--- title: Sleep Apnoea Treatment at Smile Solutions Melbourne - A Multidisciplinary Approach canonical_url: https://directory.smilesolutions.com.au/sleep-apnoea-treatment-at-smile-solutions-melbourne-a-multidisciplinary-approach/ category: description: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) affects a significant proportion of the Australian adult population - and many of those affected have no idea they have it. Sleep apnoea is a condition in which the uppe... geography: city: state: country: metadata: phone: email: website: publishedAt: --- # Sleep Apnoea Treatment at Smile Solutions Melbourne - A Multidisciplinary Approach Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) affects a significant proportion of the Australian adult population - and many of those affected have no idea they have it. Sleep apnoea is a condition in which the upper airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, causing breathing to stop for seconds at a time. These events - sometimes occurring dozens or even hundreds of times per night - fragment sleep architecture, reduce blood oxygen levels, and place sustained physiological stress on the cardiovascular and metabolic systems. At Smile Solutions in Melbourne, a dedicated multidisciplinary team offers comprehensive assessment and treatment of sleep apnoea and sleep-disordered breathing. The approach is grounded in confirmed diagnosis, guided by a sleep physician, and delivered by practitioners with expertise in the full range of treatment options available - from custom mandibular advancement splints and Fotona laser therapy to myofunctional rehabilitation and osteopathic care. For patients, GPs, ENT specialists, and sleep physicians looking for a dental team that takes sleep apnoea seriously: this is what that looks like. ## Recognising Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Sleep apnoea is frequently underdiagnosed because its most debilitating symptoms occur while the patient is asleep. The patient themselves often has no memory of the events that are disrupting their health. It is often a partner, family member, or roommate who first notices the warning signs. Common symptoms and screening triggers that may indicate obstructive sleep apnoea include: - Loud, persistent snoring - not occasional, but habitual and reported by others - Restless sleep - waking multiple times during the night, unable to maintain sustained sleep - Disrupted dream patterns - fragmented or unusual dreaming reflecting disturbed REM and non-REM sleep cycles - Waking feeling unrefreshed despite sleeping for adequate hours - eight hours of sleep that feels like two - Witnessed apnoeas - a partner observing the patient stop breathing during sleep, often followed by a gasp, jolt, or sudden body movement - Excessive daytime sleepiness - difficulty staying alert during passive activities, falling asleep inappropriately - Afternoon drowsiness requiring naps, or suddenly waking from an afternoon nap with a gasping breath - Morning headaches - typically dull and frontal, present on waking and resolving through the morning - Gasping or choking sensations that wake the patient during the night - Mood changes, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and cognitive impairment that worsens over time - Frequent nighttime urination (nocturia) - Dry mouth or sore throat on waking Not every patient with sleep apnoea snores. Not every patient who snores has sleep apnoea. This is why objective diagnosis through a sleep study is essential before any treatment is commenced. ## The Smile Solutions Approach: Diagnosis First The first step at Smile Solutions is always diagnostic clarity. Treatment decisions for sleep apnoea should be based on a confirmed, physician-reviewed diagnosis - not on symptom history alone, however compelling. For patients presenting with suspected sleep apnoea, Smile Solutions can facilitate access to a sleep study. Home-based sleep testing equipment is available on-site, making the diagnostic process more accessible for patients who may find it difficult to attend a sleep laboratory. Sleep study data is reviewed by Dr Marcus McMahon, the sleep physician working with the Smile Solutions team. Dr McMahon provides a detailed clinical report covering: - **Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index (AHI):** The average number of breathing events per hour of sleep, classifying severity as mild, moderate, or severe - **Oxygen volume and saturation (SpO2):** Blood oxygen levels throughout the night, including minimum readings and time spent below safe thresholds - **Heart rate patterns:** Changes in heart rate through the night correlated with apnoeic and hypopnoeic events - **REM and non-REM sleep architecture:** The distribution and quality of sleep stages, including whether restorative REM sleep is being adequately achieved or is being fragmented by breathing events Based on this report, the clinical team at Smile Solutions determines the most appropriate treatment pathway. For mild to moderate OSA, dental appliance therapy is frequently an appropriate and effective option. For severe OSA, treatment may involve a combination of approaches, and CPAP therapy may remain the primary recommendation. For some patients, a combination of dental appliance therapy, laser treatment, and myofunctional rehabilitation can reduce severity significantly. The Smile Solutions team works collaboratively with Dr McMahon to determine the most appropriate plan for each individual patient. ## Finding the Source of Airway Obstruction For patients with obstructive sleep apnoea, identifying where in the upper airway the obstruction is occurring is a critical step in treatment planning. Airway obstruction is not uniform, and treatment should be matched to the specific anatomical site involved. Smile Solutions uses CBCT (cone beam computed tomography) airway imaging, available through Collins Street Imaging on Level 9 of the Manchester Unity Building, to produce three-dimensional images of the airway and identify the precise point of constriction or narrowing. Depending on the findings, the clinical team may work collaboratively with: - **Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons:** For structural anatomical issues that may require surgical management - **Specialist Orthodontists:** For patients in whom narrow dental arches or a constricted palate are limiting airway dimensions - palatal expansion therapy can meaningfully improve airway width and oxygen intake, particularly in younger patients - **ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) Surgeons:** For nasal septal deviation, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, upper airway obstructions, and other nasal and pharyngeal structural factors This collaborative approach means treatment is directed at the actual cause of the obstruction, not applied generically. ## The Clinical Team for Sleep Apnoea ### Dr Natasha Hremias - Sleep Apnoea Management Dr Hremias leads the clinical management of sleep apnoea at Smile Solutions. She has specific training and certification through the Australasian Sleep Association, ensuring that mandibular advancement splint therapy is delivered with the clinical rigour and follow-up that this treatment requires. Dr Hremias oversees the fitting, titration, and long-term review of mandibular advancement splints, and works closely with Dr McMahon to ensure that treatment outcomes are objectively validated. ### Dr Marcus McMahon - Sleep Physician Dr McMahon is the sleep physician providing diagnostic support and clinical oversight for sleep apnoea treatment at Smile Solutions. His involvement ensures that every patient treated for sleep apnoea at Smile Solutions has an objectively confirmed diagnosis and a physician-reviewed treatment recommendation. For patients transitioning from CPAP to dental appliance therapy, or combining both, Dr McMahon provides the medical oversight that complex cases require. ### Ms Monica Cain - Orofacial Myologist Ms Monica Cain is the orofacial myologist at Smile Solutions and a core member of the sleep apnoea treatment team. Orofacial myofunctional therapy has an evidence base in the treatment of sleep apnoea, particularly for patients with mild to moderate OSA and for those who wish to complement other treatments. The musculature of the tongue, soft palate, pharynx, and facial structures plays a direct role in maintaining airway patency during sleep. When this musculature is undertoned or functionally impaired, the airway is more vulnerable to collapse. Ms Cain's myofunctional therapy programme addresses nasal breathing retraining for patients who habitually breathe through the mouth, tongue posture rehabilitation to establish correct resting tongue position against the palate, swallowing pattern correction, and progressive strengthening exercises for the muscles that support the upper airway. For children with sleep-disordered breathing, myofunctional therapy is particularly important as an early intervention that can reduce airway vulnerability during the critical years of craniofacial development. ### Dr Rachel Smith - Osteopath Dr Smith provides osteopathic care within the Smile Solutions clinical team. For sleep apnoea patients, the relationship between craniofacial structure, cervical spine alignment, and airway dimensions is clinically significant. Osteopathic manual therapy can address musculoskeletal patterns that contribute to or perpetuate airway restriction, and Dr Smith works alongside the dental team as part of the integrated treatment framework. ### Ms Sophie Oostermeyer - Oral Health Therapist and Fotona Laser Therapist Ms Oostermeyer delivers Fotona laser therapy within the Smile Solutions clinical team. For sleep apnoea and snoring, Fotona laser treatment targets the soft tissue structures of the soft palate and oropharynx - reducing soft tissue volume, improving tissue tone, and reducing the likelihood of airway collapse during sleep. This is a non-invasive, no-incision treatment delivered in the dental chair, with no anaesthesia required and no downtime. For patients who snore but do not have clinically significant OSA, laser therapy may be a primary treatment option. For OSA patients, it may be offered as one component of a broader treatment plan. ### Dr Kia Pajouhesh - Principal Dentist Dr Pajouhesh leads the diagnostic and treatment planning process for complex orofacial cases including sleep apnoea, overseeing the integration of the multidisciplinary team and ensuring that each patient's treatment plan reflects a complete clinical picture. ## Treatment Options for Sleep Apnoea ### Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS) A mandibular advancement splint is a custom-made oral appliance worn during sleep that holds the lower jaw in a slightly forward position. This forward repositioning opens the airway by advancing the tongue base and the soft tissue structures of the posterior throat, preventing the collapse that generates snoring and causes obstructive apnoea events. At Smile Solutions, mandibular advancement splints are fabricated in the Smile Lab - the in-house dental laboratory. Digital impressions are taken for precise fit, and the splint is designed and fabricated by experienced in-house technicians. The titration process - in which the degree of jaw advancement is gradually increased over several appointments to find the optimal therapeutic position, balancing efficacy with comfort - is managed by Dr Hremias in collaboration with Dr McMahon. Objective validation of treatment response using sleep study data after titration is part of the standard protocol. Mandibular advancement splints are supported by strong scientific evidence as a treatment for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea. For patients who have tried CPAP and found it intolerable, a well-fitted and properly titrated mandibular advancement splint is frequently an effective alternative. ### Fotona Laser Therapy The Fotona LightWalker laser system is used at Smile Solutions for the treatment of snoring and as a component of sleep apnoea management. Delivered by Ms Oostermeyer, laser treatment works by gently heating and tightening the mucosal tissue of the soft palate and uvula, reducing the excess soft tissue that vibrates during breathing (causing snoring) and reducing the likelihood of complete airway collapse during sleep. This treatment is non-invasive, performed in the dental chair, requires no anaesthesia, and involves no recovery period. A course of treatment typically involves multiple