Oral Appliances (MAS)

Oral appliances, particularly mandibular advancement splints (MAS) are considered to be a valuable, highly effective and non-invasive treatment option for patients with obstructive sleep disorders and for patients who do not comply with or refuse CPAP therapy. They are worn intraorally at night in order to advance the lower jaw thus reducing the collapsibility of the upper airway. They also stabilise the tongue. Studies have shown that patients using an oral device have been more compliant with therapy than CPAP patients.

Oral Appliances are:

• Comfortable, most people adapt quite easily over a few weeks.
• Easy to wear, insert and remove within seconds.
• Low cost of maintenance and ease of cleaning.
• Portable, discreet and silent, easy to travel with.
• No power cords or power needed.
• Treatment is reversible and non-invasive.
• Can also be used to treat bruxism and/or TMJ issues. *

We provide a complete range of device options, customised to suit your needs to offer superior comfort and quality. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnoea and currently on CPAP therapy you may be a candidate for an oral/dental appliance. In some cases, an oral appliance may be used in combined therapy with CPAP to decrease the air pressure on the machine or assist in keeping the mouth closed. If you are intolerant to CPAP or not making progress, please come and see us. We will work with your Physician, GP or ENT specialist on your team to ensure the most optimal outcome in achieving improved sleep and well being.

Our oral appliance selection provides you with superior quality:

• Permits normal mouth opening and closing (many other devices are locked together).
• No bulky mechanism restricting ideal tongue posture or encroaching on tongue space.
• Quality design and construction with Australian Standards and technicians.
• Regulatory approval (TGA, ISO certification, FDA).
• Clinically proven with almost two decades of clinical evidence
• 3 year warranty period against breakage (**).
• Range of titration – fully adjustable.

The latest technology

Digital scanning enhances the patient experience and reduces chair time. Award-winning 3shape Trios Scanning technology means increased accuracy and can provide faster and more convenient treatments with less human error. A form of digital photography, patients can easily see on the screen what is inside their mouth with superior detail. This benefit allows a greater understanding of the current dental condition.

A digital file, also known as a digital impression, is created to communicate with laboratories and other dentists. This record provides valuable patient monitoring as to how much teeth move, gingival recession and wear from bruxism has occurred over the years. It is a very valuable record providing much technical assistance to the design of the sleep appliance, incorporating CAD-CAM technology and 3D printing at the other end.

You’ve lost your device while overseas? No problem. Your dog chewed your device? No problem. With digital records, we can easily request another one without you having to look for your old records.

There are plenty of studies that document the accuracy of digital scanning. In most studies, 100% of patients have preferred digital scanning over impressions. More comfort and convenience to the patient without choking on messy and sticky materials!

Why use an Oral Appliance?

Clinical research trials have proven similar outcomes with MAS Versus CPAP. Oral appliances have been shown to reduce blood pressure and have effectiveness against cardiovascular morbidity. CPAP is a very effective treatment however it has proven poor compliance while the convenience and comfort of MAS with all night compliance can yield very similar efficacy.

Overall, modern personalised medicine is not a one-size-fits-all approach and should be customised to suit patient needs and preferences. There is demonstrated success in the area of patient compliance – an area of significant clinical concern with other non-invasive treatment methods eg CPAP.

Mehta A, et al: A randomized controlled study of a mandibular advancement splint for obstructive sleep apnoea. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2001; 163:1457-1461.

Gotsopoulos H et al: Oral appliance therapy reduces blood pressure in obstructive sleep apnoea: a randomized controlled trial. Sleep 2004, Aug1:27(5)934-941.