Snoring is more than just a loud noise. It leads to broken sleep for snorers and their partner. This can have a profound impact on their quality of life as it can be embarrassing and create marriage problems.

Research has shown that 60% of patients who snore have less sex and in 80% of cases they sleep in separate rooms. In addition snoring has been associated with medical complications and if left untreated the potential for developing obstructive sleep apnoea.

The main snoring cause is due to the partial closure of the airway during sleep. During sleep muscles in the neck relax and for some people the soft tissue in the upper throat vibrates, which makes the sound we know as snoring. Now you know about snoring do you know about Sleep Apnoea?

Some snorers stop snoring and also stop breathing - a medical condition called Sleep Apnoea. This is caused by the airway closing completely during sleep thereby preventing snorers from breathing. This condition is called Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA).

Studies have shown that the lack of sleep caused by snoring has wide reaching effects such as :

• Daytime sleepiness
• A lack of energy
• Poor motivation
• Accidents related to driving while tired
• Higher stress levels due to fatigue
• Less effectiveness at work effecting remuneration and career progression
• Reduced sex drive

A simple night worn appliance known as Sleepwell can be made and fitted over a period of two weeks involving two straight forward dental appointments.

Sleepwell prevents the lower jaw from dropping back during sleep thereby preventing the closure of your airways during sleep – an effective stop snoring remedy. Sleepwell is a custom made mouth piece produced within our laboratory to fit your teeth. Sleepwell has some unique features including a soft inner lining, allows side to side movement of the lower jaw and most importantly allows the patient to adjust it to maximize effectiveness. High levels of patient comfort meant that during clinical trials over 98% of patients found Sleepwell an acceptable snoring remedy.

It is the most clinically successful and advanced two-piece mouth piece to help stop snoring.

Sleepwell ™ addresses a number of important key features including maximum comfort, retention and full patient adjustability. It is produced by specially trained and dedicated technicians.

Key benefits of Sleepwell ™

• Customised to your mouth for maximum comfort
• Highly Successful - a reported 95% success in reducing snoring
• Self-adjustable permitting longer life and total flexibility
• Robust but slim line
• Side to side movement whilst being worn
• Prevents tooth damage from clenching / grinding
• Modification can be made to allow for dental treatment

Grinding & Clenching of Teeth causes many problems:

• Damage to your smile
• Increased wear of fillings and teeth
• Damage to veneers and crowns
• Failure of dental implants
• Headaches
• Jaw and neck pain
• Increased facial muscle around the jaw

Many people clench and/or grind their teeth at night whilst asleep and do not even realise it! This is due to a tensing of the jaw muscles bringing the upper and lower teeth under immense pressure. Not only does this cause damage to your teeth but is often the cause of headaches, jaw and neck pain.

How do I know if I clench my teeth?

- Do you get head aches or jaw / neck pain especially in the morning?
- Have you noticed that your teeth are wearing?
- Have you had damage to dental restorations e.g. crowns or fillings for no   apparent reason?
- Are your temples or jaw muscles tender?
- Do you experience discomfort whilst chewing?
- Does your jaw make a clicking sound?

If you answered 'yes' to any of the questions, clenching or grinding may be the cause. At Carfax Dental Practice we are able to diagnose, monitor and treat bruxism using splint therapy.