The TAP^® 3

The TAP^® 3 appliance is a proven treatment modality for mild to severe OSA. It is currently being prescribed by over 7,000 dentists worldwide to cure snoring and sleep apnea. It has a technically simple design that attaches the upper and lower jaws together by utilizing a small hook and socket mechanism.

The single most distinguishing feature of the TAP^® is that it can be adjusted by the patient while in the mouth by the use of a small detachable key until the lower jaw is brought forward enough to ensure the airway remains open during sleep. Once a comfortable degree of protrusion is achieved, the key is removed and the patient can completely close their mouth with the appliance inside. This unobtrusive, self adjustability is one of the reasons TAP^® has a compliance rate of 95%.

Patients are empowered to manage the degree of lower jaw protrusion over as many nights as it takes to achieve the optimal effect comfortably. The fact that TAP^® has a single point of adjustment prevents uneven bilateral adjustment which can create bite dysfunction.

The TAP^®CS (Chairside)

The TAP^®CS (Chairside) was introduced to the market in October 2009 and has been received with great enthusiasm by patients, dentists and DME providers. The design of the TAP^®CS was inspired by the first generation TAP^® appliance. It has a permanent titration mechanism on the outside that allows for easy self adjustment by the patient.

It operates on exactly the same principle as the custom TAP^® and allows the dentists to provide an immediate treatment for OSA that the patient can begin using the same night as their visit. Furthermore, since the TAP^®CS retails for about 30% of the custom model, it can be prescribed as a temporary or trial appliance to allow the patient to feel comfortable that the appliance is effective for them before they commit to a more costly custom appliance.

Once they move into a custom appliance, the TAP^®CS can be kept as a back up or secondary appliance. While the TAP^®CS is not considered a disposable it is also not intended for long term nightly use.

The TAP^®-PAP CS (Chairside)

TAP^®-PAP CS (Chairside) The TAP^® oral appliance is effective in treating over 90% of OSA patients effectively. In the remaining 10% the air way is so compromised that the use of TAP^®/ CPAP combination therapy may be the most efficacious treatment.

Some of these patients may be former CPAP failures who sought oral appliance therapy because of their inability to tolerate the CPAP. A combination therapy of CPAP assisted by TAP^® enables the patient to splint the air way open by use of their TAP^® and use low levels of air pressure from the CPAP through nasal pillows to ensure adequate levels of oxygen saturation. Because the TAP^®PAP uses the TAP^® as the anchor for the external breathing apparatus (nasal pillows) it eliminates the need for a facial mask. The absence of a mask plus the use of much lower air velocity makes the use of the CPAP much more tolerable.

The TAP^®-PAP Custom

TAP^®-PAP Custom addresses the need in certain cases to take a step beyond the nasal pillows used in the TAP^®PAP to achieve satisfactory treatment. In these cases ATI offers a custom mask that is fitted exactly to the patient's face covering only the mouth and nose. This light weight, perfectly fitted mask is made by the use of a facial moulage or impression.

This process results in a nearly invisible light weight mask for those patients who require a mechanically splinted airway (TAP^®) plus additional air pressure not accommodated by nasal pillows alone. The small customized mask creates a seal that allows for higher air flow that is still considerably below that of a conventional CPAP mask.

The TAP^® AM Aligner

TAP^®The purpose of the AM Aligner is to restore jaw alignment after using the TAP overnight. The forces that are inherent in repositioning the mandible forward are to incline the upper teeth towards the palate and the lower anterior teeth forward. This may also create inter-proximal spaces in the anterior teeth. The AM Aligner will offset these forces.

This tool is constructed from a thermoplastic material that, when heated, can be molded onto the upper teeth prior to a TAP being worn. This should then be worn every morning after wearing the TAP to reposition the teeth back to normal occlusion.