Sleep Screening Questionnaire
Oral Appliance Instruction Sheet
What To Do If You Are Experiencing Problems
The following are issues that may come up while using an oral appliace and suggestions on what to do:
Jaw pain of discomfort
The most common source of jaw pain comes from inserting the appliance incorrectly. Follow these steps to insure proper insertion:
- Put upper appliance in place
- Open a little more than half way
- Move lower jaw side to side a few times, then open all the way - DO NOT LET YOUR MOUTH CLOSE AT ANY POINT DURING THIS PART. IF YOU CLOSE EVEN A LITTLE BIT START AGAIN
- Insert lower appliance
- Now you can close into the forward position
Adjusting the appliance too quickly can also cause jaw pain. If you are currently adjusting your appliance and find that the jaw is now sore, turn the back to where it was comfortable. Keep track that you turn each side back equally. Call for an appointment for Dr. Callender to evaluate.
Another less common source of jaw pain comes from sleeping with the hand or arm under the head (even if the pillow is in between). This can push on the jaw and put undo pressure on the joint making it very sore in the morning. Adjust your sleeping position to have your arm out to the side and not under your head.
Sore or tight jaw muscles
While getting accustomed to the appliance, the body has a natural tendency to clench and grind on the appliance. This can cause the muscles of the jaw to become sore or feel "tight" in the morning. Usually this improves after a few days of wearing the appliance. If it becomes a problem, massage is the best way to relieve the tension.
To massage the muscles, take your right hand and place your thumb on the inside of your left cheek, starting as far up as you can. Spread out the four fingers on the outside of the cheek and squeeze and pull down. Do the same action of the right side using your left hand.
It is best to massage the muscles before inserting the appliance at night and again in the morning after removing the appliance, but you can do this any time of day and as often as you wish.
Dry Mouth
Initially using the appliance can cause an increase in saliva flow because it is something foreign in your mouth, however, as you become accustomed to the appliance, you may experience a dry mouth. It this become a problem, try placing a humidifier in your bedroom, up high and as close as possible to where you sleep.
Another fis for dry mouth is placing a sugar free cough drop in the inside of your cheek, on top of the upper appliance. You can leave it there all night and it will keep the saliva flowing.