Anyone use TAP Therapy - Oral device

I wanted to see if anyone used TAP Therapy - the oral device. I've been using CPAP for about 1 year without much success. I just can't seem to keep my mask on throughout the night. Came across the info for this TAP Therapy and it sounded interesting. I'm in Dallas and there is a place called "SleepWell Solutions" that offers it. Anyone know anything about this place? Thanks.

Have you tried other masks? What causes you to take your mask off in the middle of the night? Is it uncomfortable? Is it hard to breathe? The smell? Dry sinuses? There's a lot of variables that could be altered.

I'm having one made for me by a dentist. He calls me his guinea pig because I'm his first patient. Apparently he is getting alot of requests and has decided to add it to his practice. I'm getting his labor free, but have to pay for the parts and lab.
I see no reason why it wouldn't work, and he assured me it won't change my bite to the point I would need adult braces or the headgear contraption to move my lower jaw back after the TAP pushes it forward

I tried using TAP before I got a CPAP. I was using it primarily for anti-snoring, not for apnea.

As an anti-snoring device, it lessened the snoring, but did not eliminate it. And you are aware that you have to spend time every morning getting your jaw back in place, right? It was kind of a creepy feeling.

Just for the record, TAP is a specific "brand name", and it is not the only available oral device. There are many others. I have used the Klearway appliance for many years, very comfortably, and very successfully (as confirmed by repeat Sleep Studies). For reasons unclear, I do BETTER with the appliance than I do with CPAP.

Evaluation by an EXPERIENCED clinician to determine whether you're a good candidate for this option, and for selection of the optimal appliance for YOUR specific situation, are critical.

CPAP remains the "standard" therapy for obstructive sleep apnea. For good reason, and with expert management, other options can also be effective. Regards, Velbor

Velbor -- That is encouraging that you have had success with the oral device. When you say "experienced clinician", what kind of clinician are your referring?

Fortomorrow - I have tried a few masks, but do realize I need to try more. Is there a recommended way to try various masks without buying them? The DME I used last year is kind of lame. I can probably try another DME. The problem I have is pressure discomfort. My prescription was for 16/20 Bipap. I probably should try a lower pressure. I stumbled on the Oral Device when looking for other masks. My only great night of sleep was in the sleep lab with CPAP. I woke up with so much energy, but have yet to come close to that experience again.

Undecided Major wrote:Velbor -- That is encouraging that you have had success with the oral device. When you say "experienced clinician", what kind of clinician are your referring?

With all respect to Billy6 who is the first patient for his dentist who "decided to add this to his practice", that would not be my first choice environment. An increasing number of dentists now specialize in sleep apnea therapy, but I wouldn't want a beginner who's just started looking for a new source of income. (With no endorsement intended, you might look at posts by Dr. Ira Shapira on the dental forum on TalkAboutSleep, and follow some of his links.) Even better, in my opinion, where available, is an ENT or a maxillofacial surgeon (mine is also a dentist!) with experience in sleep-apnea appliances. And most beneficial, my "sleep appliance doctor" works together with my "medical sleep doctor" to coordinate and optimize all aspects of my therapy (and work cooperatively on insurance issues!). Can't beat a multidisciplinary sleep medicine team at a teaching hospital, as long as you politely but forcefully make it clear that YOU are the boss and that they all work for YOU.

I have mild OSA and decided to give the TAP3 device a trial. I used a pulse oximeter to compare results with CPAP.I had many more desaturations with the TAP3 compared to CPAP so I use the latter almost exclusively.Short of a sleep study, I suggest some type of objective method(such as spo2) to compare XPAP with a dental device.

Before geoing on CPAP' I also had an oral device done ( mine goes by the name of "SUAD DEVICE").
My dentist took stamped prints of my teeth. One important thing he said was to get all dental woork necessary done before getting the teeth prints, since it will fit tight on top of your own! So I made sure that everything was ok ahead of time.
Once I got my device, mine needed some ajustments done...what it does is bring forward your lower jaw, thus giving a bigger opening in the back of the throat which helps you breath better.
Beware that if you need dental work done after, there will be work to be redun on your device.
And within a year, I wasn't feeling any difference, so my dentist brought it forward a bit more...and then again....I was waking up from the soreness of a stretched-out jaw.
Basically, It cost me $1200.00 ( yes, the number is right!), and wasn't covered by insurance!
And it didn't help that much either.
CPAP is what keeps me breathing!
D.

