NATIONAL STOP SNORING WEEK
Snoring affects 30 million people in the UK, causing a lot of disturbance for the bed partner and a lot of unrest for the snorer. Occasional snoring can be harmless and a lot of us do it. However, chronic snoring can have a significant impact on the sufferer and may be a symptom of a far more serious condition - Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. Estimated to effect 1.5 million people in the UK, 85% of these people remain undiagnosed…
Snoring, and the harmful conditions associated with it, require far more attention than they’re currently given. In order to find and treat those with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, there needs to be far more awareness raised. The British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association have created an annual awareness week, coined ‘Stop Snoring Week’ - in order to propel the conversation around snoring and the potentially life-threatening conditions associated with it.
At S4S, we’re pretty passionate about combating snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, offering a life-changing treatment.
Read on to find out how you can be a part of the solution.
What is the Difference Between Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea?
Snoring is the hoarse and harsh sounds that occurs when air flows past relaxed tissues in your throat - causing the tissues to vibrate and make the infamous snoring sound. Everyone snores from time to time, with 30 million snorers currently in the UK.
Occasional snoring is harmless, causing more problems for the bed partner who is kept awake by it. However, heavy snoring can have an immense impact on the sufferer, their partner and the family, causing:
- daytime sleepiness,
- motivational issues,
- high stress levels,
- lack of energy
- poor effectiveness
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea?
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is surprisingly common, and is often mistaken for heavy snoring. However, this heavy snoring can be a sign of a far more serious, and potentially fatal condition. OSA is characterised by repetitive episodes of nocturnal breathing cessation due to upper airway collapse, resulting in complete (apnoea) or partial (hypopnoea). OSA causes severe symptoms, such as excessive daytime sleepiness and is associated with a significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
What’s more, OSA is far more common in men than women - with the ratio estimated to be 2:1 in the general population and increases between the ages of 50-60.
Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Loud snoring
- Observed episodes of stopped breathing during sleep
- Abrupt awakening accompanied by gasping or choking
- Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Morning headache
- Difficulty concentrating during the day
If left untreated, Obstructive Sleep Apnoea can lead to a range of serious health issues, including:
- Increased blood pressure
- Heightened risk of cardiovascular disease
- Strokes
- Diabetes
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
Snoring & Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Treatment
Originally started as Solutions for Snoring, S4S Dental Laboratory has campaigned for the past 17 years to raise awareness on both snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea - providing dentists with the knowledge and tools to treat it.
Many individuals will seek help from their GP and are usually suggested lifestyle remedies such as weight loss, avoiding alcohol and smoking. Little do they know that you, their Dentist, can provide the solution with a Mandibular Advancement Splint (MAS). However, more serious cases will need to be referred onto a GP to conduct a sleep study, measuring the severity of the OSA.
For the majority of cases, a Mandibular Advancement Splint can be administered to the patient, resolving the symptoms of Snoring and OSA. There are a number of splints on the market, but the most clinically-proven is the Sleepwell - with a success rate of over 80% (in fully apnoeic patients).
The device is designed with an internal splint fixing - allowing the lips to close around the device, thus preventing dryness and or excess salivations associated with other Mandibular Advancement Splints. What’s more, a massive 98% of patients found the device comfortable to wear!
Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Training
We offer a variety of training opportunities - giving you the confidence to tackle snoring & Obstructive Sleep Apnoea in your patient base.
Hosted by Professor Ama Johal, this training is for dentists interested in growing their knowledge and understanding of how Snoring and OSA can be successfully treated with the use of a Mandibular Advancement Splint.
The seminar covers:
What Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea are
The life-changing impacts of Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
A review of the Mandibular Advancement splint options available to effectively treat these conditions
Successful patient screening, in accordance with Dental Protection Ltd requirements
How to communicate and have meaningful conversations with your patients.