DENTAL SLEEP MEDICINE

We offer several different sleep appliances, depending on what time of sleeper you are.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a breathing disorder where the airway completely collapses and airflow is obstructed. People with this condition often wake up gasping for air or choking in the middle of the night.

Prevalence of Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

About half of the U.S. adult population experiences some form of sleep-disordered breathing.

Patient Satisfaction

Oral appliance therapy (OAT) is very effective in treating patients with sleep-disordered breathing, with a compliance rate shown to be as high as 90% over a 2.5-year period.1

OAT is associated with greater patient satisfaction than nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.2

In a randomized crossover trial comparing OAT to CPAP in patients with obstructive sleep apnea, about 81% preferred OAT.3

Improved Health

Among patients with obstructive sleep apnea, both continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and mandibular advancement devices (MADs) were associated with reductions in blood pressure. Network meta-analysis did not identify a statistically significant difference between the blood pressure outcomes associated with these therapies.4

A mandibular advancement device for obstructive sleep apnea reduces nocturnal blood pressure in women. 5

What Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Looks Like

Normal breathing (left): open airway, tongue is relaxed (falling back slightly). Snoring (middle): partially blocked airway, when the constricted airway causes vibration. Obstructive sleep apnea (right): fully blocked airway.

Appliances we work with:

OASYS Hinge Appliance

The OASYS Hinge Appliance is designed to gently shift the lower jaw forward during sleep, which activates airway muscles and ligaments to prevent the airway from collapsing. The OASYS Hinge Appliance is designed with comfort in mind for patients to wear throughout the night, helping to improve health and quality of life.

Custom fit for maximum comfort, allowing natural movement
Each 180-degree turn is 0.25 mm adjustment; up to 10 mm of advancement
Features telescope-style hinge

dreamTAP™

Treating Patients with the dreamTAP

The dreamTAP is designed to keep the airway open to allow air to pass during sleep.

Embrace Life with Better Sleep

The dreamTAP is among the TAP® family of appliances for the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP) is based on the same principle as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and is designed to keep the airway open to allow air to pass. A constricted or collapsed airway causes snoring and OSA.

Developed with advanced dental technology, the dreamTAP appliance reduces sleep apnea-associated health risks without the need for surgery, medications or other more cumbersome therapy. The dreamTAP holds the lower jaw in a forward position, maintaining a clear airway to reduce snoring and improve breathing. The dreamTAP features strong, biocompatible cobalt-chrome alloy (Co-Cr) hardware and has three hook sizes for increased range of adjustment. An adjustment key enables the patient to modify the lower jaw’s protrusion until a comfortable, effective position is achieved.

TAP is a registered trademark of Airway Management Inc. dreamTAP is a trademark of Airway Management Inc.

Developed with advanced technology, the dreamTAP™ appliance is designed to treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

Advances the mandible 0.25 mm with each 180-degree turn of the key
Stronger than surgical stainless steel, the hardware is made from nickel-free cobalt-chromium

Specifications

Indications

The dreamTAP™ is intended to reduce or alleviate nighttime snoring and sleep-related breathing disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Material Composition: Thermoformed material and cobalt-chrome alloy hardware

References

Yoshida K. Effects of a mandibular advancement device for the treatment of sleep apnea syndrome and snoring on respiratory function and sleep quality. Cranio. 2000 Apr;18(2):98-105.

Ferguson KA, Ono T, Lowe AA, Keenan SP, Fleetham JA. A randomized crossover study of an oral appliance vs. nasal-continuous positive airway pressure in the treatment of mild-moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Chest. 1996 May;109(5):1269-75.

Tan YK, L’Estrange PR, Luo YM, Smith C, Grant HR, Simonds AK, Spiro SG, Battagel JM. Mandibular advancement splints and continuous positive airway pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea: a randomized cross-over trial. Eur J Orthod. 2002 Jun;24(3):239-49.

Bratton DJ, Gaisl T, Wons AM, Kohler M. CPAP vs. mandibular advancement devices and blood pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2015 Dec 1;314(21):2280-93.

Rietz H, Franklin KA, Carlberg B, Sahlin C, Marklund M. Nocturnal blood pressure is reduced by a mandibular advancement device for sleep apnea in women: findings from secondary analyses of a randomized trial. J Am Heart Assoc. 2018 Jun 21;7(13).