Tap Appliance

I have mild OSA. I recently started using a Tap appliance fitted by a sleep dentist. It is working in the short time I have been using the device. I noticed several changes immediately. My question for the group is regarding jaw pain. I would like to know if it will subside? I have only been using the device for about a week and half. We haven't adjusted it yet to pull the jaw forward anymore than the default positioning. My default position is not neutral, it is slightly forward. I don't have pain wearing the device. I have pain only on my right side. I spoke to the dentist. He did a small bit of grinding to the back acrylic slide and that helped a bit. He wants me to continue using the device as it is helping my sleep and my jaw bite does fully reset (3//4 reset after 30 min.) after about an 1 hour. He believes the pain will subside as the jaw muscles stretch and are less tense. Thoughts?

I am a dentist working in dental sleep medicine. The Tap is designed to work with contact only in the front where the hook is. That is to say, the back part of the trays should not be contacting each other at no matter what position of your lower jaw is in. If the back parts of the trays are making contact or interfering with the free movement of the trays, it could cause the pain in your jaw muscles that you described. Arthur B. Luisi, Jr.,D.M.D., The Naples Center for Dental Sleep Medicine.

Thank you for the response. I will have to check if the trays are touching in the back. A little less sore today. I have been taking it easier in the morning on the jaw reset. Letting a little time pass before working on my bite. I also notice that the tray slips off my top teeth sometimes. I have to bite back into the tray to get it back in place. It's weird because when I first clip-in the appliance it is tight, but as I relax, my mouth starts to open and can pull the tray down. Ugh.

Right. It is very important to let at least 30 minutes elapse after removing the appliance before you start using the A.M. Aligner. Your muscles need time to warm up and there are some tender tissues behind the ball joint of your lower jaw that need to work out some fluid in them that builds up over night. You must use the A. M. Aligner GENTLY. Don't try to force your teeth into the holes quickly like a square peg in to a round hole. That can cause pain. Dr. Luisi