TREATMENT OF SNORING WHILE SLEEP

Traditionally, in Asian countries including India, snoring is wrongly considered a sign of good sleep and deep sleep. Actually snoring while sleep and obstructive sleep apnoea are considered the major indicators for existing or future major body illnesses.

We, at Naranpura, Bodakdev & Motera dental clinics of 32 PEARLS dental clinic in Ahmedabad, provide speciality treatment for snoring and other sleep disturbances or disorders, like obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). For those who do not tolerate CPAP machines, mandibular advancement devices and snoring splints designed by our dental sleep medicine specialist can be proved as boon.

According to American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Snoring while sleep is a type of sleep disorder. There are many sleep disorders, including Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, which possess snoring as one of the symptoms. In obstructive sleep apnoea, which is very common, there is obstruction of airway in lying down position which causes partial or complete cessation of breathing for few seconds during sleep.

Obstruction in the airway during sleep can happen due to many reasons, including thick neck, retruded or small lower jaw, deep palate, large tonsils, adenoids and large tongue. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is more commonly observed in people with obesity, large neck diameter, deep bite and small jaws.

Snoring is a sign of insufficient and disturbed sleep. Commonly person with snoring and sleep apnoea, feels tired on awakening, headaches, jaw pain, day time sleepiness, lethargy during day and work, generalised low grade body pain or frequent changes in mood. Snoring can proceed to upper airway resistance syndrome or to obstructive sleep apnoea of different grades. Hyperacidity or acid stomach is a common associated feature in patients with snoring or sleep apnoea.

Untreated snoring can lead to serious problems like high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases (heart attacks), cerebrovascular disease (stroke) and many metabolic diseases like diabetes and many more serious health related issues.

Additionally, snoring can be a huge problem for the bed partners of persons with snoring. Bruxism is another associated condition, commonly observed with snoring and OSA. Grinding of teeth knowingly or unknowingly, at day time or commonly at night causes severe damage to the teeth enamel, wear facets on chewing surface of teeth and fractures of teeth.

Sleep is a very important event of our daily life, designed by almighty. Sleep is important in rejuvenating ourselves and for the repairs of all the damages happened at cellular levels during the day. To remain healthy and productive for long time, one has to sleep well and enough. Research says a normal healthy adult needs average 7-8 hours of sleep daily.

Consistent deprivation from sleep or regular sleep disturbances due to obstructive sleep apnoea can lead to major diseases, as mentioned earlier. That’s why snoring needs to be taken seriously and should take proper advice from dental sleep medicine specialist.

CPAP is a traditionally popular and effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea. Many cases require lengthy surgeries also to manage OSA. In comparison with CPAP and lengthy surgery, oral appliances prove very economical.

Comparing CPAP, oral appliances for snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea, are very comfortable during sleep, as experienced by so many patients. The specially fabricated oral appliance moves the lower jaw forward, when person sleeps. This forward position of the lower jaw will also hold the tongue little forward and thus opens the airway, which otherwise gets block in lying down position. Additionally, oral appliances work by enlarging and stabilising the pharyngeal airway to prevent breathing obstructions during sleep.

When someone visits our clinic, we do thorough checkups of possibilities and reasons for snoring and sleep apnoea; and after studying the old records or past treatments, if any, we suggest our patient, type of appliance or treatment for snoring.

Dr. Jaimin Patel has done his fellowship in Dental sleep medicine, from Roseman University (USA) & Smile USA. Along with his domain skills of dental implants and smile design, he is very passionate in dealing with sleep disorder cases, where his knowledge and skills would prove as an adjunct to multidisciplinary treatment of sleep apnoea involving different medical specialities.