Anyone try/use a dental device?

[montana user]

As some of you know who read my posts, my sleep lab has been working closley with a local dentist who is very big on sleep apnea. She has done tons of research and classes and found that she can tell by the teeth if you have sleep apnea. So far everyone she has sent to me, she has been correct. My issue is this- she has recently put out a commercial with a gentleman stating he tried CPAP and it didn't work and he knows that CPAP won't work for others. Pretty much the commercial in my mind is telling people not to bother with CPAP, but rather try the dental device. ( good money maker onher part)

I would like to visit with people who have tried a dental device and had it work, or not work. I have to give a presentation in a few weeks on sleep apnea and they want me to include a section on dental devices. I am not against the dental devices, but feel there is a very small percent that can benefit from them. Maybe I am wrong. Thanks for your help!

[Julie]

You're not wrong and I think your dental friend is out to lunch, whether or not her identification technique is valid. There may be a place for the devices, but they're not "the" answer for the majority of OSA patients (yet, anyhow).

[williamco]

would you tell me that dentist info (web site, contact) even privately so no one thinks it is a spam?
I just tried CPAP and it is not working and I am exploring dental devices options
Thanks

[elena88]

My husband tried one. He hated it. It was very uncomfortable the way it had to set his jaw forward.

It was also very expensive.

The puppy ate it.

He was so relieved.

[SleepingUgly]

This is just my personal bias, if I were going to give a talk on apnea and wanted to include a section on dental devices, I would read some of the research on it and cite that. As this is a CPAP forum, I doubt if many people have tried AND succeeded 100% with dental devices, or they wouldn't be here.

[SoftPretzel]

I tried it and hated it. It left my jaw aching and the space in between the teeth would hurt also. It is such a tight fit, I thought I might pull my fillings out taking the thing off every day. Chewing on some plastic tabs to make your jaw get back into the proper place is scary, especially the first day. I could not get used to this idea. Despite being a tight fit, the thing would somehow manage to come off occasionally during the night, probably because I must have unconsciously loosened it during sleep because of discomfort. I even had one of the adjustable ones that allows you to gradually increase the amount it moves your jaw forward over several weeks. This was not any help.

I don't recommend these devices, although they may work if you can tolerate them. For me, the negatives weren't worth the trouble.

I would like to add that I recommend the Mirage Liberty CPAP mask for those who may be hunting for a comfortable mask. I've tried quite a few, and I don't think this one can be beat.

[Mtnviewer]

If you do a search of this forum for the keywords such as dental or oral and or appliances and or devices, you will come up with the considerably short discussions of the experiences of those who have tried the devices. I have written several times on the topic of my experience with one and the summary is that I doubt that they will work effectively for anyone for OSA compared to PAP therapy, and I base this on my unsuccessful use of a dental device for several years for OSA and my success with PAP therapy in comparison.

My main experiential summary is that there is no way that such a device can defeat gravity over the long haul, meaning that it's gravity that pulls the tongue and or tissue in the throat to close the airway and an oral device, IME and IMO, simply cannot and does not gather up enough or any tissue to open the airway, especially for the long term as we age and things sag ever more, let alone the short term. This is especially true in a supine sleeping position. Pulling the jaw forward to the extent required, for me an "ideal" candidate, especially for supine sleeping, would have to have beenb done to such an extent to cause me (and maybe most) more side effect harm from the appliance, than good with treataing OSA. Also, as I was told that I was likely an IDEAL candidate to have success with an oral appliance, and after a couple of years of working to achieve success, the orthodontist was very wrong and I'd even suggest lied, so as to get my money. As well, he downplayed the side effects of a jaw advancing oral appliance. These devices are just HUGE profit makers for dentists and the greedy ones will tell you anything to get your money and the tired desperate of us are duped into giving up our money because we aren't thinking straight and we are desperate for help. In other words, the dentists prey upon the weak, offer zero gaurantees or refunds and require waivers for any damage that their "therapy" might cause. What kind of treatment bullshit is that? They get your money and you get screwed and remain exhausted.

