Category: Airway Sleep Appliances
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ALF treats Collapsed Nasal Valve
ALF treats collapsed nasal valve – but what’s a collapsed nasal valve? NASAL VALVE INSUFFICIENCY The collapse of the internal nasal valves during inhalation reduces air flow through the nose, and increases the amount of pressure needed by the chest to overcome that limited inspiration. Nasal valve insufficiency looks like this: Many ENTs will…
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Dental ALF reduces Obstructive Sleep Apnea
A dental ALF reduces obstructive sleep apnea! WHAT? HOW? OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA Obstructive sleep apnea is a dangerous condition that occurs during sleep, wherein a person’s breathing decreases to the point of preventing air flow to the lungs. There are varying degrees of obstructive sleep apnea, and varying causes. One such cause is a restriction…
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ALF as Airway Appliance
Can an orthodontic appliance like the ALF serve to open the airway? We think so! This diagram shows the anatomical relationship between the roof of the mouth (palatine and maxillae bones) and the base of the nose. If an ALF Advanced Lightwire Fuctional appliance can gently spread these maxillae and palatine sutures,…
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Oral airway appliance therapy resolves moderate sleep apnea
This patient had been diagnosed with Moderate OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea), meaning he would stop breathing in his sleep between 15-30 times an hour. His physician fitted the patient for a C-PAP but the patient did not tolerate it well, due to the leaking around the face mask. Oral exam shows two…