It is estimated that over 40 per cent of adults in the UK snore, with men between the age of 50 to 59 years of age being the worst affected.
Some snorers also suffer from a condition called sleep apnoea. This is where a person's breathing temporarily stops during sleep, causing the sleeper to wake up soon after, often accompanied by a choke or a gasp, before falling back to sleep only for the cycle to begin again.
Most sufferers of obstructive sleep apnoea, or OSA, have no memory of this nightly struggle, but oxygen is restricted during this process and the brain instructs the body to release adrenalin, stopping restful sleep from being achieved night after night.
Sleep apnoea sufferers often complain of morning headaches and excessive daytime sleepiness, with partners also losing sleep due to their other half's often extremely loud snoring.
Affinity Dental Care & Implant Centre in Gloucester offers a solution to sleep apnoea. It's called The Sleepwell device and looks a bit like a gum shield but works to give patients more space to breathe, preventing snoring and decreasing sleep apnoea. The team will make sure a careful history is taken to assess the patient's suitability for The Sleepwell and, if necessary, due to high sleep apnoea values, will refer you onward for sleep study analysis, too.
Created in a lab for Affinity Dental, this custom made night time appliance is made especially for the wearer, with users reporting an improvement in daytime tiredness, motivation, energy and stress levels, alongside their partners getting better sleep too.
Dr Peter Workman, clinical director at Affinity Dental, said: 'This unique device is the most clinically proven mandibular advancement splint available on the market.
'It’s a bespoke two-piece appliance made in the laboratory that has a soft inner liner for comfort and is self-adjusting to optimise its effectiveness and to negate the need for numerous follow-up appointments. The internal fixing allows your jaw to move around whilst opening your airway.
'A patient of ours was initially given a CPAP machine by the hospital but didn't get on with it. Like a gum shield, with one at the top and one at the bottom, The Sleepwell device clicks together and stops the jaw from dropping during sleep. Our patient noticed a real difference after using it and reported a huge increase in energy levels, with his wife's sleep much improved too!'
To find out more about The Sleepwell device and to book a consultation, call Affinity Dental Care & Implant Centre on (01452) 526526 or email reception@affinitydentalcare.co.uk.
