Snoring and sleep apnoea: the mandibular advancement device
A device worn at night that holds the lower jaw slightly forward and helps keep the airway open.
Snoring happens when the tissues of the throat vibrate during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnoea means they partly or fully close, several times a night, and breathing stops for a few seconds. Sleep becomes fragmented, and in the long term untreated apnoea increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and accidents due to sleepiness.
Signs
- loud snoring, pauses in breathing noticed by a partner
- frequent waking, a choking feeling in sleep
- unrefreshing sleep, daytime tiredness and sleepiness, morning headaches
- sometimes sleep bruxism
The diagnosis comes before the device
Sleep apnoea is diagnosed with a sleep study (polygraphy or polysomnography), interpreted by a sleep physician (usually a respiratory or ENT specialist). The study shows whether it is just snoring or apnoea and how severe it is, and the treatment depends on that. If you don’t have a diagnosis yet, we refer you to colleagues who do these tests.
The mandibular advancement device
It is a custom-made device worn at night that holds the lower jaw slightly forward, so the airway stays more open. It is indicated for:
- simple snoring
- mild or moderate sleep apnoea
- patients with apnoea who can’t tolerate CPAP, as an alternative agreed with the sleep physician
The steps
- Checking the teeth, gums and jaw joints (the device needs healthy teeth and joints).
- An impression or digital scan, and the device is made in the laboratory.
- Gradual adjustment of the advancement, until it works and is comfortable.
- Checking that it works, ideally with a new sleep study, together with the sleep physician.
- Regular check-ups: we monitor the joints, muscles and bite.