Anti-Snoring Devices: Mouth Splints for Sleeping Disorders
Sleep-related breathing disorders happen to varying degrees around the collapsibility of your airway whilst you sleep.
Can I stop my snoring?
With snoring, there is no full obstruction of the airway – the noise is simply the vibrations of soft tissue. Whilst this often has little impact on the snorer, some do wake feeling unrefreshed, suffer headaches and a tenderness in the upper airway. More often though, it is those within close proximity- i.e. the snorers bed partners that are profoundly affected. It is possible by the use of a night time splint to successfully stop snoring.
What is daytime sleepiness or EDS?
Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) can result from insufficient oxygen entering the body and poor quality sleep caused by multiple waking’s. Effects of EDS include an inability to concentrate, poor memory, reduction in performance and, in extreme cases, can lead to the sufferer falling asleep unexpectedly. Severe sleepiness has even been found to increase the chances of having an accident whilst driving by seven times.
What is obstructive sleep apnoea?
This is a more severe collapsing of the airway, which can be obstructed for multiple periods of time during sleep. It can either be a total pause or a significant shallowing of breath- oxygen levels dip and can result in a multitude of symptoms: extreme tiredness, abnormal movements whilst sleeping, and headaches to name just a few.
Anti-snoring Devices: Mouth Splints for Sleeping Disorders
Splints for both snoring, EDS and sleep apnoea are available at Dental Solutions. Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS) are commonly used for both, gently holding the lower jaw forward to keep the airway open. It is proven to be highly effective with many of our patients, but in particular their partners who in turn also improve their own sleep quality. We customise the splint to your own mouth, using a unique UK manufacturing process called Sleepwell which has been shown to be the most clinically successful in sleep trials.
But don’t just take our word for how well the Sleepwell appliance works, take a look at the e mail we received recently from a very happy couple whose sleep has been transformed, literally overnight!
Dear Gavin,
I have been using the mouth guard for 4 weeks and, after the initial reaction of something rather ‘alien’ being in your mouth, now find it ok.
My wife has noted a real improvement with my Sleep Apnoea and also with snoring, stating that I now snore for 15 minutes once asleep which then abates to allow her a far better night’s sleep than before using the Sleepwell.
I have adjusted the appliance by approx 1/3 and although there is an initial sense of fear of not being able to open your mouth when wearing it, you simply need to extend your lower jaw to allow the 2 halves of the appliance to separate. Once this has been repeated several times, the sense of fear subsides.
I wouldn’t begin to suggest it is the most comfortable thing to wear to bed but, knowing that my wife is finally able to get a full night’s sleep for the first time in approx 25 years, it’s a small sacrifice to make.
– Andy S., Sleepwell user
If snoring is stopping you or your partner getting a good night’s sleep, please call our Reception team on 01925 756565 to book a free consultation with Gavin Laidlaw, the Dental Solutions Sleepwell practitioner.