PAP therapy air pressure on the other hand does help keep the airway open, much like an inflated balloon keeps things outside of the balloon out. An oral appliance simply cannot do this type of thing. It's attached to teeth, the jaw and not the soft tissue or the tongue that is the cause of closing the airway. This PAP air pressure is very effective in keeping the airway "inflated" / open. Most people fail with PAP therapy, perhaps due to not finding and fiddling enough with a mask and pillow and their sleeping position so that too much air pressure isn't required and so less initial discomfort getting used to the new experience of PAP therapy. I don't notice the mask or PAP machine now that I've found and fiddled enough, as I'm enjoying deep restful sleep while wearing and using CPAP.

Good luck with your presentation and thanks for remaining open and somewhat neutral, vs just believing the hype. There just aren't enough successful appliance users to substantiate the claims.

[countman88]

Tried a dentist fitted mandibular splint a few years ago. Cost $500 with a 3 month money back guarantee. I tried it for 3 months, thought it worked, had a sleep study to check. the results were that it was quite effective, but not as effective as my cpap machine. Opted for the money back, then later regretted it as it was very handy for overnight or two or three day trips rather than taking my cpap with me. it was a bit uncomfortable for the first week, but it was ok after that, and a lot more user friendly than cpap.
I have now bought an ebay special for around $60 and use it for short travel, and if having an afternoon sleep. It works ok, certainly stops the snoring, and my wife informs me I sleep soundly with it.

KenD
bris

[howkim]

Your dentist friend ought to check with FDA about what's allowed to be advertised for a medical device. They tend to get kind of picky about the kinds of stuff others would just let fly by. Their big things are safety and efficacy.

[Kilopy]

I have used a "dental device" for years and would not go without it. It was expensive and remains that way when I have it replaced. Fortunately my insurance pays for most of the cost. However, it is not used to treat my sleep apnea - It is used for protection, as I grind my teeth, which most people do. It does have the benefit of helping to keep my jaw forward while sleeping but does not take the place OSA treatment. I find the guards very comfortable, but they need to be designed well. It isn't just a matter of getting it to fit correctly with one sitting, as it takes several appointments for the adjustments (in addition to the impressions that are taken before the guard is ever produced. I would doubt the credentials of any dentist that claims a guard of the type you mention is a "cure all" for OSA. One does need to be cautious about the type of guard used, as many dentists make provide one that is really nothing more that an expensive mouth guard similar to those used in sports.

[Hope1952]

As some of you know who read my posts, my sleep lab has been working closley with a local dentist who is very big on sleep apnea. She has done tons of research and classes and found that she can tell by the teeth if you have sleep apnea. So far everyone she has sent to me, she has been correct. My issue is this- she has recently put out a commercial with a gentleman stating he tried CPAP and it didn't work and he knows that CPAP won't work for others. Pretty much the commercial in my mind is telling people not to bother with CPAP, but rather try the dental device. ( good money maker onher part)

I would like to visit with people who have tried a dental device and had it work, or not work. I have to give a presentation in a few weeks on sleep apnea and they want me to include a section on dental devices. I am not against the dental devices, but feel there is a very small percent that can benefit from them. Maybe I am wrong. Thanks for your help!

My husband faithfully wore a $1300 dental device, complete with a hinge, for 18 months. It was painful for him and he claims it moved his teeth. He continued to snore while using it. He finally agreed to a sleep study in January and has been on cpap for 4 months. He now sleeps so quietly and is so still, I often reach over to touch him to make sure he's still breathing. His AHI is about 1.5.

[montana user]

THANK YOU everyone for you input. I knew there had to be some people who had tried the dental applicane before CPAP and you didn't let me down! I appreciate it!! Also I have reseached this topic and I get a bunch of numbers, I really like to get people who have first hand knowledge when I do my presentations, instead of web searches. Thanks again everyone

[littlebuddha]

I must say I tried the cpap for over 1 year, I would take it off every night in my sleep and could never get used to it, despite daily attempts to have it on each night when I went to sleep.

I finally got a mouthpiece, and it is working well. feel well rested in the morning. it seems to be doing for me what CPAP does for the ones it works for.

I think there's too much bad press on the mouthpiece, and the mouthpiece is the only way for apnea to be treated, since only 1/3 of patients stick with CPAP treatment, where as most stick with oral appliance treatment which at the very least helps. I can breathe when falling asleep with the appliance in.

Wanted to share for anyone else who can't get the cpap to work and can't deal with lugging it around for travel. I paid about 3000 for the my appliance and thus far it's worth it after 2 nights of sleeping with it.