I recently had a sleep trial with a Mandibular Device made personally and privately for me by my dentist. All the research I have found has been positive for mandibular device use in sleep apnoea. To give the clinic something to compare with I used the Device for six hours with the trial and then continued on with my CPAP respironics machine for another five hours still on the trial.
Disappointingly The Mandibular Device had absolutely no effect on my sleep apnoeas, whereas CPAP absolutely cured them.
My question is 'has anyone who is an APAP/CPAP user been successful with a Mandibular Device???'
Tags:
That's very interesting June, and pleased to hear you were able to test the Mandibular with the help of the clinic. I hear of so many people who decide to use these instead of CPAP, find their snoring diminishes and assume the apnoeas have been dealt with too, which is not often the case.
The mandibulars are only recommended for mild sleep apnoea, but I would have been intrigued to find out if they further improved peoples' AHI when used at the same time as CPAP. It may be that the reasons you have OSA are not connected to your jaw, so in your case it wouldn't help. I would still like to trial one myself one day, and like you, would love to hear of any others who have proven success with them.
Hi Terry,
My main hope for wanting the Mandibular Device to be successful was for convenience. It would pop into my handbag and be convenient for freedom. In my case also my CPAP works excellent for me but of course it takes planning to take it with you. It was worth trying though.
Terry Vella said:
June Ann, I can't answer your question because I have never tried one, my thoughts are if APAP/CPAP works, why change and in my case CPAP works for me.
Yes, I understand why you tried June, as even if the results weren't quite as good as CPAP, it would have come in handy at times like travelling on planes etc.
June Ann Rymer said:
Hi Terry,
My main hope for wanting the Mandibular Device to be successful was for convenience. It would pop into my handbag and be convenient for freedom. In my case also my CPAP works excellent for me but of course it takes planning to take it with you. It was worth trying though.
Mandibular advancement devices can work for patients, but the side effects are horrible and need to be disclosed by any dentist who makes a device like this. Side effects include permanent tooth movement and jaw growth! My husband's mouth was destroyed by a TAP device he used for several years because he didn't want to try CPAP. When I was diagnosed and excitedly tried the AUTO CPAP, I had immediate results the first two days that amazed me. I felt younger, more alive and had more energy than ever in my life! My husband watched me sleep quietly with the mask/CPAP and finally decided to try it himself - sheesh, if I could do it, then what the heck was he wasting his time with a jaw-jacker for? He adapted to it quickly and now we have dualing CPAP machines on either side of the bed. He didn't realize how much the MAD had affected his dentition until he stopped using it. His jaw is permanently jacked out several millimeters and his teeth no longer have occlusion. He no longer makes these type of devices due to the severe damage it did to his own mouth. It is imperitive that patients have full disclosure of side effects! Feel free to contact me for more info. I'm in the USA. Thanks for allowing me to join this forum! Blissfully sleeping with CPAP :-) Brenda
Great to have you on-board Brenda, and thanks for this valuable feedback. My own dentist has sleep apnoea, and he told me how uncomfortable the mandibular devices can be. Last I heard he was changing to CPAP too, as apart from being uncomfortable, he was convinced his own device wasn't treating his apnoeas anymore.
Does your husband have any advice for the few people who suffer from the loosening of teeth caused by the masks (apart from the obvious of trying to slacken the straps)? I had this issue once with a previous mask, so I used to alternate between my 2 favourite masks at the time.
New to the Sleep Apnoea Forum?
1. Stop by our Sleep Apnoea Welcome Center to introduce yourself to the SleepGuide community.
2. Start a New Topic of Conversation.
3. Post your photos - of yourself, your old CPAP machine, your new CPAP machine, your pet, something about you!
Interested in advertising, have a problem or need to contact us? Click the Report an Issue page.
© 2024 Created by The SleepGuide Crew. Powered by