Tap Warning

So something dumb I learned- after I brush my appliance in the morning the screw turns. So if you don’t recheck your setting before bed it could be different. Super dumb. No warning from the dentist about this. Basically wasted a month trying to find the sweet spot because I have no idea where my setting was for the past few weeks. Grrrr!

I started checking it at bed time and then I would check it again before the bed the next day and I learned I had rolled back the advancement unbeknownst to me. I thought initially my the screw was stripped and It wasn’t holding position during the evening. Then I tried brushing the screw to see if it turned. Yep!

Don’t trust your tap setting stays in place. You must check before bed every night. Would’ve been nice to if the dentist warned me. And who knows if I had advanced it without my knowledge and that was the reason for my jaw pain in the beginning. I feel like I am starting all over looking for the sweet spot. Super dumb.

Yes, indeed, you really need to keep an adjustment log. I tell my patients to keep a piece of paper for that purpose. Record your original baseline setting on day one and date it. Then every time you adjust it, record it and date it. And when you are fully adjusted, record that, too. Understand, that the adjustment worm gear can wear over time and begin to lose adjustment. It usually needs to be replaced every 1.5 to 2 years. If you have no record, you will not know when it starts to drift until you begin to feel symptomatic again. Stay alert and stay organized. Dr. Luisi, The Naples Center For Dental Sleep Medicine.

Yes, this is what happened this weekend. I was symptomatic again. I had bags under my eyes and was foggy, but I just thought I was overthinking it. Now I know the gear is not holding position. Ridiculous. I just bought this device. I am super annoyed. A lot of money for this thing not to endure barely a month of use. I thought I was going crazy until I checked the setting in the morning and could see it was not the same as when I went to bed.

I understand your annoyance at this early date, but, take heart, the fixes aren't that bad. First, check that your face plate is on tight. There are two screws holding it on and usually they give you an L-shaped allen wrench that can tighten it. If you don't have one, your dentist probably does. Tighten the two screws. If it still doesn't hold adjustment, the device probably needs to go back to the lab for a repair. They may replace the screw, put some plastic shim behind it, or swap out the mechanism. At any rate, the device can be salvaged. Don't be discouraged. It is a fine appliance, probably the best there is. The glitch can be overcome. Dr. Luisi.