Oral appliance alternative to cpap

[scb2thdoc]

Stewart C Brody DDS
17 Maple Drive
Great Neck NY 11021
(516)482-2215
http://www.perfectsmilemaker.com/apnea.htm

Sleep Apnea & Snoring

Treating Sleep Apnea - A Unique Approach

The Thornton Adjustable Positioner® (TAP) is based on the same principle as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR. The airway must be opened to allow air to pass through the throat. A constricted or collapsed airway causes snoring or sleep apnea.

The TAP holds the lower jaw in a forward position so that it does not fall open during the night and cause the airway to collapse. The TAP maintains a clear airway to reduce snoring and improve breathing.

Comfortable and patient-friendly

Custom-made to prevent any change in teeth position or mouth structures

Patient-adjustable allowing maximum comfort and effectiveness

Snoring Defined
When the jaw opens and the tongue falls into the back of the throat, the airway narrows forcing air through the small opening. This creates vibrations in the throat known as snoring. Although snoring seems physically harmless, it can be a “red flag” for a much more serious and sometimes fatal condition called obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the airway completely collapses blocking airflow into the lungs. The harder one tries to breathe, the tighter the airway seals. This airway obstruction persists until the brain partially awakens the person. Unconsciously, he/she will close the jaw returning the tongue and throat to a normal position.

The sleep apnea cycle – falling asleep, jaw relaxing, airway collapsing, unconsciously awakening with a gasp, falling back asleep – can repeat itself 50 or more times per hour during the night. With a blocked air passage, one does not receive enough oxygen. Both the awakenings and oxygen deprivation can then trigger other health problems.

[catbirdgirl]

SPAM.

Also, I've heard these are only good for mild to moderate apnea.

[Goofproof]

And making the car pauments for the seller. Jim

[blarg]

To be fair, some people here have had good success with these. Just know that they cost about as much as a CPAP machine and then may or may not work for you. A more thorough place to discuss dental devices is over at Talk About Sleep:

http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-b ... m.php?f=10

[jskinner]

Out of desperation (since I have been unable to use CPAP for a couple months now) I went and got impressions done for an Oral device this afternoon. I will keep everyone updated on how it turns out. Its supposed to be ready in about two weeks. At this pointed I decided it was worth a shot.

[blarg]

At this pointed I decided it was worth a shot.

I certainly hope it works for you. *fingers crossed*

[cmichels]

I tried the PM Positioner for two weeks. It did not work for me. Granted you can make adjustments to it over time that moves the jaw forward, but after one round of adjustments it was clear it wasn't going to work. I am going to an apap today. The dentist who fitted me for the appliance said it has a high success rate so I would definately look into it if you have mild apnea.

http://www.dentalservices.net/Source/snore2.html

[oceanpearl]

Tried one at 1800.00 of which my insurance co paid 80%. YES it stopped my snoring, however my oxygen levels were dropping into the 70's.

[jskinner]

The dentist who fitted me for the appliance said it has a high success rate so I would definately look into it if you have mild apnea.

The dentist I saw was very honest and said he couldn't make any promises and it doesn't alway help. He was a very nice older man and I saw him three times before making the decision. He has been working together with my sleep doctor and my ENT on my progress.

http://sleepdentist.ca/

He did lament on how frustrated he is that he has no objective way to test to tell if his appliances are working. He said he would like to use some home testing but that it currently is not accepted by the board as it steps on the toes of the sleep labs. He said he is thinking of just going out on his own and doing it anyway. Currently he has to just rely on patient feed back or send them for expensive sleep tests.

[Snoredog]

The dentist who fitted me for the appliance said it has a high success rate so I would definately look into it if you have mild apnea.

The dentist I saw was very honest and said he couldn't make any promises and it doesn't alway help. He was a very nice older man and I saw him three times before making the decision. He has been working together with my sleep doctor and my ENT on my progress.

http://sleepdentist.ca/

He did lament on how frustrated he is that he has no objective way to test to tell if his appliances are working. He said he would like to use some home testing but that it currently is not accepted by the board as it steps on the toes of the sleep labs. He said he is thinking of just going out on his own and doing it anyway. Currently he has to just rely on patient feed back or send them for expensive sleep tests.

I would use your pulse oximeter, your dentist could invest in one of those and send it home with patients and pull reports from it to gage for himself the effectiveness.

From what I've seen of your therapy "on the machine", I say it can't be any worse with the dental device and we know your nasal cavity cannot tolerate the effects of extra pressure.

As for your fungal infection, have they ruled out any valley fever or mitoses sometimes seen in the lungs but can also impact sinuses. You would have to have been exposed to a very dusty environment for that to happen or drive a street sweeper.

[jskinner]

As for your fungal infection, have they ruled out any valley fever or mitoses sometimes seen in the lungs but can also impact sinuses.

At this point a fungal infection looks like it was a figment of my GPs imagination. No ENT has been able to find any sign of an infection since. I've since changed GPs...

[Snoredog]

As for your fungal infection, have they ruled out any valley fever or mitoses sometimes seen in the lungs but can also impact sinuses.

At this point a fungal infection looks like it was a figment of my GPs imagination. No ENT has been able to find any sign of an infection since. I've since changed GPs...

that is good to hear, those can be hard to get rid of. There is a blood test they can give to diagnose it.

Are you still going in for the surgery?

If you have any kind of chronic nasal congestion, I would consider it, worked for me.

[WearyOne]

snoredog, that pulse oxymeter idea is great. The patient could take it home for a few nights when wearing the TAP or whatever. The one thing about these devices is I believe the only way to have an idea if it's working on a regular basis would be to buy an expensive oxymeter that records through the night and has report capability.. How a person feels is not always a very good indicator (at least not for me )

I went for a consulation with a dentist who specializes in these things. On the phone before I even made the appointment, she said that if my apnea was in the severe range, it wouldn't help much, if at all. Once I was at the appointment, the dentist said that CPAP is the "gold standard for OSA," and that he felt these oral devices should be only for patients who cannot tolerate CPAP or for those who travel a lot and don't want to take along the CPAP. I tolerate CPAP (now even better than I did then), so he said I should stay with that. I feel this is pretty solid advice since he could have made a bunch of money off me (or my insurance) if I tried it. (They didn't even charge me the full consultation fee because the dentist decided I should stick with CPAP!)

Pam

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, Travel

[Snoredog]

[quote="WearyOne"]snoredog, that pulse oxymeter idea is great. The patient could take it home for a few nights when wearing the TAP or whatever. The one thing about these devices, you don't have any way of charting your therapy at home on a regular basis to know if it's working or not. How a person feels is not always a very good indicator (at least not for me )

I went for a consulation with a dentist who specializes in these things. On the phone before I even made the appointment, she said that if my apnea was in the severe range, it wouldn't help much, if at all. Once I was at the appointment, the dentist said that CPAP is the "gold standard for OSA," and that he felt these oral devices should be only for patients who cannot tolerate CPAP or for those who travel a lot and don't want to take along the CPAP. I tolerate CPAP (now even better than I did then), so he said I should stay with that. I feel this is pretty solid advice since he could have made a bunch of money off me (or my insurance) if I tried it. (They didn't even charge me the full consultation fee because the dentist decided I should stick with CPAP!)

Pam

[snork1]

[quote="cmichels"]I tried the PM Positioner for two weeks. It did not work for me. Granted you can make adjustments to it over time that moves the jaw forward, but after one round of adjustments it was clear it wasn't going to work. I am going to an apap today. The dentist who fitted me for the appliance said it has a high success rate so I would definately look into it if you have mild apnea.

http://www.dentalservices.net/Source/snore2.html