Dr. Sue's mouthpiece modification

I am ready to do some "minor surgery" on my Dr. Sue mouthpiece since I finally received the cutting tool that I ordered. Sleepless on LI, could you give me any pointers before I start cutting? I am guessing at which cutting attachment I should use as I'm not sure which one may work better on plastic. Any help sure would be welcome!

Hi Heretolearn,

I did a mod to dr Sue's NB. I enlarged the V area as it was hurting the bottom of my tongue.

Re modding the NB, it is a very dicey procedure with a good probability of making the device unusable.

My advice is to mark a line along the edge of the V with a fine point marking pen then use the dremel (or similar) at max speed to take the line off.

A drill bit was what I used but a burr bit or grinding bit will do.

The main problem you then have is getting a smooth edge on the trimmed off bit and this is where the NB can be damaged if you get it wrong.

Success can be measured by

1) Did you only take off a small amount of the material
2) Does your tongue feel ok when in the parking ramp

Goodluck

Cheers

DSM

dsm, I am needing to adapt my mouthpiece for the same reason that you adapted yours. I am not sure of the names of the attachments (burr bit, grinding bit) but I think the one that I have loaded at the moment is a "cutting" bit. (A toothpick looking piece that is rough at the tip) Is this cutting piece OK or should i change it out to another bit? And, what is the best way to get a smooth finish on the plastic after I trim off the excess?

heretolearn wrote:dsm, I am needing to adapt my mouthpiece for the same reason that you adapted yours. I am not sure of the names of the attachments (burr bit, grinding bit) but I think the one that I have loaded at the moment is a "cutting" bit. (A toothpick looking piece that is rough at the tip) Is this cutting piece OK or should i change it out to another bit? And, what is the best way to get a smooth finish on the plastic after I trim off the excess?

A cutting bit will do, it is how you cut with it that matters

(Bit like the old story of a scalpel in the wrong/right hands).

Use a very steady hand (clamp the NB if you hav a means to do so)
Tkae of the smallest bit at a time & if possible in one steady run (don't let a 'bite' develop)

Goodluck.

DSM

OK, kinda like "slow and steady wins the race".....I will keep that in mind.

I was just trying the mouthpiece on again and it did not seem to be as tight a fit on my tongue as I remembered (been over a month since I used it that first time.) I think that I will give it one more try tonight before cutting on it. DSM, does your device fit as secure as Kermit describes? Mine seems kinda loose on my teeth. Just wondering........

heretolearn wrote:OK, kinda like "slow and steady wins the race".....I will keep that in mind.

I was just trying the mouthpiece on again and it did not seem to be as tight a fit on my tongue as I remembered (been over a month since I used it that first time.) I think that I will give it one more try tonight before cutting on it. DSM, does your device fit as secure as Kermit describes? Mine seems kinda loose on my teeth. Just wondering........

Mine remained tight but did seem to slacken up just a little after a couple of days use but not enough for me to be worried. Also, I already have a firm teethguard used since I had upper crowns fitted some 3-4 years ago.

Cheers

DSM

heretolearn,

Are you telling me you just got the dremmel? Didn't they tell you a week? It's been like two or more, no? I'm so sorry as that was my husband's recommendation on where to order it, right?

I have since stopped using my NB device as it still continued to cause me to overproduce saliva and I found myself waking up for that reason every night multiple times to make sure I didn't let any leaks occur. And I thought worrying about mask leaks was enough! Anyway, I went back to Tegaderm patches or nothing. The past two nights I've used nothing and I've done fine. No increase in my leak rate and didn't wake up during the night to any mouth breathing, so I guess it's okay so far.

I did write to Dr. Sue about it and this time he didn't respond. I guess if you're not happy, he doesn't want to bother with you. I guess, too, he may have been afraid that I would ask for a refund since you're supposed to be able to get one if you're not satisfied with it. Kind of took away some of my respect for him. Unless I find out he's away again, I'm disappointed. I wasn't going to ask for a refund. Now it almost makes me want to to make him honor his word. Not nice to not respond when I tell him I have a problem and can he help me.

Oh, well. Hope your "surgery" to the device makes it wearable for you. Lord knows you've been so patient in waiting to give it a go. Let us know how you make out.