Dental device + nPAP

becktrev · Post by **becktrev** » Fri May 18, 2007 9:10 am

Ok, a short while ago I got a bit technical on the subject of nPpap Software. It was with a particular purpose. I was wanting to look at something specific in more graphic detail than would otherwise have been possible.

This was why: I wanted to check the results of using a dental device together with my machine. You know the sort - a teeth clamp pushing the jaw forwards.

Background:
CPAP pressure had over the years gradually increased to 12. This was OK most of the time. But I would occasionally suddenly wake up with a real pearler – heart pounding, panic feeling, usually around 4 a.m.. Most of us recognise the situation – I don't need to explain the cause .

So I changed to APAP. After a while of tweaking, I settled on a 10 – 14 range. (Anything lower as starter was disastrous)
The arousals problem seemed to be solved and statistics were not bad. Pressure hovered quite a lot of the time around 14, which seemed sometimes to induce a few centrals.
I must emphasise – this was a setting only for me. I'm not recommending anything.

And then I read about the positive results with dental devices and though "I wonder?"
I sent for a 'make it yourself' model from an internet pharmacy and had a go. I didn't want to pay too much for a pure experiment.
I'm too ham-fisted to claim it was anything like a competent job, but it was more or less OK.

I used it for a week at the same time as still using the APAP.
From day one, I could hardly believe the morning readouts. Pressure was practically never above 10 and much better apnea/hypo results.
I tweaked the lower pressure down to 8. And there it was - the first time I've ever seen 0s on all apneas and hypos on the morning software.

I thought, "O.k. how good is the thing?" and gave the machine full control for the night, 6-14.
The result? 3 or 4 short apneas and a few hypos of relatively short duration – pressure most of the time 6-8 with an occasional quick 10.

I have to say I'm impressed. I will have a professional one made, which will at least fit more comfortably and then look for an ideal APAP setting.
And what do I expect of it? Open mind! But I'm optimistic. I've a feeling the 12-14 pressure times will become history.

tangents · Post by **tangents** » Fri May 18, 2007 9:48 am

That is awesome!

Care to share a link for that make-it-yourself mouthpiece? I'm convinced that my mouth position is key to my therapy also. Now that I have the 420E (Yippee!), I will be starting to tweak my parameters to get my "old self" back. Of course, when I realize how old I've become, I may opt for the haze back! Just kidding, of course.

Thanks for sharing your post. I've learned a lot from you these last few days!

Take Care,
Cathy

frete50 · Post by **frete50** » Fri May 18, 2007 9:59 am

My Dentist stated that he uses and also makes impressions for the Snoreguard by airwaylabs.com. I checked with the receptionist and she stated the price for the basic device is about $700.

Becky

becktrev · Post by **becktrev** » Fri May 18, 2007 1:12 pm

My goodness, one could get the impression this forum is 70% populated by ladies.

Mandibular Advancement Splints

This was one of the web sites I took some of the information from:
http://www.doctorspiller.com/snore_guards.htm

This is the one I had sent from a German online pharmacy – 49 Euro:
http://www.nosnorezone.com/somnoguard.html
A sort of silikon material – soften in boiling water, clamp the teeth together on it and push the chin forwards before it cools. I think they are called 'boil and bite' in the US.
Quite primitive but it was cheap for a trial.

This is what I thought to order:
http://www.silensor.co.uk/silensor.html
Cost about 250 Euro here when fitted by a specialised dentist. Acceptable.

My brother in New Zealand – a champion in 'bashing out the Zzzds' whilst asleep - made me aware of the system. He has used it with success for a year or so.
It goes against the grain to admit the baby brother has good ideas, but this time I have to give him points.

There are thousands of good links on the subject. I just threw these in as examples from my browser bookmarks.

Greetings from the Black Forest,
Howard

tangents · Post by **tangents** » Fri May 18, 2007 1:46 pm

Howard,

There ARE a lot of women on this forum. Or maybe we're just post more actively?

This is what I ended up buying. Not quite the same thing, I know, but it's a cheap way to start out.

http://cgi.ebay.com/BEST-FIT-DENTAL-PRE ... dZViewItem

Cathy

cpapernewbie · Post by **cpapernewbie** » Fri May 18, 2007 4:21 pm

Cathy

just check the e_Bay site

Interesting!

Do you war this item on the lower set og your teeth or on the upper part?

How does this impact your AHI?

GeneS · Post by **GeneS** » Fri May 18, 2007 4:53 pm

I use a dental device at the same time as nasal cpap. I use a http://www.snorban.com device that costs about $30.00. You form it to fit your mouth after dipping in hot water. I think the quality compares to the $350 dental device that my dentist made 5 years ago or so. I wear it to help with mouth breathing and to hold my tongue and jaw forward. I do not have software yet but I think it helps me. Years ago I had surgery to move my jaw forward so it makes sense to hold it forward.

GeneS

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Fri May 18, 2007 5:04 pm

Fascinating....
I have been wondering when someone would try the dental devices combined with CPAP. Seems like it SHOULD help, even if it doesn't eliminate the need for CPAP.

Check out the Somnogard AP for $160 and no prescription required. A bit bulky and not as much travel as the custom ones, but a good little work horse.

Available at
http://nosnorezone.com/order.html

I am amoung the REALLY lucky and a TAP device has totally eliminated CPAP for me. That won't happen for everyone, but this combo treatment sounds like it might be an alternative to consider in itself.

GeneS · Post by **GeneS** » Fri May 18, 2007 8:57 pm

I have been using the dental device with cpap for five years or so. I do not remember but it makes sense especially if the back of the tongue is closing off the airway. It takes a while to get used to. I gave up once because it felt strange but a month or so later I tried it again and it has been no problem since. I do not know if it would be the correct treatment for everyone or if it could cause them problems but I think it helps me. I wore a chin strap which pushed my jaw back without the snorban device. I am now experimenting with taping also. I think it is helping to. I plan to get a system with software so I can get better data than just going by how I feel during the day.

GeneS

Dental device + nPAP

Dental device + nPAP

Teeth things