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Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP)
Not getting a good night’s sleep? Talk to your Dr. Oser!
Sleep apnea – it’s more than an inconvenient ailment that disrupts sleep with bothersome snoring. It greatly increases the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, while negatively impacting memory and job performance. Sleep apnea may cause unwanted weight gain, impotence, and a host of physical and emotional problems, brought on by interrupted sleep. If you’ve been diagnosed with a specific form of sleep apnea, consider talking to your Dr. Oser about treatment options. He may be able to offer relief with a revolutionary oral appliance called the Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP).
How TAP Helps
The TAP system alleviates symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by correcting the position of your jaws while you sleep.OSA refers to sleep apnea caused by the tongue and soft tissue in the throat compressing the airway during sleep, interrupting normal breathing pattern and causing a patient to awaken. Instead of turning to surgery or medication to treat this form of sleep apnea, you may benefit from a custom-made TAP device. Constructed from durable, surgical-quality stainless steel and molded plastic, TAP devices offer reliable, lasting relief from sleep apnea and related symptoms.
How to Get TAP
Only Dr. Oser can determine if TAP is right for you and help you obtain a TAP device. In general, patients over age 18 without loose teeth or dental work (including dentures) make good candidates for TAP appliances. After a consultation, Dr. Oser will take impressions to fit you for a TAP appliance, explaining proper care, storage, and usage. You’ll be happy to know that your medical insurance probably covers TAP under the medical equipment provision, making this incredible device surprisingly easy to obtain.
How to Use TAP
We will coordinate with Airway Management, Inc. laboratories to create a TAP appliance just for you, ensuring the most comfortable fit. The TAP appliance resembles an athletic mouthguard and consists of two interlocking, custom-made bite trays, which fit snugly over teeth and hold the lower jaw (mandible) forward. TAP’s distinctive design enables you to control the placement of these bite trays with an integrated dial mechanism. This makes the TAP comfortable for your uniquely shaped mouth.
Potential Side Effects
Side effects from TAP use correlate to side effects typical of most orthodontic devices. These include, but are not limited to, tooth or jaw soreness and a temporary sensation that your bite is “off” in the morning. Less frequently, some tooth repositioning, excessive salivation, and unconscious removal of the appliance may occur. Discuss any instance of side effects with Dr. Oser to determine a possible remedy.
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