Tom D. wrote:Hi,
I've been using a CPAP (ResMed C-Flex with a swiftLT nasal pillow) for about 9 years now. I did not have a gap in my upper two front teeth prior to using the CPAP. I have about an 1/8 inch gap now and my bite is being affected. I'm reasonably sure the CPAP has caused the problem. The pressure point of the mask is just under the nose and has caused my two front teeth (and adjacent teeth) to 'buck' out.
Hi, Tom, I'm dealing with this too. I hope my information will be helpful to you. I wouldn't put off find a dentist who specializes in sleep apnea. Your teeth will change so slowly by the time you become alarmed, a lot of damage will have been done. Well, not damage exactly, if you don't lose too much bone and can afford the orthodontics.
I've been on CPAP since about 2000 and my front teeth, upper and lower, have been pushed completely off the ridgeline where they're supposed to be, they flare WAY out. I can't bite into anything. Forget spaghetti or lunchmeat sandwiches, my teeth don't come anywhere close enough to bite them off. AND, I now have a lisp.
My teeth were absolutely, perfectly straight before CPAP. I still don't know what I'm going to do about it because I don't have the money for orthodontic work and the preparatory work that would have to be done first.
Oh, and now my chin recedes, too. Not clear whether it's actually been pushed back or just looks that way because of the ridiculous angle of my teeth, but it's somebody else's face, not mine.
I've been searching online for hours now. The only professionals talking about this are the dentists that specialize in sleep apnea. Big conflict of interest so I don't know how much of that to believe. I did a search some years ago and could swear a medical paper referred to it as "smashface," but all I can find now is a Japanese study,
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20616213, with indication of facial change in adults
after only 2 years of CPAP therapy. They didn't mention teeth.
I can't help but wonder if it's some sort of dirty little secret they're in denial about because treating the apnea is so critically important. And, I'm grateful I breathe at night, I even wear the thing when I nap. But, it's been cruel punishment to have these side effects. I was interested in some voiceover work but I can't do it because it's caused me to lisp, too.
Thing is, if it's the tongue thrusting, you'd think a nightly retainer could offset that. Sounds like a relatively cheap and easy fix before it gets bad like mine. That insurance SHOULD pay for it, as a side effect of covered therapy, but how
can they when no one will even acknowledge the side effect?
Bah, humbug, I hope you have success!