At Liverpool Dental Spa, we offer a range of treatments and services designed to promote good general health and wellbeing as well as high standards of oral health. We offer treatment for TMJ disorder, headaches, snoring and sleep apnoea in addition to an array of dental services, and we aim to ensure all our patients are as healthy and happy as possible.
Sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder that can prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis. It occurs when the muscles in the throat relax, causing the airway to become obstructed and breathing to be interrupted. Apnoea is defined as a blockage of 10 seconds or longer. The most common risk factors for sleep apnoea include being overweight, having a large neck circumference, smoking, drinking alcohol and family history. This disorder is most commonly found in men aged over 40 years old.
How serious is sleep apnoea?
Sleep apnoea affects people in different ways and there are varying degrees of severity. In mild cases, symptoms may be barely noticeable and there isn’t always need for formal treatment, while in serious cases sleep apnoea can be life-threatening.
Treating sleep apnoea
In mild cases, there may be no need for medical treatment and dealing with risk factors can really help. This often involves making small-scale changes to your lifestyle and sleeping habits, such as avoiding alcohol in the evenings and sleeping on your side, rather than your back. If you are overweight, smoke or have a sedentary lifestyle, making positive lifestyle choices can also make a massive difference to your general health as well as your sleep apnoea. This may involve losing weight, doing more exercise and giving up smoking. We can assist with these goals and are here to provide information and advice.
In minor and moderate cases, we can also provide a custom-made device known as a mandibular advancement appliance, which helps to increase air flow while you sleep by holding the lower jaw in a forward position. The appliance is shaped to fit you and it can really help to improve your quality of sleep, as well as that of others around you.
In severe cases, CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), may be recommended. This involves wearing a mask to help you breathe during the night.
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