Using a new oral appliance can feel daunting at first but with our help, it’s easy. When you start wearing an oral appliance on a nightly basis, you will get the best night of sleep yet and finally live your best life. To help you get started with your new oral appliance, please read through the following questions and answers. If you have further questions, don’t hesitate to call our Omaha office at (402) 493-4175.
Wait at least 30 minutes before using the aligner
*That time of normal functioning (chewing, speaking, swallowing) will help relax your jaw.
Placing the Aligner
As you are watching in a mirror, you will place the aligner on your lower front teeth and slowly close into it. You are watching to verify that the edges of your upper teeth are fully into place. If there is any gapping from the edge of your teeth to the imprint in the aligner, you will put it away and try it a few hours later.
- If you cannot get into the aligner by the end of the day, leave your appliance out that night if you feel comfortable doing so, and call us in the morning.
- Failure to follow these instructions may result in a bite change that could require orthodontics or even surgery at additional charge to you.
The reason we do Home Sleep Tests is to make sure your custom oral appliance is controlling your apnea adequately. Following your test, one of our dentists looks at your results, makes recommendations, and one of our team members calls you to go over these. Once your symptoms are resolved and your apnea is objectively controlled, you are moved to a maintenance routine schedule to make sure all remains well. If anything comes up between those routine appointments, give our office a call so we can handle it appropriately.
If you ever feel something isn’t feeling right, please give our office a call so we can either troubleshoot over the phone or make an appointment for you to come in. We need to make sure you are comfortable and wearing your appliance all night, every night!
Traveling with your oral appliance is easy! It’s helpful to take and keep your appliance in a small thermos to prevent melting in case it’ll be in warmer temperatures. Be sure to keep it handy on transportation (bus, train, plane, etc.) if you plan on napping! Brush it with soap and cold water just like you do at home.
Sometimes subjective symptoms (e.g. snoring, energy, etc.) don’t align with the level of apnea. Even if you feel or sound better, we need to make sure the appliance is adequately controlling the apnea, thus normalizing the many, many health risks related to obstructive sleep apnea.
Never make any advancements without instructions from our office. If and when we have instructed you to make advancements, here are instructions for your particular appliance.
OASYS HINGE
To advance the appliance you will turn the gear in the direction of the arrow 180 degrees from words on top to words on the bottom. The direction is opposite on each side. If you make an advancement on one side you MUST make an advancement on the other side.
DREAM TAP
To advance the appliance you will have it in your mouth. You will put the hex key in the front hole and toward your right ear, flush to flush.
DORSAL
To advance the appliance you will turn the gear in the direction of the arrow. The direction is opposite on each side. If you make an advancement on one side you MUST make an advancement on the other side.
HERBST
To advance the appliance you will turn the gear in the direction of the arrow. If you make an advancement on one side you MUST make an advancement on the other side.
O2VENT
To advance the appliance you will have it in your mouth. You will put the hex key in the front hole and turn toward your left ear, flush to flush.
PROSOMNUS CA
To advance the appliance you will turn the gear in the direction of the arrow. If you make an advancement on one side you MUST make an advancement on the other side.
TAP 1
To advance the appliance you will have it in your mouth. You will turn the front assembly piece towards your left ear flush to flush.
TAP 3
To advance the appliance you will have it in your mouth. You will put the hex key in the front hole and toward your left ear, flush to flush.
While jaw soreness isn’t common with an oral appliance, it does happen sometimes. Click on this video for some exercises you can do to alleviate any soreness you are feeling. If pain persists, please call our office so we can get you comfortable ASAP.
