Terms & Definitions

 

Ablation:	Ablate means ‘to remove’. Ablation is the act of removing.
AHI:	Apnoea-Hypopnea Index.  This is a measure of the average number of apnoea and hypopnea ‘events’ that occur per sleep hour.  Obstructive sleep apnoea is often defined as an AHI of 10 or more. AHI is essentially the same thing as the RDI (see below).
Anterior:	The front.  The opposite of Posterior.
Apnoea:	(spelled apnea in the United States and Canada) means "not breathing".
Bi-PAP:	Bilevel positive airway pressure -- treatment where air is blown through a mask placed over the nose in a way that allows control of air pressure both when you inhale and when you exhale.
CPAP (NCPAP):	(Nasal) Continuous Positive Airway Pressure  -- treatment involving a mask and air pump which inflates the airway to keep it open.  This is the primary treatment for obstructive sleep apnea.
Dental Device:	In the context of SDB, this is a catch-all phrase which describes a wide range of devices and appliances which are placed inside the mouth
Deviated Nasal Septum:	The nasal septum is the structure which divides your nasal cavity into two halves.  It is the wall between your nostrils. Sometimes the septum is deformed, so that the air passage is obstructed or totally blocked in one or both nostrils.
Glossial:	Pertaining to the tongue
Hypopnea:	A partial cessation of breathing, whereas an apnoea is a complete cessation. The clinical definition of a hypopnea is a 50% to 90% cessation of breathing, and an apnoea is a 91% to 100% cessation of breathing.
Labial:	Pertaining to the lips
MAA:	Mandibular Advancement Appliance.  This is a term used to describe a range of dental devices which move the lower jaw forward.   The term is more or less interchangeable with MRD, below.
Maxilla:	The upper jaw.  Maxillary or Maxillo are derivatives of this word.
Mandible:	The lower jaw.  ‘Mandibular’ is a derivative of this word.
MRD:	Mandibular Repositioning Device.  This is another term used to describe a wide range of dental devices which move the lower jaw forward.   The term is more or less interchangeable with MAA, above.
OSA:	Obstructive Sleep Apnea.   The airway is fully obstructed, leading to interrupted breathing.  The person actually stops breathing for up to two minutes at a time.
Palate:	The roof of your mouth.
Polysomnogram:	Procedure to monitor patient's sleeping patterns, typically in a sleep studies centre or laboratory.   Brain waves,  oxygen levels, respiratory effort, snoring, heart rate, heart rhythm and muscular activity are monitored and recorded.
Radio-Frequency Tissue Reduction (RFTR):	A relatively new approach to shrinking tissue (such as excess throat tissue or the uvula) using radiofrequency signals to heat a thin needle inserted in the tissue.  See Somnoplasty for further details.
Posterior:	The back.  The opposite of Anterior.
RDI:	Respiratory Disturbance Index.  This is a clinical measurement indicating the severity of a patient's sleep disorder.  Essentially the same as AHI (see above).
Rhinitis:	An inflammation of the nasal and sinus passages. In other words, a blocked nose, which forces you to breathe through your mouth.
Snoreplasty:	Also known as injection snoreplasty, this procedure involves the injection of a scarring agent into the soft tissue of the soft palate and uvula.  The resulting scar stiffen the soft tissue and thus reduces the noise of snoring.
Somnoplasty:	A relatively new approach to removing tissue (such as excess uvula, soft palate or throat tissue) using radiofrequency signals to heat a thin needle inserted in the tissue.
TMJ(D):	TemporoMandibular Joint (Dysfunction).  The TMJ is the joint that connects your jaw bones.  TMJD is a result of a serious irritation or stress placed on this joint.
Uvula:	The droopy piece of tissue which hangs from the rear of the soft palate.
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP):	The surgical removal of the excess tissue at the back of the throat, including the uvula.