Struggling with restless nights and daytime fatigue? Our specialised dental solutions for sleep apnea provide a comfortable, non-invasive alternative to traditional treatments.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder where breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep. If you experience loud snoring and persistent fatigue despite getting a full night’s rest, it could be a sign of sleep apnea.
Types of Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the throat relax, blocking the airway and causing interruptions in breathing during sleep. This is the most common form of sleep apnea, often associated with snoring and disrupted sleep.
Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea happens when breathing keeps stopping and starting while sleeping. Unlike obstructive sleep apnea, it’s caused by a disruption in the body’s breathing regulation.
Causes of Sleep Apnea
When throat muscles relax during sleep, the airway is narrowed or blocked and oxygen levels are reduced. The brain briefly wakes you to restore airflow, often causing snorting or gasping, which is characteristic of obstructive sleep apnea.
Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send proper signals to the breathing muscles, often due to issues affecting the brainstem. The condition may be linked to medical disorders or be unexplained (idiopathic). Common causes include heart failure, stroke, opioid use, high-altitude changes or complications from other treatments.
When throat muscles relax during sleep, the airway is narrowed or blocked and oxygen levels are reduced. The brain briefly wakes you to restore airflow, often causing snorting or gasping, which is characteristic of obstructive sleep apnea.
Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send proper signals to the breathing muscles, often due to issues affecting the brainstem. The condition may be linked to medical disorders or be unexplained (idiopathic). Common causes include heart failure, stroke, opioid use, high-altitude changes or complications from other treatments.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
The following are some symptoms of sleep apnea:
- Daytime fatigue
- Loud snoring
- Paused breathing during sleep
- Sudden waking with gasping or choking
- Insomnia
- Morning dry mouth or sore throat
- Headaches upon waking
- Difficulty concentrating
- Mood swings or irritability
- High blood pressure
If you have received a recent diagnosis of sleep apnea based on these symptoms, book an appointment with us to find out more about what you can do to manage it.
Note: i.Dental does not diagnose sleep apnea. If you suspect you have sleep apnea, please consult with a qualified medical professional for diagnosis and treatment options. NightLase® may be a suitable treatment option after a sleep apnea diagnosis.
Risks of Sleep Apnea
Fatigue
The frequent awakenings caused by sleep apnea prevent restorative sleep, leading to severe daytime fatigue and irritability. This can make it difficult to concentrate, increasing the risk of accidents while driving or at work.
Heart Problems
Sleep apnea increases strain on the cardiovascular system by causing drops in oxygen levels, raising blood pressure. This can elevate the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and irregular heartbeats, especially in individuals with existing heart disease.
Sleep-Deprived Partners
Loud snoring due to sleep apnea often disrupts your partner’s sleep, causing them to seek rest elsewhere. This can lead to sleep deprivation for both individuals, affecting their overall well-being and relationship.
Sleep Apnea Treatment at i.Dental
NightLase® Treatment is a non-invasive and safe way of lessening the effects of sleep apnea, decreasing the amplitude of snoring through the use of gentle Er:YAG laser light. During this treatment, no anaesthesia is used.
While it may not be a complete cure for sleep apnea, it works by improving airway function and strengthening tissues, which helps reduce snoring and lessen the effects of sleep apnea.
Who is Suitable For NightLase® Treatment
This safe and patient-friendly treatment helps to increase the quality of sleep by lessening the effects of sleep apnea and snoring. Hence, it is suitable for anyone who has been diagnosed with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea or suffers from snoring. However, it is unsuitable for pregnant women or patients currently taking photosensitive drugs.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Procedure
Preconditioning
The laser light is used to preheat and gently tighten the throat tissue, preparing it for further treatment.
Tissue Strengthening
The laser strengthens the throat tissue, improving airway support.
For optimal results, individuals should complete 3 treatment sessions over a 6-week period. Annual follow-up sessions may be recommended if snoring or sleep apnea symptoms return or worsen over time.
Cost of Sleep Apnea Treatment
Price:
$654 per session
(inclusive of GST)
The NightLase® Treatment is priced at $654 per session. We also offer a package of 4 sessions for $2,180, which includes 3 sessions usually within a 6-week period, to be advised by the dentist, and a follow-up session in the following year.
Please note that Medisave and CHAS subsidies are not applicable for this treatment.
Why Choose i.Dental?
Expert Care
i.Dental has over 30 years of dental expertise, with a passionate team devoted to providing exceptional care to each individual.
Comprehensive Dental Services
We offer a wide range of dental services designed to meet your individual needs, from cosmetic enhancements to solutions for sleep-related concerns.
FAQs About Sleep Apnea Treatment
FAQs
Studies suggest a significant association between TMJ disorders and obstructive sleep apnea. Individuals with sleep apnea symptoms, like snoring and daytime fatigue, are at higher risk of developing TMJ issues. In addition, shared factors, such as bruxism, connect both conditions and may contribute to their overlap.
If you have sleep apnea, steer clear of alcohol, as it relaxes throat muscles too much and can obstruct your airway. Additionally, avoid sleeping on your back since it can worsen apnea episodes by causing your tongue and soft palate to block the throat. Maintaining a healthy weight will also be helpful as excess weight can worsen the condition by adding pressure to your airway.
If sleep apnea goes untreated, it can lead to severe and potentially life-threatening complications due to excess stress placed on the heart. These include excessive daytime sleepiness, which increases the risk of accidents. It may also cause high blood pressure, arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation and heart failure.
In extreme cases, untreated sleep apnea can result in sudden cardiac death.
No, NightLase® treatment for sleep apnea does not hurt. It’s a non-invasive, gentle laser therapy that works by strengthening tissues of the throat to improve airflow.
If you opt for a different surgical treatment, some postoperative discomfort may be involved. However, effective pain management will be part of the recovery process.
You can resume your regular activities immediately after each NightLase® session, as there’s no downtime or recovery needed. However, avoid smoking, alcohol and tobacco products for at least 24 hours following the treatment to ensure optimal results.
Obstructive sleep apnea may be managed or improved through weight loss or laser treatments like NightLase® that target the throat muscles. However, weight loss and lifestyle changes can also help to improve sleep apnea symptoms in the long run.
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