Sleep Apnoea Treatment

Restoring peaceful nights and energised days

Non-invasive solutions for managing sleep apnoea and improving overall wellbeing

Sleep Apnoea Treatment

Restoring peaceful nights and energised days

Stop snoring, reclaim your sleep and energy and improve your overall health today!

At Simply Teeth, we create custom-made appliances to treat snoring and sleep apnoea, known as mandibular advancement splints, anti-snoring devices or snore guards. This oral appliance is worn in the mouth like a mouthguard or orthodontic retainer during sleep to reposition the tongue and lower the jaw, maintaining an open airway. This treatment is completely safe, pain-free, and non-invasive. No anaesthetic or surgery is involved.

How do they work?

Oral appliances help prevent the collapse of the tongue and soft tissues in the back of the throat by keeping the airway open and promoting adequate oxygen intake during sleep. This reduces obstruction and snoring (sleep apnoea).

What is the difference between an over-the-counter appliance and a custom-made appliance?

Over-the-counter appliances (typically “boil and bite”) are not recommended because they are not customised to position your jaw into its ideal position. This can result in problems and potential side effects.

At Simply Teeth, the process of fabricating your custom-made appliance involves a 3D scan of our own teeth and a special gauge to record your jaw positioning. This allows us to adjust the appliance over time and find the jaw position that is ideal for treating your snoring/sleep apnoea. Our appliances are made with a unique fin-coupling component where the upper and lower components are not fixed together. This makes it easy to open and close your mouth, speak and drink water normally without having to take the appliance out.

CEREC scans

At Simply Teeth, we have highly advanced technology to assist our treatment procedures. Instead of taking messy impressions/moulds of your teeth, we use the latest 3D scanning and printing technology to get an accurate result in a comfortable and non-invasive way.

What material is the appliance made from?

Our appliances are made from laser-sintered 3D printed nylon, which is the most advanced appliance material available. It takes 12 hours to print and 12 hours to polish. This material is much thinner than acrylic resin, which makes it more comfortable to wear. The appliance can be made to a thickness of 0.5mm, making it much less likely to fracture/break than that of an acrylic resin.

What is the next step?

If you are considering an anti-snoring device, simply book a consultation by calling us on (08) 6361 1565 to discuss your options further.

Obstructive sleep apnoea FAQs

What is obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)?

Obstructive sleep apnoea occurs when the soft tissues in a person’s throat repeatedly collapse and block the airway during sleep. This causes a significant reduction in airflow, or breathing to stop completely. These episodes typically last between 10 – 30 seconds but can persist for a minute or longer. When oxygen levels fall, you need to wake up briefly to start breathing again. These episodes may occur many times a day, and you often may have no idea that it is happening. People with moderate to severe sleep apnoea can die prematurely. Even mild sleep apnoea is associated with other health risks. Fortunately, sleep apnoea can be treated. Treatments can benefit you in many ways, such as making you a safer driver and improving your overall quality of life.

What are the symptoms of sleep apnoea?

If you have sleep apnoea, your partner may report that you snore and possibly stop breathing during your sleep. You may struggle from waking up during the night gasping and choking for air. You may find sleep fragmented, and wake from sleep feeling unrefreshed. As the day goes on, you may feel like you are “dragging” or experience unexplained tiredness and struggle to stay awake.

What are the problems associated with sleep apnoea?

OSA may pose serious health risks because it disrupts normal sleep patterns and reduces oxygen levels. This condition can increase a person’s risk for excessive daytime sleepiness, driving and work-related accidents, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, memory loss, learning problems and depression.

Who is at risk of getting sleep apnoea?

Sleep apnoea can occur at any age. In children, it is often the result of enlarged tonsils or adenoids. Lack of quality sleep in children varies from adults in that it tends to manifest as behavioural problems. For adults, sleep apnoea is more common in middle age. Men are more likely to experience OSA, although women may be at greater risk after menopause . Sleep apnoea can occur in people of all sizes, although it is often associated with being overweight and having more fatty tissue around the neck. Some people are born with a narrow airway or have a facial structure that predisposes them to a narrowed airway. Almost everyone who has OSA snores, but not everyone who snores has OSA.

How can I get diagnosed?

Signs and symptoms such as snoring, observed apnoea, obesity, unexplained tiredness and excessive daytime sleepiness may all suggest a likelihood of having sleep apnoea. The only way to know for sure is to investigate sleep, breathing and oxygen levels during an overnight sleep study. If you have not had this done before, Dr. Jennifer offers consultation and direct referral to a sleep physician.

Am I eligible for an appliance?

If you are considering an anti-snoring device, it is essential to have a formal diagnosis by a sleep physician first. Dr. Jennifer can arrange an at-home sleep test for you. Alternatively, we can arrange a direct referral to a sleep physician and will keep your GP informed of all communication/relevant information.

If you have been referred by your sleep physician or other medical practitioners specifically for a Mandibular Advancement Splint, the first step is to book a consultation to screen for any jaw joint, bite and associated structures that may preclude the use of oral appliances. It is also important to identify any dental or gum conditions that may affect the long-term fit and stability of the oral appliance in your mouth. We will determine the most suitable appliance for you and provide you with information on what to expect during the treatment.