OrthoWorks Offers Sleep Apnea Treatment to San Francisco Patients

The team at OrthoWorks, your leading local San Francisco orthodontic office, continually strives to provide our patients of all ages with the best available care at an affordable price. We take great pride in utilizing the latest technological advances in orthodontics to help every member of your family achieve the perfect smile they want and need.

Introducing the TAP Snore Guard for Patients with Sleep Apnea or Snoring Problems

We are proud to announce that we offer the TAP Snore Guard for our patients who snore or have sleep apnea. This oral appliance works very well and is proven effective for over 90% of the sleep apnea patients who use it.

What is the TAP Snore Guard?

The Thornton Adjustable Positioner or TAP, is a simple patient-friendly treatment solution for sleep apnea and snoring. This appliance works by holding the lower jaw in a forward position so that the jaw doesn't fall open during the night and cause the airway to collapse. It maintains a clear airway to reduce snoring and improve breathing.

The TAP Snore Guard consists of an upper and lower tray that fits over the teeth. It fits comfortably in the mouth and provides room for the tongue and allows for the lips to close. A hook mechanism attached to the upper tray fits into a socket on the lower tray to position the lower jaw forward. This prevents the soft tissue of the throat from collapsing and obstructing the airway. The patient can adjust the device using the adjustment key until a comfortable and effective position is achieved.

TAP's design allows the wearer to fine-tune his or her treatment at home so that the best results can be achieved. The patient can manage the degree of lower jaw protrusion over as many nights as needed to achieve the optimal treatment position. There is just one point of central adjustment on the TAP for ease of use and to prevent bilateral adjustment that can result in an irregular bite and discomfort.

TAP is Highly Successful

The TAP appliance has over a 95% success rate. For a patient with sleep apnea or snoring, TAP can be the answer to finally being able to obtain snore-free and restful sleep. TAP can treat sleep apnea so effectively that the need for surgery, a mask or medication may be eliminated all together.

This appliance is recognized as the market leader in oral appliances for sleep apnea and snoring and is currently being prescribed by thousands of dentists and orthodontists the world over. It is also the most researched oral appliance on the market today with over 30 independent peer-reviewed published studies. A simple oral examination is necessary to determine if a patient can benefit from TAP.

TAP Benefits to Sleep Apnea Patients

Patients using TAP enjoy many benefits including:

•  A comfortable, custom fit
• Durable construction
• Ease of use
• Adjustable while worn
•  Can be adjusted at home to achieve maximum results night after night
•  Small size, less bulky than other oral appliances on the market
•  Convenient for travel
•  No straps or masks involved

How TAP was Developed

For over three decades, Dr. W. Keith Thornton, a third generation dentist from Dallas focused his practice on the treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and was a leader in the use of splint therapy for the treatment of TMD pain. In 1994, using his knowledge and extensive background in TMD management, Dr. Thornton developed the Thornton Adjustable Positioner or TAP - a custom-made, patient-adjustable oral device that is designed to be worn while sleeping. Today, well over 100,000 TAP appliances have been sold the world over as this device is proven to improve the health and quality of life for people who suffer from sleep-disordered breathing.

How TAP Works

TAP is based on the same principle as CPR or cardiovascular resuscitation. The airway must be open to allow air to pass through the throat. A constricted or collapsed airway is what causes snoring and sleep apnea. The TAP appliance holds the lower jaw in a forward position so it cannot fall open during the night and cause a collapse of the airway. It maintains a clear airway to reduce snoring and improve breathing.

If you would like to find out if the TAP Snore Guard is for you, please schedule an appointment with one of our four San Francisco Bay area orthodontic offices. Feel free to call our office to set up your appointment time by calling us at 1-888-BRACES 2 (888-272-2372).

We look forward to helping you get a good night sleep!

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