When it comes to your health, we go above and beyond routine dentistry; we offer cosmetic, restorative and orthodontic treatments, in addition to general dentistry, to enable you to enjoy good oral health and a beautiful smile and we also offer additional services, including treatment for TMJ disorder, bruxism and snoring and sleep apnoea. At City Dental we understand the importance of a good night’s sleep and if you’re regularly interrupted or disturbed by sleep apnoea or you live with somebody who snores, we can help to identify and address the cause to help you enjoy a restful night’s sleep every night.

What is sleep apnoea?

Sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder, which is characterised by periods of interrupted breathing. Sleep apnoea is not the same as snoring and it can potentially be very serious if not managed effectively. When you have sleep apnoea, the muscles in your throat relax to such an extent that the airway becomes blocked and this reduces your ability to breathe normally. The term apnoea is used when the airway is blocked for at least 10 seconds.

Sleep apnoea is most commonly associated with being overweight or obese; however, there are other potential risk factors, including smoking, drinking alcohol, age, gender (males are more likely to suffer from sleep apnoea than females) and taking sedative medication.

How is sleep apnoea treated?    

Treatment usually depends on the severity of the case. In mild cases, making simple changes to your lifestyle may be sufficient to improve symptoms; these may include quitting smoking, cutting down on alcohol consumption and losing weight. We can offer advice about healthy eating and nutrition and cutting down on smoking. In more severe cases, more intensive management is required and breathing apparatus may be recommended; this involves wearing a mask during the night to help you breathe and prevent the airway from becoming blocked.