TOM COLQUITT, DDS
to help our patients
develop nasodiaphragmatic
breathing to improve their
health 24/7/365 – not just
during the third of their
lives they spend sleeping
- becomes obvious and
should be included in any
dental airway improvement
protocol.
nasal airways. This is for
patients who do not require
nocturnal protrusion with a
MAD.
For those patients who need
mandibular stabilization
or protrusion to provide
nocturnal airway patency,
Dr. Thornton has produced
the new MyTap with a bent
post which helps provide
more tongue room with
minimal protrusion and the
oral obturator which now
accompanies the MyTap.
Mouth Shield with MyTAP
This requires patient
education and behavior
modification for the
patient to self-regulate
their breathing from their
previous dysfunctional
breathing behavior so that
their impaired physiology
can correct itself.
In our practice, once the
patient understands these
things, we begin a regimen
of having them clear their
nose before bedtime and
then seal their lips with
tape (Buteyko Snoreless
Strips, 3m gentle paper
tape) before they go to bed
and sleep with the tape in
place, assuming they are
able to inhale and exhale
without obstruction in their
Tape can leak around
the edges during sleep,
minimizing its effect. The
obturator is probably
more predictably efficient
in encouraging nocturnal
nasodiaphragmatic
breathing than the tape.
TOM COLQUITT, DDS
Custom Mouth Guard
The soft obturator fits over
the end of the appliance
post. Instead of sealing the
lips from without using
tape, the soft flange of the
obturator fits comfortably
(can be trimmed with
scissors) in the anterior
vestibule, sealing the
oral airway from within
to maximize proper gas
exchange and keep the
mouth moist during sleep.
Dr. Colquitt
attended Baylor
College of Dentistry.
He has lectured
internationally
on Bruxism and
Restorative Dentistry
for over 30 years
and on Airway-
Centered Dentistry
since 2006. He is an
Adjunct professor,
Sleep Fellowship
Program, LSUHSC
medical school in
Shreveport, LA,
since 2007 where he
presents airway from
a dental prospective
to departments of
Sleep, Neurology, and
Pediatrics annually.