TAP INTO SLEEP
Discover Our TAP Treatment Options
Custom TAP
We offer several custom, fully adjustable, mandibular advancement device designs: Nylon flexTAP, flexTAP, dreamTAP and TAP 3.
The TAP is designed with patients in mind:
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Allowing side-to-side jaw movement (this freedom is essential for patients that grind their teeth)
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Empowering patients with total control to make micro-adjustments and achieve optimum results
The TAP is made from dental models so that it simply clicks right into place when it is first inserted. By gently holding the jaw in a slightly forward position, the TAP prevents the throat and airway from collapsing when a breath draws air into the lungs. Most patients, even those with severe sleep apnea, experience results the first night of wearing their appliance!
myTAP
The myTAP oral appliance is one of the quickest and most cost-effective therapies for snoring and mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea. The device consists of two, low-profile trays that are molded to fit precisely on the teeth. It has a simple adjustment mechanism that allows patients to control the treatment settings.
The beauty of myTAP is that it offers patients an opportunity an oral appliance to see if this therapy is right for them.
Patients incorporate myTAP into their treatment regimen in many different ways.
Here are a few examples:
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Treatment for snoring or obstructive sleep apnea
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A trial device when considering oral appliance therapy
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A temporary treatment for snoring during pregnancy
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A “travel” device instead of taking CPAP on trips
myTAP PAP Nasal Pillow Mask
CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is a great therapy if it’s worn all night, most nights of the week. Unfortunately, many patients find it difficult to tolerate a CPAP mask and take it off during the night.
Dr. Thornton invented the myTAP PAP Nasal Pillow Mask to address some of the major complains associated with CPAP masks – air leakage and “facial marks” left by tight straps.
The myTAP PAP Nasal Pillow Mask provides unparalleled mask stability. A thin mouthguard worn on the upper teeth secures the nasal pillows in place, thereby creating a perfect seal between the mask and the face. The result is that head straps are no longer needed! This reduces feelings of claustrophobia and improves compliance with CPAP therapy.
SleepWell Solutions will gladly help you fit a myTAP PAP Nasal Mask, no matter where you purchased your PAP machine.
TAP PAP Combination Therapy
In cases when neither a CPAP nor an oral appliance alone will adequately treat sleep apnea, the two devices can be used in combination.
The TAP can be worn under a full-face CPAP mask as well as with our nasal pillow mask connection. When used together, CPAP pressures can be reduced making it easier to breathe and easier to wear the CPAP all night, every night.
Custom Solutions
In difficult and unique cases, Dr. Thornton and his team develop custom solutions that combine mandibular advancement and CPAP to manage a patient’s airway. The benefits of “Combination Therapy” with a custom TAP-PAP include:
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Perfect seal between the mask and the face
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Lower air pressures from the CPAP machine
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Ability to place the mask with one hand (in cases of limited mobility)
Dr. Thornton has provided a lifeline for a wide variety of patients – including patients with spinal injuries and post-polio syndrome. He works closely with respiratory specialists to care for patients with complex conditions and unique needs.
If your sleep disordered breathing has not been successfully treated with “off-the-shelf” solutions or if surgery is not an option, SleepWell Solutions is ready to help.