You might be surprised to know that your dentist can often tell if you snore, just by looking in your mouth! Perhaps even more surprising is just how much snoring can impact sleep quality, often leading to serious long-term health and wellbeing problems. At Dentistry on Unley, our Dentists and Dental Hygienists are trained to detect early signs of sleep disordered breathing during routine dental examinations.

Our sleep trained dentist in Unley works with sleep physicians to diagnose the specific causes of your sleep disordered breathing, either through a home or hospital-based sleep study. A treatment plan that best suits your circumstances is then developed, generally employing one of two common treatment options.

1) Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines, or
2) Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS)

A MAS is a simple, custom-made medical device similar to a mouthguard, but smaller and less bulky. The MAS is worn at night while you sleep and is designed to hold your lower jaw slightly forward to keep your airways open throughout the night.

This allows for easier breathing, reduces snoring sounds, and most importantly, can result in a marked improvement in sleep quantity and quality. Many patients report feeling more well rested and refreshed than they have in years (as do their partners).

MAS devices are easy to wear, and it is often possible to speak, yawn and drink while wearing them. They are small, light and easy to carry with you when you travel. The cost is similar to a CPAP and most health funds offer a rebate.