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INFORMATION MATERIAL

Browse here to download the most important information on the TAP® splint. 

Studies / Literature List

LINKS & APPS

Websites on this topic

Further information, patient guides and guidelines can be found on the following websites:

 

SNORING APPS

Meanwhile you can find a variety of apps for iOS and Android tracking night time noises, thus helping you to assess your snoring habits. Here are some examples:

FAQ

Do you have any more questions?

Find here the answers to the most frequently asked questions both by patients and TAP® partners:

TAP® stands for "Thornton Adjustable Positioner", identifying a bimaxillary appliance for the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea that can be infinitely adjusted.

The first TAP® splint has been developed in the 1990s by the American dentist and engineer Dr. W. Keith Thornton and is based on the protrusion of the lower jaw as a first aid measure against suffocation. The effectiveness of this construction as a targeted therapy for snoring and sleep apnea has been scientifically confirmed and over the last decades, treatment devices have been continuously enhanced. Today, the TAP splint is one of the most widely used anti-snoring devices in the US.

Bimaxillary devices are generally indicated for any patient having been diagnosed for a mild to moderate sleep apnea and looking for an alternative to treatment by a positive pressure ventilator (CPAP). Another precondition is the presence of 8 healthy teeth per arch.

Careful cleaning and care of your splint is crucial to make sure its high wearing comfort is maintained. It is recommended to clean your splints every day with care products from our CETRON® line. You can purchase these products from your dentist or your laboratory. Alternatively, you can clean your splint with tooth brush and clear water. Please make sure to clean your splints before and after wearing thoroughly with clear water in order to remove saliva and any other deposits. Moreover, make sure to clean and rinse your mouth and teeth every time before inserting the splint.

Please do not use denture cleaners or cleaning procedures that go beyond 50° C!

This depends on your country and on whether the costs are reimbursed by health insurance in your country. Feel free to contact your dentist for information or an offer.

This depends on various factors such as for example the care of your splint and your individual salivation. The basic material of your splint, DURASOFT® pd, is a high quality material that is virtually unbreakable and very resistant to abrasion. Your splint also contains the material DURASOFT® seal, providing additional protection against deposits or discolouration and serving as a robust inner lining with excellent properties especially for long-term treatment splints such as intraoral anti-snoring appliances.

Since TAP® splints are customised treatment devices, any modification of your individual teeth condition such as fillings, crowns and bridges may require a new preparation of your splint.

The splint for your treatment is made either by your dentist or orthodontist and/or certified dental laboratory of his choice. The diagnosis of sleep apnea and corresponding treatment prescription are preliminarily done by a sleep physician/specialist. The effectiveness of your TAP® splint is controlled in a sleep laboratory or by patient monitoring system and will be readjusted, if necessary.

You can easily find certified TAP® dentists/orthodontists in your area using the search.

The IST® device is characterised by a posterior guidance, meaning the adjustment mechanism is incorporated in the posterior region, whereas TAP® devices feature an anterior guidance with the corresponding mechanism being implemented in the anterior region. Your doctor will be happy to consult you as to which device is best suited for you

No. Children usually snore for other reasons than adults, for example due to respiratory infections, polyps or enlarged tonsils. If snoring persists for longer and if there are breathing standstills, this will also affect the child’s deep sleep and thus its normal development and health. In this case, a paediatrician should be consulted to determine cause-related treatment. For the diagnostic procedure, the paediatric department of the German Sleep Society (DGSM) recommends a gradual clarification algorithm involving interdisciplinary specialists (Urschitz et al (2013): Snoring in children - Algorithm for the diagnostic approach, in: Monthly Letter Paediatrics 2013, 161: 347-350; german).