Dental Device

[harry_barker]

Does anyone know anything about a dental device that is used to cler the airway?

Thanks in advance.

HB

[blarg]

We're primarily CPAP driven here. Dental devices do work for some, but it depends on your airway structure and what causes your apnea.

You'll probably find more knowlegable posters over at the Talk About Sleep Dental Device Forums

[DreamStalker]

We're primarily CPAP driven here. Dental devices do work for some, but it depends on your airway structure and what causes your apnea.

You'll probably find more knowlegable posters over at the Talk About Sleep Dental Device Forums

You forgot to add that we blow away the competition!

[ZZZzzz]

I spent $250 talking to dentist Lance Timmerman in our Seattle area.
He charged $2600 for the TAP device that essentailly juts your lower jaw forward.
I do know one person at work that uses it and loves it.
I know one person who used it and hated it 'cause she woke up with headaches and jaw pain.
This dentist insisted it had a 99% success rate except for one man that couldn't handle it because he couldn't move his jaw around like he wanted to at night.

I thought it was very expensive and decided for that much I could have surgery.

I'm still researching myself.

Good luck**

-Bev

[snork1]

definitely check out the talkaboutsleep.com dental sleep medicine forum.

The odds of it working are probably not that much worse than the compliance rate for CPAP. You have to go into it with the understanding that its a pricey GAMBLE.

I am using the TAP Titanium myself quite successfully, and know of at least a half dozen people a dental device DOES work for. I highly recommend a CERTIFIED sleep dentist. My sleep dentist fully admits it will not work for everyone. He gives a partial refund if it doesn't work out.

The worst part is that now, after tasting the freedom of the dental device versus CPAP, I have a fear that something will come up that will force me back to CPAP. THAT is scarey!

Further do it at your own risk warning....

You can buy a Somnoguard AP for about $160 without a prescription to see if the technique of pulling your jaw/tongue forward will work for you, and THEN, IF it works go to a sleep dentist and get a less bulky and better fitted but similar device for $1700 (thats what I paid for my TAP).

$160 is less than the average CPAPer spends experimenting with masks in a few months time period.

YMMV

[rested gal]

$160 is less than the average CPAPer spends experimenting with masks in a few months time period.

So true!

The first big batch of pre-owned, packed-away cpap equipment I was able to buy at a reduced price several years was from a message board lady who had been able to switch from "cpap" to a TAP dental device. Good deal for both of us!

I've been watching snork's reports (and his supplies) like a hawk!

Laura -- always happy to see snork's posts!

[roster]

[quote="snork1"].........


You can buy a Somnoguard AP for about $160 without a prescription to see if the technique of pulling your jaw/tongue forward will work for you, and THEN, IF it works go to a sleep dentist and get a less bulky and better fitted but similar device for $1700 (thats what I paid for my TAP).

$160 is less than the average CPAPer spends experimenting with masks in a few months time period.

YMMV

[snork1]

Now THAT is getting into the realm of the raw material I was using to make a do it yourself tongue guide to stop mouth leaks for CPAP.
You have to trim the heck out of those to make them sleepable (actually the Somnogaurd AP can use a fair amount of trimming also, I hear)

Whatever happened to the DIY tongue guide for CPAP? Or doesn't anyone have a problem with mouth leaks anymore?

Don't expect to get much results from the "neutral" position that mouthguard will give you. A friend experimented with that while waiting for his Somnoguard AP and it wasn't even close to the same results. He is doing well with the SomnoAP as his "permanent" device since he is "employment challenged" and can't afford CPAP OR an "official device".

I keep debating pulling the trigger on selling my PILE of CPAP equipment. Even though its been about 8 months, I am still too "scared" to have a "freedom" sale.



[quote="rooster"][quote="snork1"].........


You can buy a Somnoguard AP for about $160 without a prescription to see if the technique of pulling your jaw/tongue forward will work for you, and THEN, IF it works go to a sleep dentist and get a less bulky and better fitted but similar device for $1700 (thats what I paid for my TAP).

$160 is less than the average CPAPer spends experimenting with masks in a few months time period.

YMMV

[rested gal]

Whatever happened to the DIY tongue guide for CPAP? Or doesn't anyone have a problem with mouth leaks anymore?

