Sleep Apnoea Dentists in Adelaide

Understanding Sleep Apnoea

What is Sleep Apnoea?

Sleep apnoea is a common yet serious sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. This interruption in breathing can lead to fragmented and poor-quality sleep, affecting overall health and well-being. The two primary types of sleep apnoea are:

  • Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA): The more common form, occurring when throat muscles relax excessively during sleep, blocking the airway.
  • Central Sleep Apnoea (CSA): Less common, involving the brain’s failure to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.

How Sleep Apnoea Affects You

Sleep apnoea can have significant impacts on both your daily life and long-term health. Common symptoms and effects include:

  • Excessive Daytime Sleepiness: Frequent interruptions in sleep can lead to chronic fatigue, making it difficult to stay awake and alert during the day.
  • Loud Snoring: Particularly in OSA, snoring is a common symptom due to the obstructed airway.
  • Gasping or Choking During Sleep: Sudden awakenings with a sensation of choking or gasping can occur.
  • Morning Headaches: Frequent oxygen deprivation can lead to headaches upon waking.
  • Difficulty Concentrating: Poor sleep quality can impair cognitive functions, affecting memory, decision-making, and concentration.
  • Mood Changes: Sleep apnoea can contribute to irritability, depression, and anxiety.
  • High Blood Pressure: Repeated drops in blood oxygen levels can lead to hypertension.
  • Heart Problems: Sleep apnoea increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and irregular heartbeats.
  • Diabetes: There is a strong association between sleep apnoea and type 2 diabetes due to the stress and insulin resistance caused by disrupted sleep.

How Sleep Apnoea Affects You

Sleep apnoea can have significant impacts on both your daily life and long-term health. Common symptoms and effects include:

  • Excessive Daytime Sleepiness: Frequent interruptions in sleep can lead to chronic fatigue, making it difficult to stay awake and alert during the day.
  • Loud Snoring: Particularly in OSA, snoring is a common symptom due to the obstructed airway.
  • Gasping or Choking During Sleep: Sudden awakenings with a sensation of choking or gasping can occur.
  • Morning Headaches: Frequent oxygen deprivation can lead to headaches upon waking.
  • Difficulty Concentrating: Poor sleep quality can impair cognitive functions, affecting memory, decision-making, and concentration.
  • Mood Changes: Sleep apnoea can contribute to irritability, depression, and anxiety.
  • High Blood Pressure: Repeated drops in blood oxygen levels can lead to hypertension.
  • Heart Problems: Sleep apnoea increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and irregular heartbeats.
  • Diabetes: There is a strong association between sleep apnoea and type 2 diabetes due to the stress and insulin resistance caused by disrupted sleep.

Take the First Step Toward Better Sleep

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of sleep apnoea, don’t hesitate to seek help. At Payneham Road Dental & Specialist Centre, we are dedicated to improving your sleep quality and overall health through effective and compassionate care.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward a restful night’s sleep.

Sleep like a baby again!

Book an Appointment Online or by Phone

Payneham Road On (08) 8363 2025

North Terrace On (08) 8223 5862

frequently asked sleep apnoea questions

Below our the questions and answers we get asked the most about sleep apnoea in our two Adelaide dental clinics.

The most common signs and symptoms of sleep apnoea include loud snoring, episodes of breathing cessation during sleep (often noticed by another person), abrupt awakenings accompanied by gasping or choking, excessive daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, morning headaches, and irritability. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to consult a healthcare professional for evaluation and diagnosis.

Sleep apnoea is typically diagnosed through a sleep study, also known as polysomnography. This can be conducted in a sleep center or at home with a portable device. During the study, various body functions such as brain activity, eye movements, heart rate, and breathing patterns are monitored to determine the presence and severity of sleep apnoea. At Payneham Road Dental & Specialist Centre, we collaborate with sleep specialists to ensure accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Several lifestyle changes can help reduce the severity of sleep apnoea symptoms. These include maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding alcohol and sedatives before bedtime, quitting smoking, sleeping on your side instead of your back, and establishing a regular sleep schedule. These changes can significantly improve sleep quality and overall health.

Treatment options for sleep apnoea vary depending on the severity of the condition. Common treatments include Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy, where a machine delivers a steady stream of air to keep the airway open; oral appliance therapy, which involves wearing a custom-fitted device to reposition the jaw and tongue; and, in some cases, surgery to remove or reduce tissue blocking the airway.

At Payneham Road Dental & Specialist Centre, we offer personalised treatment plans, including custom oral appliances, to help manage sleep apnoea effectively.

need help? get in touch

Two clinics across Adelaide

PAYNEHAM ROAD

(08) 8363 2025

NORTH TERRACE

(08) 8223 5862

need help? get in touch

Two clinics across Adelaide

PAYNEHAM ROAD

(08) 8363 2025

NORTH TERRACE

(08) 8223 5862