Sleep Apnea Treatment Darwin

Overview of sleep apnea – Sleep Apnea Treatment Darwin

Sleep apnea is when a person’s breathing suddenly stops during sleep. This can happen for various reasons and has an adverse effect on a person’s general health. Sleep apnea has two main types: obstructive and central. An obstructive type of sleep apnea is a mechanical obstruction to the airflow from the nose to the lungs. Central sleep apnea is when signals are absent from the brain to the lungs. The most common symptom of sleep apnea is snoring. If you have a snoring problem, it might be linked to underlying health conditions. It is best to get yourself appropriately diagnosed with our Smith Street Dental Darwin experts.

Symptoms of sleep apnea

Below are some of the common symptoms. It is not mandatory to find all the symptoms together in an individual. However, if you have any of these signs, do not overlook them, as early intervention is helpful in managing the condition effectively.

• Snoring
• Disturbed sleep
• Feeling tired on waking up
• Restless during night
• Morning headaches
• Night sweats 
• Mood changes
• Irritation 

Diagnosis of sleep apnea -Sleep Apnea Treatment Darwin

An appropriate diagnosis is the key to successful treatment planning. The diagnosis is made by our experts at Smith Street Dental Darwin after clinically examining your head and neck region and conducting a sleep study. Sleep study or polysomnography is a study done during sleep where the heart rate, brain waves, and oxygen saturation are monitored.

Sleep Apnea Treatment Darwin

Conservative management

Certain modifications can be used conservatively to manage the initial stage of sleep apnea. Weight loss is an effective tool for managing the condition. It can drastically improve the condition when you are morbidly obese and start to lose weight. Elevating your head with an extra pillow can help. Using nasal sprays and topical solutions also helps in cases of nasal blockages.

Positive airway pressure

Bipap and CPAP machines keep the airway patent mechanically during sleep. These are generally indicated when an underlying lung condition is involved, causing sleep apnea. 

Oral devices

If jaw positioning is the root cause of the problem, oral devices can influence the management of the condition. Jaw positioning also affects the soft tissues in the head and neck region. If there is any extra pressure from the soft tissues on the windpipe, it can lead to obstructive sleep apnea. Repositioning the lower jaw and tongue is an effective way to manage the condition. Oral devices are more accessible to carry and use. They are a safe and effective way to control symptoms like snoring. They also improve your focus and reduce daytime sleepiness by ensuring a good night’s sleep.

Mandibular advancement device

Mandibular protrusion devices are splints used to reposition the jaw. They are attached to the upper and lower teeth in a way that helps protrude the jaw. We move the tongue forward by repositioning the jaw, which helps clear the airway. The device looks like a mouthguard and is customized as per your requirements. 

Tongue stabilizing device

It is a suction-like device used to reposition the tongue. We can clear the airway obstruction and manage the symptoms by preventing tongue fallback.

Rapid maxillary expansion device

Sometimes, a small, narrow palate causes sleep apnea in children. Maxillary expansion devices are used to open the growing palate in children, helping manage the condition. They are the type of device indicated for children with OSA. They open up the blockage by expanding the roof of the hard palate. Unlike other dental devices used for treating OSA, RMEs are to be worn at all times.  

Surgical intervention

If there is any mechanical obstruction, like an enlarged tonsil leading to obstructive sleep apnea, then surgery is planned. A deviated nasal septum is another anatomical variation that causes mechanical obstruction.