Dental Devices

Hi -

I'm curious whether anyone uses a dental device as an occasional backup to CPAP. I take occasional mountain backpack trips and occasional overnight canoe trips; I've read up on battery systems, which would be no big deal on a river trip, but quite heavy on my back....

I imagine the process of getting a dental device - if appropriate at all - will probably take a while....

Thanks, as always!

I use one of those $140 ebay dental devices on occasion. While I sleep better with my cpap, I do ok with the DD. I have a pulse-oximeter and my blood O2 levels are almost as good using the DD as with the cpap.

Check this thread for information.

viewtopic/t38027/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=37 ... ck+up+plan

An oral mandibular device is a special dental device that keeps your lower jaw (mandible) advanced when worn at night. It alleviates snoring and sleep apnea by holding the mandible forward during sleep to prevent the tongue and soft tissue of the throat from collapsing into the airway. Over a period of weeks you slowly incrementally adjust your dental device to advance your lower jaw approx. .25 mm every few days until you reach your optimum position – any further and you aggravate your tmj joint. I suggest getting your device titrated in a sleep study. It took me 3 months to reach my optimum position. Once you reach that position – you must wear the device every night. My device broke and took 2 weeks to repair. My jaw muscles went back to normal during this time period and I had to start over – another 3 months!! So, keep in mind with a dental device you cannot just pop it in when you need a back-up – you must wear it all the time and do your jaw exercises in the morning to get back to your normal jaw position.

I have the herbest retainer and use it most of the time. I sometimes use the machine. My latest sleep study shows the device is working. If you to some of my other post you will see my studies etc. You need to go to a dentist to get it. You should find somone that deals with sleep apena. Also insurnace may or may not cover it. It to me a year to get them to pay it at 100%. If you have any questions just ask.

Chris

Thanks - I was hoping to learn I could switch to and fro at my own convenience - guess not!