Treatment of Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) with a Mandibular Advancement Splint such as Sleepwell - an alternative to CPAP therapy?

Snoring is a very common condition, with studies showing that around 40% of men and 24% of women will snore at some point in their lives. This can have a significant impact on your own sleep quality and the sleep quality of your sleeping partner. Whilst occasional snoring is normal, persistent snoring can be a sign of more serious conditions, such as Upper Airways Resistance Syndrome (UARS) or Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). This is a condition characterised by an airway obstruction which results in disruption in your sleep pattern. This can potentially occur up to 30 times or more per hour in severe cases! This can result in pronounced daytime sleepiness and fatigue, which can have a major impact on quality of life. It is also a known risk factor for a number of health conditions, such as cardiovascular disorders and Type 2 Diabetes.

What are the signs & symptoms of OSA?

• Loud snoring or gasping

• Excessive daytime fatigue

• Morning headaches and dry mouth

• High blood pressure

• Mood changes and trouble focusing 

  
  

What are the risk factors?

• Excess body weight & neck circumference 

• Older age

• Being male, or postmenopausal female

• Smoking

• Family history of OSA

What can be done about it?

The device sits over your teeth and postures your lower jaw forwards to increase airway space

Dr Matthew Quigley has undergone further postgraduate education in the field of dental sleep medicine. He has been trained to provide a type of nightguard called a 'Mandibular Advancement Device' (MAD), which is a custom-made device that works by slightly opening and protruding the lower jaw to help maintain an open airway. This can be individually titrated to give you the most benefit, whilst also ensuring the device is comfortable. This is a treatment which has been endorsed by the National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE).

A CPAP machine is worn during the night

Other options include Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). This is recognised as the gold standard treatment method for OSA, however it is very poorly tolerated by patients, which some studies suggest only around 30% of patients will tolerate this long-term. Surgery may be indicated, but this is quite rare. Over-the-counter 'boil & bite' devices can also be made, but these are not recommended as their 'one size fits all' approach generally means they don't fit any one person particularly well, which can reduce compliance and increase risk of side effects.

We can make Mandibular Advancement Devices which are an effective way at managing simple snoring and can be an alternative to a CPAP machine, UARS and OSA. We have also partnered with a medical team, who are able to provide a free 15-20 minute telephone consultation to assess your risk of sleep apnea. We are then able to contact your GP regarding arranging a sleep study if this is something we think you would benefit from.

The Sleepwell device is well tolerated for posturing the mandible forwards upto 9mm

One type of splint we have found to be effective is the Sleepwell device which allows movement of the mandible forwards up to 9mm to increase the airway at the back of your mouth. We work carefully to find a balance which is effective at increasing the airway enough to stop the effects of sleep apnea/ snoring whilst still being comfortable.

If you would like to discuss a mandibular advancement splint for the management of sleep apnoea, please contact the practice on 0191 286 3398 to arrange an appointment with Dr Matthew Quigley who has undergone furthur postgraduate training in the field of Dental Sleep medicine.