Pilot Study for Feasibility of Using an Oral Appliance for Decreasing Snoring

Pilot Study for Feasibility of Using an Oral Appliance for Decreasing Snoring

This research study proposes to determine how well tolerated and effective lower and upper oral dental devices are at reducing snoring. The device is designed to move the genioglossus muscle forward, with interior attachment to maintain forward placement of of he tongue on the bottom of the mouth.

This study proposed to determine if the use of an oral device which causes forward positioning of the tongue will decrease the intensity and frequency of snoring as measured by the SnoreLab phone app, evaluate the level of snoring as measured by the bed partner, evaluate tolerance and comfort of the device and evaluate the quality of sleep of the subject by the bed partner.

Subjects will sleep at home using the SnoreLab app to record snoring for five nights and fill out the Snore Outcomes Survey. They will then utilize the lower dental device for five nights recording their snoring. At the end of the five nights of using the lower dental device, the subjects will fill out the comfort and difficulties form with the bed partner completing the Snore Outcomes Survey. If the lower device is tolerated, the process is repeated with the upper device added to the lower device.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. . Able to provide informed consent
2. Age 18 or older
3. Self-report of snoring problems
4. Has a bed partner that is willing and able to consent as well as answer questions related to partner's snoring both with and without oral device-

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Missing teeth.
2. Respiratory disorders requiring treatment including asthma, COPD
3. Poor dental health including gum disease or loose teeth
4. Dental implants placed within the last three months
5. Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
6. Presence of mouth or jaw pain
7. Bruxism (teeth grinding)
8. Full dentures
9. No bed partner
10. Braces
11. Diagnosed with Obstructive or Central Sleep Apnea, Sleep Apnea
12. Uncontrolled RLS
13. Ongoing or prior use of a dental device
14. Noise in bedroom i.e., fan, bed partner snoring
15. Other medical or sleep issues which will interfere with the device per PI discretion
16. Does not have a smart phone
17. Other medical condition that PI believes will make the patient ineligible for participation