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!
