Anyone have experience with the Orthodontic Mouthpiece in lieu of CPAP?

[RomanDelta]

Hi All,

Wondering if anyone has experience going the mouthpiece route to cure sleep apnea as opposed to CPAP?

http://hammontonbraces.televox.west.com ... leep-apnea

Apparently it is viable in lieu of CPAP if you apnea less than 30 times per hour. My current rate is 7/hour.

Any info is appreciated.

[chunkyfrog]

Many here consider dental devices a scam. They seldom work.
Google TMJ.
Know that it is a possible effect of some dental devices.
A colleague suffered from it--and I mean she SUFFERED.
We shared a cubicle, and I could hear her moans over my headphones.

[ChicagoGranny]

The correct terminology is Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs).

CPAP is the gold standard for sleep-disordered breathing.

My current rate is 7/hour.

You might be able to treat that by sleeping on your sides and stomach. Obstructive sleep apnea tends to be worse when backsleeping because gravity is directly pulling the tongue into the airway.

My current rate is 7/hour.

How old are you? Are you aware that obstructive sleep apnea is a progressive condition? It tends to worsen with age.

[RomanDelta]

Thanks Chunkyfrog. Yeah TMJ sucks, definitely don't want that.

ChicagoGranny - I am a lifelong backsleeper unfortunately, lol. No way I'd ever be able to sleep on stomach. Side is a little easier, however. Presently I am 34 years old, 6 foot 1 inches, 189lbs. Those stats definitely don't suggest sleep apnea would happen to me, but it runs deep in my family and my throat shape is classic for it unfortunately.

[ChicagoGranny]

Presently I am 34 years old, 6 foot 1 inches, 189lbs. Those stats definitely don't suggest sleep apnea would happen to me

"It's not the size of the neck on the outside, it's the size of the airway in the neck." - Dr. Mack Jones

but it runs deep in my family and my throat shape is classic for it unfortunately.

While you are young is a good time to learn to use CPAP well. If your condition should worsen as you age, you will be well ahead of things. And, CPAP may help prevent your condition from progressing.

[palerider]

Presently I am 34 years old, 6 foot 1 inches, 189lbs. Those stats definitely don't suggest sleep apnea would happen to me,

Well, sure, if you hold to the outmoded theory that weight is the defining factor.

[CPAPPED-ADAPT]

The MAD device was a stunning failure in my case, resulting in exquisitely painful long-lasting TMJ and a steep out-of-pocket financial loss. Not to mention it did nothing to improve my sleep apnea symptoms.

No more chasing shiny baubles for me. I'm a strict adherent to regular CPAP usage these days.

[SteveGold]

I paid a chunk of change for my MAD. It did improve my sleep quality somewhat, but only when used with CPAP. But the TMJ problems are immediate and persistent. These devices also tend to be big enough that you can’t close your mouth properly - so it adds mouth breathing into the mix. I used mine for two weeks and stopped.

I’ve had more luck with an Advanced Lightwire Functional device. The bottom piece is basically a bite plate that allows my jaw to slide forward to where it wants to be, correcting my overbite. Because my jaw’s not being forced into a particular positoin and locked there, I’ve had no TMJ issues. The ALF does other stuff - its main purpose is palate expansion - but the bite plate intervention alone has improved my sleep (again, when used with CPAP).

[beautifuldreamer]

I had an overnight sleep study with a makeshift dental appliance to see if it would work for me. Apparently with the device, my AHI doubled from what it was when I was first diagnosed with Sleep Apnea! So, it was a definite No Go for me.

[RomanDelta]

Thanks everyone. You have convinced me to not go the MAD route. I will continue practicing with my CPAP.

[Traveljunkie]

I used one for over two years and it worked real well, however, my bottom teeth started to shift and had to stop using it. Had to suck it up and start using a cpap