Types of Airway Appliances

Discover the various types of airway appliances, their specific applications, and the potential benefits they can offer.

Tanner Airway Appliance for Expansion and Forward Jaw Development

Made in styles that accommodate patients ages 2-72

The Tanner Airway appliance is designed to promote optimal airway function and jaw development with the following features:

Smooth Occlusal Surface: This allows the mandible (lower jaw) to move freely and extend forward, optimizing the airway function.
Acrylic Pressure: Applied to the palate and front anterior teeth, this encourages forward growth, especially beneficial for patients with a downward growth pattern.
3-Dimentional Growth Guidance: Strategically placed screws guide the upper jaw's growth in width and forward direction, ensuring comprehensive three-dimensional development.

Splint Appliance

A splint is a night-time oral device designed to:

Enhance Tongue Space: Opens the bite to create additional space in the mouth for the tongue.
Facilitate Jaw Movement: Provides a smooth surface that allows the lower jaw to move feely forward during the night, which opens the airway and improves oxygen intake.
Suitable for Specific Conditions: Ideal for patients with nasal breathing capability, mild sleep disturbances, sleep-disordered breathing, or clenching and grinding. It is particularly useful for those who are not eligible for full airway treatment or are not yet ready to commit to the expansion process that structurally opens the airway.
TMJ Disorder Relief: Often used for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder patients. Primarily worn at night, but can also be worn during the day based on the severity of the condition and the treatment plan. It helps take pressure off the TMJ, offering symptom relief.
Protect Teeth from Grinding and Clenching: Acts as a barrier between the upper and lower teeth to prevent damage from grinding and clenching.

The splint doubling as a night guard plays a crucial role in managing various dental and airway-related conditions, providing comfort and functional benefits for patients during sleep.

Oral Sleep Appliances

Oral sleep appliances are devices often covered by insurance for patients who have been clinically diagnosed with sleep apnea. These appliances function by positioning the jaw forward, which opens the airway, reduces snoring, and improves oxygen flow, thereby enhancing sleep quality.

EMA (Elastic Mandibular Advancement): The EMA is a lightweight and small, removable appliance intended for night-time use only. It is custom-made from flexible, metal-free material and allows for non-invasive treatment. The appliance includes interchangeable bands of different lengths that can be adjusted to position the lower jaw forward effectively.
Respire: The Respire is a custom sleep appliance made from durable hard acrylic. This removable device features metal screws on the sides, enabling precise customization of the jaw position. It provides a robust and reliable solution for managing sleep apnea symptoms.