Review Of Oral Appliances
1300 101 505State Of The Art Oral Appliances Are Customised And Adjustable
Custom-made adjustable oral appliances, commonly known as sleep apnoea/snoring mouth guards, are now regarded by sleep physicians, and experts in the field, as the best available treatment for overcoming snoring and, along with the CPAP machine, one of the two main treatments for sleep apnoea.
The main difference to CPAP is that oral appliances are far more comfortable, easy to use and travel with. Oral appliances are custom made and adjustable in order to open the airway and overcome snoring, sleep apnoea and tiredness.
A Revolution In Oral Appliances
Custom-made 3D Printed Nylon Appliances
Using the latest generation technology, 3D printed Nylon can be made to a thickness of 0.5mm, resulting in unprecedented comfort and accuracy of fit. Nylon appliances are also virtually unbreakable in the mouth. 3D printed nylon is the new standard of care in oral appliances and is being used exclusively at SleepWise Clinic.
These are examples of state of the art 3D printed appliances.
Traditional Acrylic Appliances
Acrylic oral appliances have been used for many years and have been an effective form of treatment. The main problem is that as the acrylic material is brittle and subject to fractures, the appliances need to be relatively thick, particularly when compared to nylon. While there are still some clinics using traditional acrylic for their appliances, this material is becoming obsolete.
Over The Counter (Boil and Bite Devices)
The other category is the ‘over the counter’ devices, also known as boil and bite devices. They generally have no, or only a limited way of adjusting the appliance to find the optimal position of the lower jaw.
The main problem with the boil and bite devices is that being one size fits all they need to be large in order to fit all sizes of people’s jaws. This makes them far bulkier than they need to be. Another problem is that because of the softness of the material they tend to fall o the teeth and don’t tend to stay in place during sleep
Comparing Oral Appliances For Snoring And Sleep Apnoea
The following table compares custom made 3D Printed Nylon appliances, custom made acrylic appliances and over the counter ‘boil and bite’ devices.
Click the green tabs to compare the oral appliance features.
Features | Custom-made 3D Printed Nylon Appliances (SleepWise) | Custom-made Acrylic Appliance | Boil and Bite Device |
---|---|---|---|
Average thickness | 1.5 mm | 4 mm | 7 mm |
Comfort | |||
Strength | |||
Accuracy of fit | |||
Effectiveness | |||
Usual warranty for damage | 3 years | 12 months | 3 months |
Research-backed /Evidence-based | Yes | Yes | No |
Manufactured | Australia | Commonly Overseas | Commonly Overseas |
Clinical delivery | Dentist / Sleep Physician | Dentist / Sleep Physician | No |
Product lifespan | 6 plus years | 3 plus years | Replace often |
Health insurance benefits | Yes | Yes | No |
Average thickness | 1.5 mm |
Comfort | |
Strength | |
Accuracy of fit | |
Effectiveness | |
Usual warranty for damage | 3 years |
Research-backed /Evidence-based | Yes |
Manufactured | Australia |
Clinical delivery | Dentist / Sleep Physician |
Product lifespan | 6 plus years |
Health insurance benefits | Yes |
Average thickness | 4 mm |
Comfort | |
Strength | |
Accuracy of fit | |
Effectiveness | |
Usual warranty for damage | 12 months |
Research-backed /Evidence-based | Yes |
Manufactured | Commonly Overseas |
Clinical delivery | Dentist / Sleep Physician |
Product lifespan | 3 plus years |
Health insurance benefits | Yes |
Average thickness | 7 mm |
Comfort | |
Strength | |
Accuracy of fit | |
Effectiveness | |
Usual warranty for damage | 3 months |
Research-backed /Evidence-based | No |
Manufactured | Commonly Overseas |
Clinical delivery | No |
Product lifespan | Replace often |
Health insurance benefits | No |
The Latest 3D Scanning Technology
SleepWise Clinic uses the latest intraoral scanning, in which an image of the patient’s teeth is created using 3D scanning technology. This means no more messy impressions or moulds.
The 3D technology is unmatched in its accuracy, and patients undergo an easy and comfortable procedure, after which the appliance is then produced and ready to be fitted 2-3 weeks following the initial consultation.
Learn more about the professional fitting process.
Choosing The Best Oral Appliance For You
At SleepWise Clinic we will assess which design of oral appliance is best for your specific needs. No two appliances are made the same, with each design offering a unique set of benefits and functionalities.