Oral appliance for grinding teeth and apnea

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:33 am

For the Snorban users, has this been effective in keeping you from mouthbreathing? Is that why you wear it?

Or is anyone using a similar product that keeps them from mouthbreathing? I'd love to get rid of my chin strap. It's not WILDLY IRRITATING, but I wouldn't miss it if it was gone.

Thanks!!!
B.

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:47 am

Babette,

The TAP is coming from a very reputable Oral Surgeon in my town who specializes in sleep medicine. He got a copy of my sleep study b4 he would even see me. He did a VERY THOROUGH examination of my teeth, jaw, throat. Took all kinds of measurements with my jaw in different postions and came to the conclusion that the TAP will probably HELP but not ELIMINATE my need for xpap treatment. At the time, I was 2+ weeks into treatment and EXTREMELY frustrated because of aerophagia and at that time I didn't have an auto machine and I wasn't able to wear a mask more than 2 hours a night. Obviously I was sleep deprived and desperate! But I'm still glad I am doing it because it is being covered for the most part by my insurance and it might help. I personally want to explore every option because I'm only 35!

Another thing--he insisted I need to get my tonsils out (they sometimes get so big they touch during allergy season) and this isn't a surgery he does, so I respected that opinion. He was adamant that I do the tonsilectomy b4 I even get the TAP.

I have heard fromt he snorban users that it did stop the mouth breathing and the website for the product I ordered says the same thing. I'm also hoping to get rid of mouth tape and chin strap. I think it would be fine in winter but in summer it is a pain. Also, I'm breaking out everywhere they touch my skin. It would be far worse if I weren't doing ocm, I'm sure.

You are going to have to WORK FAST with your boil and bite guard. I would actually rehearse in your mind what you are going to do with it a few times b4 you start the boiling process. You only have 3 tries and I ruined mine on the 3rd try.

TAP is a specific brand. Thornton Adjustable Positioner. It is one of the few that is adjustable, titrateable as it were. And yes, my oral surgeon says I will have another titration with it, and my machine after the tonsilectomy and TAP are done.

Look at the quietsleep link in my above post for info about TAP. It is at bottom right of the screen under all the other ones.

I am well aware that many haven't had luck with this device and others. But many also have. It is worth trying. I'm not obese by any means. I'm well on my way to losing the 50 lbs they want me to lose to get to a normal bmi. Every doc that has seen me said that as soon as my energy gets back and i lose some weight they think it will help the severity of my apnea, but not necesarily cure it. If I can reduce the severity by losing weight it seems posible that the TAP alone might do the trick and if I can get used to it--well the ablility to sleep on my side without blowing up like a balloon would make it all worth it!

Jen

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:53 am

The snoremate (link in my previous post) supposedly helps with the mouthbreathing according to their website. They say they shipped on July 2. I hope it isn't lost in US mail. Their website says it can take up to two weeks and I suppose with the holiday in there I should try to be more patient! I just want to stop the tape and chinstrap business!

My skin looks so much better since ocm, but having hot sweaty tape and chin strap on all night has caused two or three monster blemishes that I'm still having a hard time getting rid of. They are right where everything comes to a nexus! ARgh!

jen

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:06 am

It might be drop shipping from China or somewhere. I ordered something off Ebay that should have come in 2 days, took two weeks, and when I got it, it had customs paperwork from Hong Kong on it!!! And the vendor was in the midwest. Ah the joys of drop shipping...

Thanks for all this! No wonder the dentist didn't know what TAP meant. Stupid me, got it mixed up. I just love the acronyms and get them all futzed around.

My latest fave - Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Since I work for a new boss where swearing is DEFINITELY UNACCEPTABLE, I've taken up this one. I know - it's not an acronym, but it makes me grin. Remember - I work next door to a major military installation... (WTF = What The FXXX?)

LOL,
B.

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:18 am

Oh, man I hope it isn't coming from China--I don't think I would want to spend 1/3 of my life with a hunk of Chinese plastic in my mouth, who knows what contamination it would have in it.

I'm thinking of all of the recent recalls of Chinese-made items including the Thomas The Train toys that my son had for YEARS that just had to be sent back because of lead pain contamination--and these things are just the right size for a kid to put them in their mouth. Not to mention handling them constantly while eating snacks, sucking thumb etc. ARGH!

Of course I am well aware that China makes 90% of what we buy. My husband invents/makes mass spectrometers (he is r and d for a new company) and goes to China for weeks at a time 3 times + a year because the country is very concerned about cleaning up their environmental problems and the mass specs my husband makes are small/compact and field portable. The Chinese Govt wants a fleet of them for environmental monitoring.

jen

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:22 am

But then again, she is a Dentist, so what the hell does she know anyway

snoredog

you're just so bad, you crack me up

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 1:43 pm

UPDATE!