Undecided Major wrote:Fortomorrow - I have tried a few masks, but do realize I need to try more. Is there a recommended way to try various masks without buying them?

Yes. You can sign up for one of the Test Drives, or swap masks here on the forum, or buy them online at cpapauction.com or craigslist.org:

HYBRID – by pjwalman
viewtopic/t33434/Hybrid-TestDrive-Continues.html

SMALL LIBERTY – by fortomorrow
viewtopic/t35474/ResMed-Mirage-Liberty-Test-Drive.html

LARGE LIBERTY – by echo
viewtopic/t35486/Large-Liberty-test-drive.html

NASAL AIRE II – by Babette
viewtopic/t30639/The-Return-of-the-Grea ... Drive.html

LINKS to surgery, turbinates, Pillar, TAP experiences
viewtopic.php?t=2836

A cpap user (nickname Snork1) who used to post quite a bit on the talkaboutsleep and cpaptalk message boards had great success with the TAP Titanium dental device to keep his airway sufficiently open during sleep. He was able to stop using CPAP.

I think anyone who hopes to rely on a dental device to handle OSA should be sure to have at least one or more overnight recording pulse oxi tests while using the device. And better yet, a full PSG sleep study with the device in place.

While going through the advancement stages with any adjustable dental device, I'd sure want to keep using my cpap along with the device, until time to check (with overnight pulse oxi and/or PSG sleep study) the dental device's efficacy on its own.

I would NOT use the TAP device if you are concerned about MAJOR changes in your bite, spacing between teeth, and even creating a lisp and probable jaw and chewing problems down the line.

I have used the TAP device for over 4 years from a noted"expert" in the field. Mine cost $2K or more. Yes, the apnea is gone, but now 4 years later, my regular dentist has replaced 3 crowns, my "perfect" bite is now moved forward, large spaces between teeth, poor "occlusion" poor biting surfaces for eating, my front tooth has loosened, and I'm very upset that at 58 I could have severe jaw and teeth problems down the line.

I'm going back to my neurologist and getting fitted for a CPAP. The Tap is NOT for everyone, and I warn anyone to be aware of serious dental changes. I had a "perfect bite" prior to the mouthguard, and now my bite is a mess. The spaces between my teeth are a constant source of agrivation when I eat - food is caught in these spaces all the time, and their is more reason for bacteria build up and cosmetically, my bite looks awful. Please have your regular dentist check your bite on an annual basis. My dentist who perscribed the TAP device, ignored my dental changes, bite changes, and pain in my back teeth.

BEWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE TAP DEVICE!

penya July 09

Penya,

I am so sorry for your problems. Thanks for taking the time to post the warning.

penya007 wrote: ........ My dentist who perscribed the TAP device, ignored my dental changes, bite changes, and pain in my back teeth. .....................

I wonder if a caring dentist who made careful checks every six months would have had techniques which would have prevented these problems?

I hope you will join and read and post questions here before you select a machine or mask. There is a lot that can go wrong with your initial selection. Most of the regular members have fully data-capable machines with card readers and software to monitor apneas, hypopneas, snores, and mask leaks. Patients who do not have these tools often have very poor therapy. Patients who do acquire the tools are much more likely to achieve a consistently good therapy.

Typically insurance companies will only pay for a new machine once every five years, so if you get the wrong one to start with you may have a problem. DMEs like to supply the cheapest machines without any data capability, yet they will tell you it is data capable when all it does is provide hours of usage - useless information for the patient.

Hope to see you on the forum often,

Velbor wrote:Just for the record, TAP is a specific "brand name", and it is not the only available oral device. There are many others. I have used the Klearway appliance for many years, very comfortably, and very successfully (as confirmed by repeat Sleep Studies). For reasons unclear, I do BETTER with the appliance than I do with CPAP.

Evaluation by an EXPERIENCED clinician to determine whether you're a good candidate for this option, and for selection of the optimal appliance for YOUR specific situation, are critical.

CPAP remains the "standard" therapy for obstructive sleep apnea. For good reason, and with expert management, other options can also be effective. Regards, Velbor

Velbor -- Why di dyou stop using your Klearway device? Given that it was working better for you than CPAP?