Teeth misalignment due to CPAP

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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jencat824
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Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2012 5:06 pm
Location: Jeffersonville, Indiana

Re: Teeth misalignment due to CPAP

Post by jencat824 » Sat Oct 25, 2014 10:55 pm

Captain_Midnight wrote: The pressure point of the mask is just under the nose and has caused my two front teeth (and adjacent teeth) to 'buck' out.

I suspect that what you observe is true.

You might consider using a nasal mask instead of "pillows".

Early on in my therapy, I found that pressure from the nasal mask gently maintained my upper bite, and in fact I no longer need to use a dental retainer.

.
I'm so jealous. The positive side effect of my wearing the Invisalign is that I keep my mouth shut better at night now, so I no longer have leaks from mouth breathing. After the final effect is achieved I will need a retainer at night. I'm kinda glad about this, since I won't have to worry about leaks again - well unless I find another way of running my mouth at night.

Jen

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Pressure Auto 12-20cm CPAP compliant since 2000
Other masks I've tried: *=liked, #= no way
Piliaro, SleepWeaver Elan*, Swift FX w&w/o Bella Loops#, OpitLife#,Simplicity*, Mirage Vista*, Go Life for Her#, IQ (original hg only)*, Quattro FX (barely)###, Wisp*, Nuance#, Swift LT for her**

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redpenner
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Joined: Thu Sep 18, 2014 12:32 am
Location: Shelton, WA

Re: Teeth misalignment due to CPAP

Post by redpenner » Sat Oct 25, 2014 11:53 pm

My Mirage Liberty mask pushes hard against my upper lip and through to my upper teeth (just on one side). Thanks to old-timey orthodontia, my teeth are loose and with the pressure I wake up with them sore every morning. I never thought about the mask actually moving my teeth!

I've relieved the pressure a little bit by attaching the velcro strap on that side up higher on my head (so it's pulling up more than across). But I don't want to change masks - I can't wear other full face masks without a lot of pain and leaks. I started out using a Swift FX nasal cushion but started having trouble with nasal congestion. I'm going to ask my dentist about a retainer for sure!

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Mask: Mirage Liberty™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Nasal Pillows With Headgear
Additional Comments: Use ResMed Swift FX nasal pillows also at times

Tango
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Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2014 8:54 pm

Re: Teeth misalignment due to CPAP

Post by Tango » Sun Oct 26, 2014 8:12 am

Samething happened last night. It appears that with the head gear I use for the f10, the strap that pulls over the head creates the need for me to clench my teeth. I guess. So, I have been waking up with terrible sore jaw muscles. So sore I can't close my jaw on the right side. However, when I take my mask off it returns to normal with in 30 minutes.
Interestingly, my ahi numbers are extra low. I was averaging 3.5. Now when my haw gets realigned (painful as it is, )
I am getting .08 and 1.5
I think I am going to go to one of the dentist that molds a mouthpiece. A friend sys it has worked wonders for him.
I love the machine. I do. But, if I am getting lower numbers due to my jaw placement then I think I AMA candidate for it or the jaw surgery.
I noticed when my jaw drops back in a lazy fashion my air flow is restricted but if I force my jaw forward it opens my throat. This is especially noticeable when laying on my back. This has nothing to do with my jaw and the head strap. Rather something I noticed when I took my mask off this morning.

_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: AirFit™ F10 Full Face Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: I couldn't find the humidifier I use. I think it's climate control by resmed

SharonPerp
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Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 5:49 pm

Re: Teeth misalignment due to CPAP

Post by SharonPerp » Wed May 27, 2015 7:31 pm

SMenasco wrote:Tom, I had the same thing, only with my bottom two center teeth. I have been on cpap for twenty years. My dentist told me the movement of my bottom teeth is due to deterioration of the ligaments holding the teeth to the bone, a function of age. He showed me on an x-ray. I don't know if the same thing might be happening to you. Good luck.
I would consider a second opinion. I have this problem and went to a dental school. The first thing they said was the movement of my teeth was probably due to bone loss. Once they actually did xrays and examined me they changed it to, the teeth have moved due to the nightly pushing and that has CAUSED the bone loss as the teeth are no longer where they should be so the bone disappears, "thinking" it's not needed anymore..

SharonPerp
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Re: Teeth misalignment due to CPAP

Post by SharonPerp » Wed May 27, 2015 7:41 pm

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!