We use cookies and other tools to enhance your experience on our
website and to analyze our web traffic.
For more information about these cookies and the data collected,
please refer to our
Privacy Policy.
baseten
+0 points
·
over 7 years
ago
Original Poster
I am a mouth breather and use a pressure range of 15-20. I am currently trying the Dreamweaver under the nose mask (which I love) in hopes to avoid a severe dry mouth when I use a full face mask. I have had trouble with my tongue coming away from the roof of my mouth when I use a nasal mask, causing air to enter my mouth, chipmunk cheeks, and all sorts of noises, despite the use of a chin strap (I've tried several brands) and taping my mouth shut with medical tape.
Last night I tried another boil and bite mouth guard in hopes that I could determine whether or not a dentist-made oral appliance may be worth a try. I did not set my jaw forward when I molded the first guard, and it didn't work at all.
But molding the guard with my lower jaw forward last night seemed to solve the problem. I could see how having the tongue in the right position kept the air from entering into my mouth. Unfortunately, as I relaxed, my bottom lip slid off the mouth guard. I tried using a chin strap to keep it in place, but this did not solve the problem.
If it fits your budget I strongly suggest you see a dentist for a properly fitting appliance. First this is about getting air into your body. Not something to play around with. And if you could end up with some TMJ issues.
I agree with Dr. Tony. Getting a proper fit by a qualified SLEEP DENTIST is critical. I finally found one, and the fit of my SomnoDent device is GREAT. This is a specialty, and only really experienced dentists in this realm are the ANSWER. MATT
baseten
+0 points
·
over 7 years
ago
Original Poster
Thank you Dr. Tony. I really appreciate your advice, including the suggestion about the Narval. We live in Las Cruces, NM. El Paso, TX is about an hour away, and Albuquerque, NM is about 3 hours away so if you know a dentist you could recommend here or in those two cities, that would be great.
Still finding you a dentist close to you. Everyone is at the American Academy of Sleep Dentistry conference this week so no one returned my emails yet.
Not necessarily. If the filling is small and duplicates the original shape when the impressions for the Narval was taken then your fine. The bigger the filling the greater the chance that the shape of the tooth is changed. For crowns the chance is even bigger. I make all my own crowns. I do this so if my patient needs the same shape I can make sure its duplicated as close as possible. But still sometimes I cant make it exact. There is a technique to heat the Narval and "stretch it over the new tooth and let the material cool on the tooth so it matches the new shape. I have tried this a bunch of times and it just never fits as good as it originally did.
If you a mouthbreather you've most likely already damaged the condyles & must address UAR w/ non-steroidal sprays e.g. Xlear & cones, mutes or similar. However you should address TMJ's using a healing orthotic for eating in for a short period while hopefully having success w/ an ent treating the etiology = UAR & now OSA.
If you must resort to boil n bite oral appliances, don't randomly jut the jaw forward but try to mimic an attained position of the 'S' syllable, this will give a much better balanced relationship & account for existing cant mal-developed. Also suggest that positio as a beginning titratable position if a dds making it!
If you are a mouth-breather you are likely posturally adapting the entire body due to xcv forward head posture thus with cervical-sacral problems are there also.
Fix the nose, upright the head, manage the TM resultant from MB for years & don't exacerbate TM with too much mandibular advancement by yourself or "sleep" specialist! You shouldn't need to dislocate your jaw back to pathological position after using an oral OSA appliance each morning!
Drjgreddick
Please be advised that these posts may contain sensitive material or
unsolicited medical advice. MyApnea does not endorse the content of these
posts. The information provided on this site is not intended nor recommended
as a substitute for advice from a health care professional who has evaluated
you.
