Dental Device keeps falling out

daveh21 · Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 10

Hi folks,

my dental device is one made in the UK, it has no name (TAP, TAP2, Klearway etc), it was made for me by a dentist that uses the same device for his OSA. It has an upper and lower part that is permanently joined with the lower jaw protruding slighly.

On the positive side of things the device when it works gives me a great nights sleep and when I wake up I feel AWAKE! I could rabbit it on for about another 1000 words about how great I feel when this device works but that's not what this posts about.

On the negative side it falls out frequently, the only time it works is when I use fixadent or poligrip, and even then it still causes me grief. I've tried chin straps which don't work (the strap doesn't hold my jaws together tightly enough, and my bottom jaw continues to drop out of the device).

Does anyone know how I can get this to stay in, or am I on a hiding to nothing? I will be contacting the dentist again but he's on holiday until the start of next week so any help I get in the meatime would be great.

thanks a lot
Dave

daveh21 · Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 10

heellllooooo! is anyone there?

Sleepy Stoboy · Joined: 23 Jan 2005 Posts: 449

Hi Dave,

From my limited understanding, it's usually one of two possible things. (1) and most likely, your advancement by your dentist is too rapid. I had this problem with the self-adjusting TAP and as soon as I slowed down the advancement, the slipping stopped. or (2) a bad mold, or your teeth have changed or shifted since the mold occurred.

Definitely work with your dentist to get it right. When the mold is right, and the advancement is slow enough, you just shouldn't have this problem.

daveh21 · Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 10

Hi Sleepy,

these were my thoughts exactly. Although I can't adjust it cause it's a one piece device. I think I may get the dentist to remould it or even take new impressions.

Dave

snork1 · Joined: 16 Dec 2003 Posts: 1415 Location: Kirkland, WA

My TAP device is SCAREY tight. I voiced my concern of how it snaps onto my teeth.
My dentist said it can't hurt my teeth being that tight and the main problem he has with fit is when they are too loose, which seems like its the problem you have.
It actually takes considerable effort to push my device onto my teeth.
What kind of a fit is your device? I suspect it needs to be smooshed into being tighter or a new impression made, which should be on "warranty", since that is dependent on the dentist and lab.