Accutech Orthodontic Lab Inc, Chesapeake, Va, introduces the Thornton Adjustable Positioner® 3 (TAP® 3), designed by Airway Management Inc. The TAP 3 is a mandibular advancement device that improves breathing and eliminates snoring in 95% of all patients, according to the company. The company also says that the TAP 3 helps prevent conditions that are linked to sleep apnea such as chronic sleepiness, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, heartburn, morning headache, and depression. It treats these conditions without the need for surgery, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), or medication.
The TAP 3 is a custom-made adjustable appliance that is worn while sleeping. The appliance trays, similar to whitening trays, snap on over the upper and lower teeth, and hook together. The design is based on the same principle as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): The airway must be opened to allow air to pass through the throat. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends oral appliances like the TAP 3 as a first line of treatment in cases of mild and moderate sleep apnea and in cases of severe apnea when CPAP has not worked.
The TAP 3 holds the lower jaw in a forward position so that it does not shift or fall open during the night. This prevents the airway from collapsing. The TAP 3 is the only mandibular advancement device that can be adjusted by the patient or practitioner while in the mouth. The TAP 3 provides physicians numerous options to create the best, customized treatment solution for their patients.
For more information, visit www.accutechortho.com.
