MDSA Anti-Snoring Appliance
As seen on TV
Snoring is a noise generated by vibration of the soft, floppy parts at the back of the throat on breathing in during sleep. Habitual snoring can be the first sign of a much more serious condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA). Snoring and OSA are widespread and can cause significant heath issues. Recent studies infer Habitual Intermittent Snoring has been assessed to affect over 34% of the adult population and OSA over 9% of women and 24% of the adult male population. 1 Often the problem is first noticed by the person’s sleeping partner - who notices that in addition to snoring, the sufferer has periods of non-breathing - and they lie awake fearful that breathing may not start again. Unfortunately, snorers do not hear themselves but others do. Snoring has now been directly associated with causing Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) in a statistically significant number of patients.
In contrast to “simple snoring”, if the restriction of the airways is a complete blockage to breathing during sleep, then this is called Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. The main problem with OSA is the affect on blood oxygen levels in the body. If we cannot inhale air, oxygen levels are reduced. While we are asleep, the brain senses the lack of oxygen and stimulates the body to wake up (called an arousal). Breathing returns to normal until the next blockage.
In people with severe OSA, these arousals can happen up to 400 times a night. The night’s sleep is very disrupted, resulting in excessive daytime sleepiness the next day. Research has now proven that untreated OSA can lead to things such as Daytime Sleepiness, Mood Swings, Workplace Accidents, Motor Vehicle Accidents (20-30% of accidents in Australia in 2001), Reduced Productivity, Impaired Quality of Life, Marital Disharmony and Cardiovascular Disease.
The main treatment advocated for OSA is the Constant Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device (Figure 1). CPAP works by maintaining positive airway pressure through the nose to keep the airways open and hence stop the collapse and subsequent blockage. CPAP relies on the interface (mask) to maintain a leak-free seal and the patient to wear the mask all night. However, patient compliance is a major problem.
Figure 1. A CPAP device.
The other main treatment is by the use of some form of oral appliance. Oral appliances have a similar affect to the airway by moving the jaw and tongue forward and holding it there during the night. These are typically called Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS). There are over 300 different designs of MAS on the market today and more are regularly introduced as novel news ways of holding the mandible forward are invented. The reality is this that MAS devices have been in use in the orthodontic specialty for nearly 100 years in the form of functional appliances so there is nothing new about holding a mandible forward, just the method has evolved.
The MDSA appliance - an acronym for Medical Dental Sleep Appliance - is a patented Australian-designed MAS.
Snoring is a noise generated by vibration of the soft, floppy parts at the back of the throat on breathing in during sleep. Habitual snoring can be the first sign of a much more serious condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA). Snoring and OSA are widespread and can cause significant heath issues. Recent studies infer Habitual Intermittent Snoring has been assessed to affect over 34% of the adult population and OSA over 9% of women and 24% of the adult male population. 1 Often the problem is first noticed by the person’s sleeping partner - who notices that in addition to snoring, the sufferer has periods of non-breathing - and they lie awake fearful that breathing may not start again. Unfortunately, snorers do not hear themselves but others do. Snoring has now been directly associated with causing Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) in a statistically significant number of patients.
In contrast to “simple snoring”, if the restriction of the airways is a complete blockage to breathing during sleep, then this is called Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. The main problem with OSA is the affect on blood oxygen levels in the body. If we cannot inhale air, oxygen levels are reduced. While we are asleep, the brain senses the lack of oxygen and stimulates the body to wake up (called an arousal). Breathing returns to normal until the next blockage.
In people with severe OSA, these arousals can happen up to 400 times a night. The night’s sleep is very disrupted, resulting in excessive daytime sleepiness the next day. Research has now proven that untreated OSA can lead to things such as Daytime Sleepiness, Mood Swings, Workplace Accidents, Motor Vehicle Accidents (20-30% of accidents in Australia in 2001), Reduced Productivity, Impaired Quality of Life, Marital Disharmony and Cardiovascular Disease.
The main treatment advocated for OSA is the Constant Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device (Figure 1). CPAP works by maintaining positive airway pressure through the nose to keep the airways open and hence stop the collapse and subsequent blockage. CPAP relies on the interface (mask) to maintain a leak-free seal and the patient to wear the mask all night. However, patient compliance is a major problem.
Figure 1. A CPAP device.
The other main treatment is by the use of some form of oral appliance. Oral appliances have a similar affect to the airway by moving the jaw and tongue forward and holding it there during the night. These are typically called Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS). There are over 300 different designs of MAS on the market today and more are regularly introduced as novel news ways of holding the mandible forward are invented. The reality is this that MAS devices have been in use in the orthodontic specialty for nearly 100 years in the form of functional appliances so there is nothing new about holding a mandible forward, just the method has evolved.
The MDSA appliance - an acronym for Medical Dental Sleep Appliance - is a patented Australian-designed MAS.
Figure 2. The MDSA -Medical Dental Sleep Appliance (Standard) Figure 3. The MDSA with posterior support
About the MDSA
The Australian made MDSA is in use in 25 countries and in excess of 30,000 patients have been treated. It is patented in Australia and the USA and patent pending in Europe. The MDSA has US FDA 510(k) approval and is registered in Taiwan and Canada. It is exempt from registration with the TGA and CE.
About the MDSA
The Australian made MDSA is in use in 25 countries and in excess of 30,000 patients have been treated. It is patented in Australia and the USA and patent pending in Europe. The MDSA has US FDA 510(k) approval and is registered in Taiwan and Canada. It is exempt from registration with the TGA and CE.