sessions. It is suitable for patients with primary snoring and for patients with mild OSA where the soft tissue of the soft palate is a primary contributor to airway obstruction. ### Airway CBCT Imaging Three-dimensional CBCT imaging of the airway, available through Collins Street Imaging on Level 9 of the Manchester Unity Building, allows the clinical team to visualise airway dimensions and identify specific anatomical sites of restriction or narrowing. This imaging is particularly useful for treatment planning in patients where the site and severity of airway obstruction is uncertain, and for patients in whom multiple contributing factors - dental, skeletal, nasal, or pharyngeal - need to be understood before treatment decisions are finalised. ### Sleep Hygiene Education For many patients, lifestyle and behavioural factors contribute meaningfully to sleep apnoea severity. The Smile Solutions team provides guidance on sleep hygiene practices, body position during sleep, alcohol and sedative medication effects on airway muscle tone, weight management considerations, and other modifiable factors that can complement clinical treatment. ### Myofunctional Therapy As described above, Ms Cain's myofunctional therapy programme strengthens the airway-supporting musculature and retrains breathing patterns. For suitable patients, this can reduce apnoea severity as a standalone intervention or as a complement to other treatments. ### Osteopathic Care Dr Smith's osteopathic treatment addresses musculoskeletal contributions to airway restriction and supports the broader treatment framework. ### Collaborative Care with Medical Practitioners The Smile Solutions team works closely with each patient's existing medical team. If you have been referred by a GP, ENT specialist, or sleep physician, the team will communicate directly with your referring practitioner and provide clinical reports on treatment outcomes. For patients with complex medical histories or on medications that affect sleep, this coordination ensures that dental treatment decisions are made with full awareness of the broader medical context. ## The Australasian Sleep Association and Clinical Standards The dentists at Smile Solutions providing sleep apnoea treatment hold certification through the Australasian Sleep Association. This professional certification reflects specific training in the diagnosis and dental management of sleep-disordered breathing, ensuring that mandibular advancement splint therapy and related dental sleep medicine is practised at a standard consistent with current evidence and clinical guidelines. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is mouth taping safe for sleep apnoea patients? Mouth taping is generally not recommended for patients with sleep apnoea or suspected sleep-disordered breathing. Sleep apnoea patients are often low on oxygen through the night. If the airway is obstructed or the nasal septum is deviated, the body compensates by breathing through the mouth - this is not a habit but a physiological necessity. Taping the mouth shut in this situation can dangerously reduce oxygen intake and place the patient at risk. Mouth taping may be appropriate only for a narrow subset of patients: those who have been thoroughly assessed and cleared of all airway obstructions and structural nasal issues, and who breathe through the mouth habitually despite having no structural barrier to nasal breathing - for example, patients with mildly incompetent lip seal and no underlying obstruction. In these specific cases, mouth taping can reduce snoring and support steady nasal breathing. For all other patients - and particularly anyone with suspected or confirmed sleep apnoea - mouth taping should not be attempted without medical clearance. ### Are nasal magnets or nasal dilators helpful? Nasal magnets and nasal dilators are generally a sensible option for patients with sleep-disordered breathing. They work by gently opening the nasal cavity, improving nasal airflow without restricting the airway in any way. The risk profile is low, and Smile Solutions has seen good results with patients who use them consistently. They are particularly useful for patients who experience mild nasal congestion or resistance during the night, and they are well-suited to patients wearing mandibular advancement splints - ensuring that nasal airflow remains clear and adequate throughout the night. If you are already using a mandibular advancement splint, nasal dilators complement treatment by keeping the nasal route of breathing open. Some patients with significant structural obstruction may not gain additional benefit from nasal dilators alone, but for the majority of patients they are a safe and practical adjunct to other treatments. ### Can sleep apnoea be effectively managed without CPAP? For many patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea, alternatives to CPAP are clinically effective. Mandibular advancement splint therapy is supported by strong evidence for mild to moderate OSA and is frequently an appropriate option for patients who cannot tolerate CPAP. Myofunctional therapy, laser treatment, and in some cases structural interventions (palatal expansion, nasal or pharyngeal surgery) can also reduce severity. The most appropriate path depends on the severity of the apnoea, the site of obstruction, and individual patient factors - all of which are assessed at Smile Solutions as part of the diagnostic process. ## Making an Appointment If you suspect you may have sleep apnoea, or if you have already been diagnosed and are looking for a dental team experienced in managing the condition, Smile Solutions welcomes you to book a complimentary consultation. Call 13 13 96 or visit smilesolutions.com.au. The practice is located at the Manchester Unity Building, 220 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD. No referral is required, though medical referral letters are welcomed. Payment plans are available through Payright, Humm, and MyDentaPlan. A reference video from the Smile Solutions team on sleep apnoea management for medical practitioners is available at youtube.com/watch?v=DU8AKBgopuI. With over 937 Google reviews and a 4.9-star rating, Smile Solutions is one of Melbourne's most trusted and recognised dental practices.