News from your Dentists at Everton Park, Brisbane

... Snoring and Sleep Disorders

The dentists at Jorgensen Mutzelburg Dental have an active interest in staying up to date with the latest in technology, services and research. Our dentists have completed continuing education courses by world experts covering Sleep, and the proper assessment and treatment of patients suffering from sleep disorders.

Snoring and Sleep

Everybody loves a good night's sleep. Snoring is an extremely common condition suffered by up to 60% of men, and 40% of women at some time. Snoring is a major social problem, and is a common cause of family stress and breakdown. A snoring partner may be forced to sleep in a separate room, while both the snorer and their partner is deprived a good night's sleep. Most importantly, about 10% of snorers also suffer from a serious underlying condition called sleep apnoea, a condition associated with high blood pressure, heart attack, diabetes and stroke.

What are Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders?

Sleep Disordered Breathing is characterised by sleep disruption caused by an airway obstruction. As you fall asleep, you experience a loss of muscle tone called airway patency. The soft tissues in your airway relax against the tongue, partially or completely cutting off air flow to your lungs. Levels of Sleep Disordered Breathing can range from mild to severe, and include snoring, upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS), and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).

Snoring is always indicative of the development or existence of a sleep breathing problem. UARS is more common amongst younger women, and is often accompanied by headaches, gastric reflux and asthma. OSA is characterised by brief interruptions to breathing during sleep, with repeated periods of no breathing for at least 10 seconds at a time. It occurs when the airway collapses and prevents air from getting into your lungs. These apnoeic events can last longer than one minute and represent a serious risk to your health. Fortunately, this condition can be easily identified by your sleep dentist in collaboration with a specialist sleep physician, and effectively treated.

Why is it important to treat sleep disorders

Those suffering from sleep-related breathing disorders are at a high risk of a number of serious medical complications:

• Hypertension or High Blood Pressure
• Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Diabetes
• Sexual dysfunction
• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Obesity
• High Cholesterol
• Depression
• Dry Mouth
• gastroesophageal reflux

Treatments available for sleep-related breathing disorders:

Following expert diagnosis, several treatment options are available and will be recommended by your sleep physician.

Traditionally, the most effective treatment for sleep apnoea is the CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine. This consists of a pump that pushes air through a mask worn over the nose. The machine works very effectively, however can be cumbersome, and many patients find this treatment to be uncomfortable and are unable to tolerate using the CPAP in the long term.

Over the last 23 years, there has been an increasing body of research supporting the use of properly constructed, and fitted oral appliances in the treatment of snoring, and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea. These appliances are recommended by the Australian Dental Association, Australasian Sleep Association, and the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand for use in the treatment of sleep-related breathing disorders. The appliances are ideal for patients who prefer oral appliances to CPAP systems, who do not respond to CPAP, or who are not appropriate candidates for CPAP. These appliances are not standard mouthguards, or night splints for grinding, and use of these appliances is certainly not recommended for people suffering from sleep-related breathing disorders. Your dentists at Jorgensen Mutzelburg Dental have completed expert continuing education courses and are able to collaborate with your sleep physician in providing the best dental treatment in Brisbane for these problems. We follow the guidelines as issued by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, published in the Journal "Sleep" in 2006.

Other treatments that may be recommended can involve surgery, and would best be discussed with your sleep physician.

Your Appointment at Jorgensen Mutzelburg Dental

When attending for your consultation, your dentist will take a complete medical and sleep history. A comprehensive dental examination will be completed including examination of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), occlusion, and periodontal (gum) examination. Models of your dention may also be recorded. We will ensure there is plenty of time at this appointment to ask any questions you may have regarding sleep disorders, and we will provide a detailed treatment plan.

Are you Tired of Your CPAP?

To discuss how the skilled team at Jorgensen Mutzelburg Dental can help you and your partner regain a great night's sleep, arrange an appointment to speak with our caring dentists today.