Okay, I never got around to boiling and biting that mouthguard I bought. Maybe I can donate it to an indigent football player on the other side of my backyard fence?

I just got back from the dentist. He tried to fit me for an advancement device, but it HURT my right side TMJ joint thingie whatchamacallit. I said I really didn't like that, and could they PLEASE just make me a mouthguard to help me from grinding my teeth? He left the room. Didn't say boo. I think I pissed him off.

Hygienist/tech was nice, and fitted me for what I asked for. I also offered to share some links to other oral devices, for her info. I'm not saying my docs' device was BAD, I'm just saying I clearly am not ready for an instant mandible advancement. Maybe a gradual advancement over time, but I don't need TMJ probs on top of everything else.

Plus, I remain skeptical that messing with that airway flow is going to "cure" my OSA. If I DO mess with it (particularly with surgery), and then I can't use the XPAP effectively, because of leakage, what have I accomplished?

If you find me overly cautious, bear in mind that I submitted myself to a Radial Keratotomy in the days before laser. I'm now left with butchered eyes, that cannot be corrected with surgery, glasses, or to date, contact lenses. I have very poor vision, and a constantly sick feeling in my stomach from knowing I did this to myself out of VANITY.

Not going there again soon.
B.

Moby · Post by **Moby** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:00 pm

Babette wrote:UPDATE!

I just got back from the dentist. He tried to fit me for an advancement device, but it HURT my right side TMJ joint thingie whatchamacallit. I said I really didn't like that, and could they PLEASE just make me a mouthguard to help me from grinding my teeth? He left the room. Didn't say boo. I think I pissed him off.

B.

......................................................................................................

I guess he had to cancel the deposit on his new Porsche

.......................................................................................................

Babette wrote:UPDATE!
If you find me overly cautious, bear in mind that I submitted myself to a Radial Keratotomy in the days before laser. I'm now left with butchered eyes, that cannot be corrected with surgery, glasses, or to date, contact lenses. I have very poor vision, and a constantly sick feeling in my stomach from knowing I did this to myself out of VANITY.

B.

............................................................................................................

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 10:48 am

Nah, Moby, he's a good guy. He's just a MAN, and he doesn't like being told his "I'M GOING TO SAVE YOU FROM SLEEP APNEA" device is bunk.

To his credit, he swears he has patients that have given up cpap after using this. I was almost going for it, until the last little bit, when my TMJ muscle when into spasm. Then I firmly declined.

BTW, I noticed the word "snorguard" written by hand on an envelope. Couldn't find a link for that spelling, but found this:

http://www.snoreguard.com/

Sounds like what he was trying to fit me with.

LOL,
B.

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 1:53 pm

My dentist was trying to sell me something similar and after my homemade attempt at something similar, I decided nothing but gradual advancement for me too. All at once is a recipe for disaster. I'm glad you were firm with him.

I recently got some fillings and my normally easy going dentist got po'd when I asked him to grind down the fillings some more because my jaw wasn't aligned properly. Made some condescending remark like, well, I can't put it back! I just left and was in pain for days before I went back and had a very understanding hygeinist grind them down properly. Pain gone. Guess they don't like gruntwork either.

Jen

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 4:08 am

I guess I'm lucky. I'm soooo in love with my dentist, it is quite a pleasure being treated by him - before him I was really really scared of dentists.

He doesn't talk much, he's just really calm and very meticulous. He wouldn't let me leave with an uncomfortable filling.

I dont care if he drives 10 porsches, he's worth it!

I think he's hoping to introduce a mandibular advancement device when I've ground through my current splint. I'll probably go along with it, I trust him.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 4:10 am

Re the grinding (bruxism) I've go a theory that it develops out of the apneoa. Tensing the jaw feels like it opens the airway.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 3:39 pm

Moby, you may be on to something. I tense my jaw when I want to yawn without opening my mouth. Mainly to clear my ears, but I can totally see me doing that for airway relief.

But at this point, my poor teeth are falling apart, and I need something to protect the little dears. I had to go in to have one ground down a few months ago, because it started chipping away.

Cheers,
B.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 6:27 pm

You do realise you just set us all yawning, don't you?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 6:30 pm

He also wants at some point soon to put a sort of false back on my incisors as I've worn them away to a shell. He says as long as I keep wearing my splint they won't get any worse. He can tell when I haven't been wearing it...it was lost (under the bed) for a few months...

I actually like my splint. I wake up chomping away on it. Sort of like a dummy for adults

Humidifier

Additional Comments: ozzie heated hose.