Is your sleep regularly interrupted by loud snoring? Or have others in your household commented on the noise at night? Sleep apnoea causes problems for our patients in Darwin and the Casuarina areas, but don’t worry!
At Casuarina Square Dental Care, we diagnose and treat sleep apnoea to help our patients and others achieve healthy, safe sleep.
Signs of Sleep Apnoea
Often patients don’t realize they have sleep apnoea, especially if they live alone and no one mentions their snoring. However, there are other signs you can look for, including:
- Feeling tired during the day
- Feeling irritable or moody
- A dry or irritated throat
- Issues with high blood pressure
It’s important to remember that snoring alone does not mean you have sleep apnoea, but it’s always best to see a doctor when the symptoms are present.
Why Treating Sleep Apnoea in Darwin Is Crucial
Without treatment, sleep apnoea can lead to severe complications, including heart issues, stroke, weight gain and overall fatigue.
Failure to diagnose sleep apnoea can affect life quality and is simply unsafe!
Diagnosing Sleep Apnoea
Sleep apnoea or obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) can be dangerous as the associated symptoms block the airway while sleeping. Patients suffering from OSA may choke, experience interrupted breathing or even gasp at night while sleeping.
To help our patients sleep better at night, we first need an accurate diagnosis from an accredited sleep clinic that generally observes a patient’s sleep. With the assistance of the technology available at Casuarine Square Dental Care, we are able to take the scans we need with out CBCT machine. Afterwards, we can consult and discuss appropriate treatment methods.
Sleep Apnoea Treatment in Darwin
Traditionally, a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machine effectively treats sleep apnoea. A CPAP machine delivers a flow of oxygen during sleep via a facemask. CPAP machines work well, but some patients struggle to keep the facemask on while sleeping or may experience restricted movement due to the device.
Luckily at Casuarina Square Dental Care, we give our patients other options to treat OSA and help them sleep easier successfully:
- Continuous open airway therapy (COAT) is an oral device custom-made for patients to treat their sleep apnoea. Instead of restricting movement or wearing a facemask, patients can insert the COAT device and sleep more freely.
- 3D sleep advance is another custom-fitted oral device that repositions the lower jaw at the base of the tongue to stop the upper airway from collapsing during sleep and causing the dangerous, troublesome symptoms of OSA.
COAT and 3D treatment may work for specific levels of OSA—mild to moderate conditions—but a consultation with the dentist is necessary to determine this. In turn, your dentist may consult with a sleep specialist.
Appliance therapy aims to provide you with a safe and comfortable sleep experience.
Arrange a Consultation at Our Casuarina Square Dental Practice
If you or a loved one suffers from sleep OSA, please don’t wait! We invite you to contact our practice for more information on sleep apnoea treatment and advice to start sleeping better!