FEELING A BIT TIRED at times during the day is completely normal, even with a good night’s sleep. Some people, however, struggle every night for a restful sleep, especially those with sleep apnea.
Did you know that one in five adults has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with 80% of cases going undiagnosed? This condition can disrupt your sleep and increase your risk of severe health problems.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea occurs when your muscles relax during sleep, allowing soft tissue to collapse and block the airway. This can cause a person to stop breathing hundreds of times per night, immensely disrupting their sleep. Here are some indications of a problem:
- Morning headaches
- Excessive daytime drowsiness
- Irritability
- Impaired mental or emotional functioning
- Insomnia
- Excessive snoring, choking or gasping during sleep
- Waking with dry mouth or sore throat
We Can Help
Here at Snoring Laser Centre, we are often the first professionals to become aware of a potential case of OSA and many are specially trained for the treatment of sleep apnea. We are just such a practice!
While the most common treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, oral appliance therapy that dentists provide is the increasingly preferred form of treatment. This is due to the high rejection rate of CPAP therapy and the fact that oral appliances are much more convenient, portable, and easy to care for.
Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral appliance therapy uses a mouth guard-like device to maintain an open, unobstructed airway while you sleep. They are typically as easy to wear as most retainers. There are two ways the oral appliance works to open up your airway:
- By repositioning your lower jaw, it keeps your throat muscles engaged as you sleep, preventing them from collapsing.
- Oral appliances can also move your tongue forward, keeping it from falling back and blocking the throat.
Compared to snoring surgery and CPAP machine alternatives, here at Snoring Laser Centre, we provide NightLase snoring treatment which a very cost-effective treatment option. Rebates can also be claimed from your health fund (check with your health fund for eligibility).
We also offer payment plan options with no interest, no deposit – so you can pay your treatment off over time. Wouldn’t it be nice to get a good night’s sleep again?
Don’t suffer through another night with interrupted sleep. Contact us today to schedule your appointment and see how we can help.