lower tooth arches. Your appliance will be custom made to the moulds of your mouth and your dentist will fit it. (Allow about two weeks for your appliance to be manufactured.)

Does the Appliance Require Maintenance?

The appliance does require regular maintenance but the intervals between maintenance periods are difficult to predict because they depend on the individuals case. If you grind your teeth at night, the life of your appliance will be reduced.

To access our questionnaire please click here

Contact us to schedule a free consultation with Dr.

David Mee to learn more.