Emerald Dental Care
Everybody deserves a good night sleep
At Emerald Dental Care we aim to take a holistic approach where we not only look after your oral health but also your general wellbeing. This is why our dentists are also trained in providing specialised services such as the treatment of snoring and sleep apnoea.
Snoring is a result of partial blockage of your airways during sleep. Although snoring is common, it poses very little health issues. However, snorers have a high risk of having a very serious health condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA).
OSA is the complete blockage of the airways, caused by the collapsing of muscles of the mouth, tongue, and throat. As a result, breathing will cease momentarily, sometimes lasting up to a minute. This can be a serious health problem, and more often than not OSA is linked to other medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
If sleep apnoea is suspected, you will be referred to a sleep physician for a detailed sleep study. The sleep study is invaluable and provides information on the severity of the OSA, the presence of snoring and grinding. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, a Mandibular Advancement Splint (MAS) can be made to treat mild to moderate OSA. The MAS is a custom-fitted dental appliance that brings the lower jaw forward, whilst keeping the airway open. In severe cases, CPAP may be required for management.
If you or your partner suffers from snoring, contact our dentists at Emerald Dental Care for an assessment of the airway so that we can begin treatment.
