How dentists can play a role in the diagnosis and treatment of OSA.
Good sleep is one of the foundations of whole-body wellbeing. It supports our mood, energy, focus, immune system, and is important for growth in children. But for many people, sleep isn’t as restful or restorative as it should be. One of the most common - and often unnoticed - reasons for poor sleep is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA).
OSA doesn’t always look dramatic. It often shows up quietly, through everyday signs that many people brush off as “just normal”.
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea happens when the airway becomes partly or completely blocked during sleep. When this happens, breathing stops for short moments, many times throughout the night. The brain briefly wakes the body up just enough to reopen the airway—but not enough for you to remember. This creates a night filled with interruptions, even if you have no memory of waking.
You don’t need to have all symptoms to have OSA. Even one or two can be significant. Signs and symptoms include:
Night-time signs
- Loud snoring
- Teeth grinding (the jaw tries to “pull” the airway open)
- Pauses in breathing (often noticed by partners)
- Restless sleep
- Waking up gasping, choking, or with a dry mouth
Daytime signs
- Feeling tired despite a full night’s sleep
- Morning headaches
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering
- Irritability or mood changes
- Falling asleep easily during quiet activities (reading, watching TV, sitting in meetings)
- Sleepiness while driving.
In children, OSA may show up differently:
- Mouth breathing
- Grinding
- Bedwetting
- Behaviour that looks like hyperactivity
- Slow growth or difficulty focusing at school
- Unfavourable jaw development.
Many factors can narrow or collapse the airway during sleep. These can include:
- Jaw size and shape (a small jaw or narrow palate)
- Enlarged tonsils or adenoids (especially in children)
- Tongue posture and muscle tone
- Nasal congestion
- Weight gain
- Family history
- Sleep posture
- Habits such as mouth breathing
OSA doesn’t just affect sleep - it affects the entire body. Over time, interrupted breathing can contribute to:
- Increased stress hormones
- High blood pressure
- Changes in metabolism
- Increase risks of heart attack and stroke
- Memory difficulties
- Low mood
- Poor concentration
- Disturbed growth in children
- Teeth wear and broken dental restorations from grinding
- Chronic jaw pain or TMD issues
Dentists play a bigger role in airway health than many people realise.
We look at:
- Your teeth wear patterns may reveal signs of grinding or clenching
- Tongue position
- Palate width
- Jaw growth (in children)
- Oral functions
- Tonsils, airway space, and breathing habits
Dentists are often the first clinicians to notice the early signs, as we don’t just listen to your symptoms but we can identify the physical signs.
Depending on your needs, we may recommend:
- A sleep study (at-home or hospital stay)
- Collaboration with GPs, sleep physicians, ENT specialists, or myofunctional therapists
- Oral appliances that gently help keep the airway open
- Myofunctional therapy to improve nasal breathing and tongue posture
- Guidance for children to support healthy facial and airway development
- Lifestyle changes that improve breathing and sleep quality
Dentistry today isn’t just about teeth - it’s about supporting the whole person. If you or someone you love snores, grinds their teeth, feels constantly tired, or wakes unrefreshed, it may be worth exploring your airway health. Our dentists are experienced in OSA diagnosis and treatment, and always take a proactive and holistic approach to patient care.
To arrange an appointment, book online here or call us on (07) 3846 2002