Snoring and Sleep Apnea, which are types of sleep disordered breathing, affect a large percentage of adults. These problems can lead to many other overall health concerns including high blood pressure, weight gain, depression, acid reflux and many others. Dr. Sentlingar and Dr. Thurman have been trained by Dr. Keith Thornton in the treatment of some degress of sleep disordered breathing with the TAP appliance which was developed by Dr. Thornton. The TAP is an oral device used to repostion the lower jaw to keep the airway open and allow sufficient air to enter the lungs. To learn more about sleep disordered breathing and the TAP appliance, read below and contact our office. The information below is provided from www.amisleep.com.

Quality of Sleep

The quality of your sleep affects your daily activities and has a huge impact on the overall quality of your life. If you are not getting an adequate amount of sleep during the night, then you and your body may suffer from sleep deprivation and be prone to daytime sleepiness. This may affect your:

• Productivity and performance at work
• Increase your risk for injury or illness
• Cause strain in personal relationships
• Be a sign of a more serious health problem

Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB)

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) includes an array of breathing problems during sleep. Snoring, difficulty with breathing, and interrupted breathing are included.

Sleep disordered breathing is a spectrum of severity based on the collapsibility of the airway. Symptoms increase due to the increase in the disruption of airflow.

When the jaw opens and the tongue falls into the back of the throat, the airway narrows forcing air through the smaller opening. This creates vibrations in the throat known as snoring. Although snoring seems physically harmless, it can be a "red flag" for a much more serious and sometimes fatal condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the airway completely collapses blocking airflow into the lungs. The harder one tries to breathe, the tighter the airway seals. This airway obstruction persists until the brain partially awakens the person. Unconsciously, he/she will close the jaw returning the tongue and throat to a normal position.

The sleep apnea cycle – falling asleep, jaw relaxing, airway collapsing, unconsciously awakening with a gasp, falling back asleep – can repeat itself one time per minute or more in severe cases. With a blocked air passage, one does not receive enough oxygen. Both the awakenings and oxygen deprivation can then trigger other health problems.

Sleep apnea can cause:

• Chronic Sleepiness
• Strokes
• Heart Attack
• Heartburn
• Morning Headaches
• Depression
• High Blood Pressure
• Impotence

The Thornton Adjustable Positioner® (TAP®) alleviates snoring and sleep apnea by holding the mandible forward during sleep so that the tongue and soft tissues of the throat do not collapse into the airway. The TAP® is based on the same principle as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The airway must be opened to allow air to pass through the throat.

This appliance is unique because it allows the patient to adjust the degree to which the jaw is held forward, simultaneously allowing maximum comfort and effectiveness. It is a custom-made two-piece appliance that snaps easily over the upper and lower teeth. The hook on the upper tray and the bar on the lower tray of the appliance engage enabling the mandible to be pulled forward. The dial mechanism (Front Assembly) found on the front of the upper tray controls the amount the lower jaw is pulled forward. When the patient finds a comfortable position, he/she can have the front assembly removed from the upper tray, making it more comfortable.

Studies have shown that the TAP® has stopped snoring in more than 96% of patients who wear the appliance, making it more successful than any other oral appliance currently available. It is also the only oral appliance proven effective for the treatment of severe obstructive sleep apnea.

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