Dental Sleep Medicine Insider November 2016 | Page 7

DAVID WALTON PROVIDING MORE TONGUE SPACE FOR OSA PATIENTS H ave your patients ever experienced difficulty with tongue movement while wearing an oral appliance for sleep apnea treatment? Respire EF appliances from Whole You can be a solution, designed specifically for patients requiring more tongue space. What are common features in OSA patients? Many OSA patients have an enlarged tongue, which is one indicator in identifying potential signs of OSA. Additionally, a narrow maxillary and mandibular are often found in OSA patients. How can Respire EF help patients with enlarged tongues? Patients with an enlarged tongue and narrow jaw need an oral appliance that provides as much tongue space as possible. Respire EF appliances have a unique alloy framework, making the appliance significantly thinner. To further increase tongue space, the appliances are designed with reduced lingual coverage, featuring no acrylic in the interior which allows for an increased opening for the natural movement of the tongue.   Together, these features provide a more comfortable wearing experience for patients. Patients with enlarged tongues have difficulty opening their airway by advancing their tongue with an oral appliance because they have less tongue space, especially for narrow jaw cases. [email protected] 718-395-3061 wings allowing for a wide range of mouth movement. • For bruxism: Respire Pink EF with a telescopic hardware, allows more lateral and vertical jaw movement. • For smaller mouths: Respire Pink EF Micro has shorter than regular adjustment arms, offering a compact design and increased patient wearing comfort. How can an enlarged tongue affect patients with OSA? While muscles of the patients who have an enlarged tongue are relaxed in N3 or REM sleep, the mandible can fall open causing the tongue to be too posterior and inferior, promoting an obstruction of the airway. DAVID WALTON Respire EF appliances also have wider openings in the front area of the appliance that allows for natural forward movement of the tongue. Respire EF comes in three types to meet patients unique characteristics, while addressing the need for tongue space. The three types include: • For freedom to open & close mouth: Respire Blue EF has a dual block design with interlocking If you are interested in Whole You’s oral appliance therapy to add as a treatment option for your patients, please call the Whole You call center at: 844-548-3385 (toll free) or visit www.wholeyou.com. -Here what dentist say for EF -Welcome Pack