TAP Dental Device Fit

[dcndcn]

I'm curious if anyone has had experience getting a good fit with one of these devices? I started using this device a number of weeks ago. At about the 20 turn mark, the device started to slip off my upper teeth. I also noticed in the mornings that it was very easy to remove from my lower teeth. I went in to see my dentist. He got the device warm and molded it back into shape a bit to make it tighter and suggested that I no longer soak it in warm water prior to putting the device on at night (as the directions suggest). So last night I put the device in without soaking in warm water......Well, I woke up again this morning and the top device was showing signs of slipping off my teeth and the device on my lower teeth was very easily slipped off. When I was in his office he mentioned me possibly fighting the device but for a number of reasons I don't really think that's the case. It's almost as if the body heat in my mouth is warming the thing up enough to mess with the fit or something (and maybe the fit isn't correct to begin with). Anyone have any input? oh, I'm also a mouth breather so I'm wondering if maybe this is just the wrong device for me and maybe there is a better dental device for mouth breathers? Thanks...Diane

[snork1]

No slipping for me, but my TAP device was SCAREY tight to begin with. My dentist said to stick with it and sure enough its only a bit of a scarey challenge to put it on at night.
I actually have to swish some water in my mouth to break it loose in the morning, but it pops out with gentle prying.

I NEVER soak it in warm water. I just give it a diluted vinegar spray in the morning, followed by a sonicare toothpaste brushing and every week or two give it a cold soak in denture cleaner.

Mine was so tight to begin with that I was afraid of damaging my teeth, but my dentist inists that could not happen. Apparently there is just enough soft material over the hard backing to avoid that with the TAP.

I did go through a certified sleep dentist so he does have a LOT of experience in fitting these things.

[dcndcn]

Wow! I sure wish mine was scarey tight! I'm finding that I have to get mine a little warm every evening, in order to mold it so it's tighter when I put it on in the evening (what the dentist suggested if I had fitting issues again). However, I don't think I should be having fitting issues EVERY day. I'm also waking up every morning and the top has slipped about a quarter down my front teeth. Seems like that would be less effective and take a toll on my teeth over time. Both top and lower slide easily out in the morning. Doesn't seem right. Anyway, I am seeing a certified sleep dentist but I think I need to make an appointment and push the issue a bit more with him because this doesn't sound normal.
Hopefully I can get this resolved soon and not have to reschedule my sleep study. I'd like to see if this is really going to be an option for me because I think I'm going to prefer it to CPAP. I'm getting some TMJ pain but it really isn't a big deal. I do the exercises in the morning and it goes away to where I don't even notice.
Thanks for the input!! Diane

[Arkanoid]

I have the TAP 2, but in my experience the top was tight, but the bottom was loose when I got it. The top would kind of "pop" into place and hold well. The bottom would pop on the left side and not the right. I told the dentist and they remolded it and got me a new lower. Guess what, it was looser than the first. They did it again. It didn't fit either. Then they put something on my teeth and remolded it a last time. Talk about a tight fit. It even has a piece in-between my lower front teeth where I have an extremely small gap. It also started the hook on the top back 7 turns from where I had started with the other one.

I am out about 20 turns, and while I like it, my wife says I still snore. Since we are newlyweds she doesn't know how bad it was before . I can't advance more at the moment due to pain, but hopefully I will get used to where I am and can go out a bit further and kill off the snoring.

[dcndcn]

That's great that you're having success with your TAP2! Congrats! I hope you get used to it and can move beyond 20 turns! I'm currently at 24 and when the thing actually stays intact, I sleep wonderfully. I'm going to have to push my dentist to have my TAP recast. I'm finding I"m having to get mine warm nightly and remold it to make it tighter. I also noticed that last couple of nights that the upper mold appears to be warped. If I snap the back right tightly into place, the front teeth aren't completly in tight. If the front teeth are completly in the mold, the back right are out of the mold. I thought I had remolded it according to the dentists instructions but during the night it "unmolded" itself. None of this having to remold this device sounds typical or normal. It also doesn't sound like my device should start out tight at night and be loose in the morning (like what is happening). I think I'm going to have to be a little more assertive with the Dentist in getting this thing recast/remolded...

[snork1]

When I was asking about my TAP maybe being too tight, my dentist says he has never remolded due to a TAP being too tight, but has had to remold a couple of them for being too loose.

So from that I surmise in his professional opinion that "too loose" is the main potential problem with a bad fitting.

My dentist did have to whittle away a couple of small spots that were giving excessive pressure compared to the overall tightness.

My TAP has loosened up a little bit, but its still a bit of a challenge to SNAP on the lower portion.

[Heather79]

I have the opposite problem. My appliance is so tight I am afraid to use it. As soon as I pop on the device I'm in bad pain. I got it on Friday, wore it, and woke up on Sat with horrendous pain in my upper and lower 4 front teeth. It felt like I had been punched in the mouth. I spoke to the Dentist and he said it was normal. I wore it for 3 hours last night and now two of my teeth are loose, I can wiggle them a little. When I bite down my bottom teeth scrape the back of my front teeth. The good thing is...I've never had such good sleep. I felt more refreshed after 3 hours with the appliance than sleeping 10 with bipap or on my own. I just don't want to damage my teeth. I don't see why it has to be so tight that it is changing my bite and loosening my teeth. Has anyone else had this problem? It isn't a TAP, it's the dentists own version of a TAP.

[dcndcn]

Well, I finally got my molds redone and have my TAP device back!!! Whew...Talk about scarey tight! I used it last night and even though I'm starting back at the beginning (10 turns and will work my way up to 30), I had dreams like I never had on CPAP. I can't wait to have my sleep study. I'm hoping I don't have any fitting issues and that I have a successful sleep study. I'm so glad this board is here!!

[ishapira]

I have made hundreds of appliances for patients and there is always a solution for both problems.

Too loose sometimes requies a bonded retetion spot by the dentist.

TAP 1 was always the easiest to adj for tightness with the thermoplastic lining. The lining can be added to any TAP appliance. There are many other appliances available

See ihatecpap.com for other choices

There are many

[meister]

I bought some Polygrip denture adhesive and squirt a little bit
right on the slippery spots.

[EIROSEJ]

I have been using my Tap appliance for 1 week. I was told to rinse and brush my appliance in cool water with antibacterial soap. Is anyone concerned about the titanium or the long term effects on your jaw? Also, Do you have to exercise your jaw for 1/2 hr. every morning? Do you have any advice on this procedure?

[snork1]