Swift nasal pillow changing my bite

Hi all,
I just got back from the dentist. I had a crown put on a couple weeks ago, and developed some very sensitive teeth, plus my front teeth were hitting, for the first time ever. I went back today to figure out why all the new problems. The dentist (who is an excellent dentist), said that for some reason, my bite was really off. Alot of my back teeth were hitting. When I told him that my nasal pillow rests pretty tightly right above my upper lip, he said that it very possibly could be changing my bite. He said it has a similar effect as with headgear for braces, and that is that it puts alot of backwards pressure on the upper teeth. Bummer. I don't want to go to a full face mask. I know it can have its own problems. I have gotten good results with the Swift (original) nasal pillow and I use tape on my mouth. But I don't want to keep having my bite change because of it. I could probably try to loosen the headset up, but then I'll get lots of leakage around the pillow.
Any suggestions?? I also wanted to give all you nasal pillow users the heads-up, if your bite starts to change.
I have the feeling that I needed the crown because my bite had changed, and caused one of my teeth to break. In fact, last year, I felt like my top front teeth were a little loose and was wondering about my nasal pillow. Dangit. I find a solution to one problem, and another one pops up!

Country4ever wrote:I also wanted to give all you nasal pillow users the heads-up, if your bite starts to change.

Thanks for the heads up, Country. Sorry that's happened to you. It's good that you posted about your experience, in case something like that does begin to happen to others.

One thing I'd like to mention... you said you're using the original Swift. That particular nasal pillows mask has a rather large cylinder or barrel which pretty much sits right on the area between upper lip and nostrils. There are other nasal pillows masks that don't make any contact with that area. The Headrest nasal pillows mask, for example. And the ComfortLite 2. Those masks can have their own sets of fitting problems for some users. No mask suits everyone. But at least they don't press on the area outside the upper teeth.

So, I think the likelihood of upper teeth getting braced back, in effect, would depend on what brand of particular nasal pillows mask a person is using, rather than just being a nasal pillows user in general. I can also see how it could happen with a plain nasal mask (covering the nose) too, if the bottom of the mask hit outside the upper teeth and was worn with bottom straps rather tight.

That has to be disappointing, Country. To have found a mask that suits you so well, then to have unexpected expensive dental problems possibly related to using it. Real bummer.

Another nasal pillows mask that you might consider, in addition to the ones Rested Gal mentioned, is the Swift LT. It would be similar to what you are currently using but, again, without the large barrel of the original Swift. It does have a much smaller type barrel (I wouldn't even call it a barrel - but not sure what else to call it!) right up under the pillows. It would sit on your gum area but not on the teeth. That MAY cause the same problem but, being smaller, I don't think so. It's just a guess on my part.

If you could try some of the suggested ones at your DME - even be allowed to use them at home for a few nights, you may still be able to use nasal pillows but a different nasal pillow mask.

I agree with Rested Gal - good that you raised this for others who may have the same problem.