SERVICES
Health Services
Headaches
We use the latest technology and screening processes to identify problems early, offering treatment for headaches, grinding, sleep apnoea and oral cancer.
If your life is being affected by headaches or you are damaging your teeth through grinding, something is wrong and commonly it is your bite. Left untreated, things can deteriorate quickly.
Many of our dentists at Cole Dental are trained in neuro-muscular dentistry and this can make a huge difference in your quality of life – just ask!
Snoring & Sleep
Did you know? Snoring can be a sign of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.
Obstructive Sleep apnoea (OSA) is a condition in which the flow of air stops or decreases during breathing while you are asleep because the airway has become narrow, blocked or floppy. Sleep apnoea can cause serious health issues and has been proven to be a cause of early death
Health Risks associated with OSA
- heart attack and stroke
- increased risk of depression
- Type 2 diabetes
- hypertension
- hyperactivity in children
Signs and Symptoms of OSA
- wake up feeling tired and feel drowsy during the day
- wake up with a headache
- fall asleep while watching TV
- GERD (gastric reflux)
- clenching and grinding teeth in the night (can result in broken, chipped and worn teeth)
- you have been told you snore
- obesity
- congested sinuses
- low libido
- moodiness and mood swings
What happens if OSA is diagnosed?
The gold standard of care is a CPAP machine. This is a machine that is used to maintain a continuous level of positive airway pressure to prevent closing or blockage of airways. CPAP machines are indicated for moderate to severe OSA sufferers. In mild to moderate cases studies have shown that an adjustable oral appliance is an effective treatment. The adjustable oral appliance is a comfortable, custom made dental appliance that supports the lower jaw moving it forward thereby opening the airway.
Factors that increase your risk
- large neck or collar size
- being overweight
- certain shapes of mouths and airways can make the airways narrower
- large tonsils and adenoids particularly in children
What should I do if I have these symptoms?
A consultation with our trained dentists is recommended to see if you require a sleep study. This enables a correct diagnosis to be made. A study can be done in the privacy of your own home. Information such as breathing, heart rate, snoring, blood oxygen levels, periods you stop breathing and sleep position are recorded. Snoring is only the tip of the iceberg. Proper diagnosis to rule out OSA is essential for correct management and treatment for health’s sake.
Benefits of Treatment
- increased energy
- reduced daytime sleepiness
- improved memory and concentration
- reduced acid reflux
- reduction of stress effects
- optimised immune system
- good quality sleep for you and your partner
- protection of the teeth from grinding and clenching forces
Oral Cancer
Cole Dental uses the latest oral cancer screening tool, Velscope, for our oral cancer screening.
Please ask us about our screening at your next wellness visit.