For mouth breathers and snorers

The newly designed TMJ-MBV Appliance™ -Mouth Breather Version- features 4 large breathing holes, and a 7mm base with air springs for increased bite opening and gentle TM Joint decompression (if a larger appliance is required there is also an 11mm base version available). The sides are higher than the regular TMJ-Appliance™ for improved retention while sleeping. The TMJ-MBV™ advances the mandible when in place. This feature, plus the increase in vertical bite, assists to provide more airway space –a feature, which is useful in the diagnosis and treatment of snoring. Most snoring devices hold the mandible in a fixed position and can be detrimental to the TM Joint. The TMJ-MBV™ allows for free movement of the mandible when in place so is ideal if there is an existing TMJ Disorder.

One of the concepts of prevention of snoring that is effective in selected patients is opening of the airway by opening of the vertical dimension and advancing the mandible.
This principle is used in a number of snoring devices. The problem with many of these snoring devices is that they are rigid and they hold the mandible into a downward and forward position, locking the condyles into a compressed state against the eminence.

Patients often complain about TMJ pain after wearing such hard fixed snoring appliances.
TMJ-MBV™ is made from the same soft flexible silicone material as the regular TMJ APPLIANCE™. This allows for considerable lateral and A-P movement of the mandible making the appliance more comfortable for the patient. The TMJ-MBV™ is also the most appropriate one to use for patients who already have an existing TMJ disorder. One of the disadvantages associated with the TMJ APPLIANCE™ is that if the patient has a severe mouth open posture, at night the TMJ APPLIANCE™ will fall out because it does not have any active retention. Careful patient selection is important.

The TMJ-MBV™ can be an ideal diagnostic tool for ascertaining whether an intra oral appliance will have some benefit for the snoring patient. Following this further more complex appliances can be made in a laboratory with the information derived by the initial use of the TMJ-MBV™ can be very useful in ascertaining the possible design and effectiveness of more complex appliances. However in the majority cases where the retention is not a problem the TMJ-MBV™ is an ideal therapeutic device.