Miscellaneous Item Numbers – Part 2 – Item No. 983-985 Snoring or Sleep Apnoea Device

983 Single arch oral appliance for diagnosed snoring and obstructive snoring and sleep apnoea

On request from a specialist sleep physician, the provision and appropriate dental supervision of a removable single arch (jaw) oral appliance to assist in the treatment of assessed snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea disorders.

Reference should be made to the report published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine entitled “Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and Snoring with Oral Appliance Therapy: An Update for 2015” as endorsed by the Australian Dental Association.

Recommendations of the above report:

1. That sleep physicians prescribe oral appliances, rather than no therapy, for adult patients who request treatment of primary snoring (without obstructive sleep apnoea). (STANDARD)
2. When oral appliance therapy is prescribed by a sleep physician for an adult patient with obstructive sleep apnoea, we suggest that a qualified dentist use a custom, titratable appliance over non-custom oral devices. (GUIDELINE)
3. Sleep physicians consider prescription of oral appliances, rather than no treatment, for adult patients with obstructive sleep apnoea who are intolerant of CPAP therapy or prefer alternate therapy. (STANDARD)
4. That qualified dentists provide oversight — rather than no follow-up — of oral appliance therapy in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnoea, to survey for dental related side effects or occlusal changes and reduce their incidence. (GUIDELINE)
5. That sleep physicians conduct follow-up sleep testing to improve or confirm treatment efficacy, rather than conduct follow-up without sleep testing, for patients fitted with oral appliances. (GUIDELINE)
6. That sleep physicians and qualified dentists instruct adult patients treated with oral appliances for obstructive sleep apnoea to return for periodic office visits — as opposed to no follow-up — with a qualified dentist and a sleep physician. (GUIDELINE)

Reference: Thomas SM, Chervin RD. Clinical practice guideline for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea and snoring with oral appliance therapy: an update for 2015. J Clin Sleep Med 2015;11(7):773–827.

984 Bi-maxillary oral appliance for diagnosed snoring and obstructive snoring and sleep apnoea

This is the same as item 983 but the appliance involves both jaws.

985 Repair/addition – snoring or sleep apnoea device

The repair/addition, reinsertion and adjustment of a snoring or sleep apnoea device. Any impression(s), if required, should be itemised. See item 776.

Please Note: SNORING OR SLEEP APNOEA
This is a condition that can be potentially life threatening. Children in particular should not be snoring. Proper medical investigations should be carried out as to the causes of snoring. Sleep apnoea can lead to obstruction of the airway and is common in overweight people. Other side effects are grinding of the teeth. Again there are many causes of sleep apnoea and snoring, including inflamed anatomical structures in the sinuses or throat, medication, fatty tissue, postural issues, and so on. It is complex and serious. SEEK ADVICE!

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