I use my DIY occasionally. In fact, have been using it quite a few nights the past month -- taping some nights, DIY on other nights. Probably about 50/50 lately.

[purple-cow]

I am using the TAP Titanium myself quite successfully, and know of at least a half dozen people a dental device DOES work for. I highly recommend a CERTIFIED sleep dentist. My sleep dentist fully admits it will not work for everyone. He gives a partial refund if it doesn't work out.

Hi Snork1,

Would you please let me know what dentist you used? I am in the Seattle area myself and need a dental device.

Thanks!

[snork1]

I am using the TAP Titanium myself quite successfully, and know of at least a half dozen people a dental device DOES work for. I highly recommend a CERTIFIED sleep dentist. My sleep dentist fully admits it will not work for everyone. He gives a partial refund if it doesn't work out.

Hi Snork1,

Would you please let me know what dentist you used? I am in the Seattle area myself and need a dental device.

Thanks!

I used Steve Carstensen DDS in Bellevue.
steveCarstensenDDS.com
You can find him listed on the certified sleep dentist finder:
http://www.dentalsleepmed.org/FindaDentist.aspx

It pays to call around and check out websites of certified Sleep dentists. I got quotes all the way up to $3000, and ended up paying $1700. Also make sure to pin them down with what they include for their estimate.

[purple-cow]

I am using the TAP Titanium myself quite successfully, and know of at least a half dozen people a dental device DOES work for. I highly recommend a CERTIFIED sleep dentist. My sleep dentist fully admits it will not work for everyone. He gives a partial refund if it doesn't work out.

Hi Snork1,

Would you please let me know what dentist you used? I am in the Seattle area myself and need a dental device.

Thanks!

I used Steve Carstensen DDS in Bellevue.
steveCarstensenDDS.com
You can find him listed on the certified sleep dentist finder:
http://www.dentalsleepmed.org/FindaDentist.aspx

It pays to call around and check out websites of certified Sleep dentists. I got quotes all the way up to $3000, and ended up paying $1700. Also make sure to pin them down with what they include for their estimate.

Thanks for the info. I was actually on the phone with Dr. Carstensen's office when you posted ...

[oceanpearl]

My experience was a costly one!!
Laid out the money for the device, quit snoring and thought it was working. Then my doc recommended another sleep study, while using the device. OXY levels dropped below 90 several times times and once dropped below 70%.
WHAT A TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY!!

[snork1]

My experience was a costly one!!
Laid out the money for the device, quit snoring and thought it was working. Then my doc recommended another sleep study, while using the device. OXY levels dropped below 90 several times times and once dropped below 70%.
WHAT A TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY!!

I also checked out my 0xygen levels after switching over.
Mine held steady as a rock. As I have said many times, it depends on the cause of your apnea and you have to go into it as a gamble.

You also need to have patience to make sure you are dialed in properly, and that is the weakest point of the whole dental device thing IMHO. Just like with CPAP, too much is left to the patient to "figure out".

You need to advance the jaw SLOWLY and give it time to adjust. You also need to realize it may not work at all until you hit the sweet spot, since you are in actuality opening a "valve". i.e. your tongue-throat.


I think its good to be reminded its not a panacea though. I would be interested in hearing more DETAILS of oceanpearl's experience. THAT could be very helpful in people deciding how likely dental devices MIGHT be for them. And also to figure out if some devices may not work as well as others in general.

[oceanpearl]

I think its good to be reminded its not a panacea though. I would be interested in hearing more DETAILS of oceanpearl's experience. THAT could be very helpful in people deciding how likely dental devices MIGHT be for them. And also to figure out if some devices may not work as well as others in general.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP[/quote]

Having had a really hard time in the beginning of CPAP treatment (couldn't tolerate CPAP0 my pulmonary doctor suggested the device as a last resort.
My experience was with a dentist who specializes in these devices. I don't think that I saw anyone in his office who wasn't there for the device.
It required many trips into his office for impressions fit, etc. He then brought me back into his office once a week for several weeks in order to advance the bite, until he was satisfied that it was to his liking.
Because of the cessation of snoring (and griping by my wife) I thought that I really had beaten the Apnea. Then on the follow up sleep study I was shocked.
This is the point where my sleep doctor told me that he could no longer be responsible for my health unless I went on a BIPAP. I am finally beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel.