Tips For Selecting A SomnoMed Device

The SomnoDent^® Family of Oral Devices

SomnoMed^® is the world’s largest supplier of oral sleep apnea devices, and we’re known for how effective and comfortable our devices are. The comfort of SomnoDent appliances is due to our proprietary b-flex Comfort Liner^®, which cradles the teeth and holds the appliance in place while patients sleep. 

With so many devices to choose from, how can you select the right one? Fortunately, we’ve simplified the process. Let’s take a look at the different oral devices SomnoMed has to offer. 

SomnoDent Avant^®

SomnoDent Avant is one of our most comfortable appliance ever. The upper and lower splints are computer designed and manufactured by robots to the shape of patients’ teeth, using a single piece of dental acrylic. This makes the splints stronger, so they last longer.

Our soft b-flex Comfort Liner^® is added to this device to cradle and support the teeth, effectively cushioning the device against the teeth. With a b-flex Comfort Liner, the appliance feels more comfortable to wear and doesn’t slip off the teeth while patients are sleeping. 

If it’s more comfortable, patients are more likely to wear it and therefore treat their sleep apnea more effectively.

The SomnoDent Avant is a mandibular advancement device designed to treat obstructive sleep apnea by working with the way your body is meant to breathe at night. Its innovative passive mouth closing design encourages mouth closure, lip seal and nasal breathing[i]. Nasal breathing helps keep airway resistance low[ii] and the tongue resting naturally against the roof of the mouth. If the mouth falls open during sleep, the space at the back of the throat narrows and the airway is far more likely to collapse[iii] [iv]. By encouraging nasal breathing, the SomnoDent Avant helps reduce this risk through the night, without the dry mouth that often comes from sleeping with an open mouth.

How the SomnoDent Avant is Made

SomnoDent Avant manufacture starts with a digital photo of a patient’s teeth that gets sent to us by sleep dentists. With this photo, SomnoMed will design an oral appliance specifically for each patient’s teeth and jaw shape using Computer Assisted Design – or CAD – software tools. 

Once we’ve created a patient’s design, we start building their device using computer-controlled milling robots. The robot carves out the design from a single piece of dental plastic, as tests have shown that this method creates appliances that are stronger. We then add the soft b-flex Comfort Liner for comfort and polish the device, so there are no sharp edges and it is comfortable in a patient’s mouth.

After a patient’s appliance is made, we test it using a 3D printed model of the patient’s teeth. We check to make sure it fits: it doesn’t fall off the patient’s teeth, and it has been made exactly to the specifications provided by their sleep dentist. We then ship it to the patient’s sleep dentist, normally within 14 days, so that patients can start effective treatment for sleep apnea.

Who the SomnoDent Avant is best for:

• Mouth breathers
• Patients with smaller mouths
• Patients who require elastics to promote mouth closure
• Patients who require a nickel free device

SomnoDent Herbst Advance Elite^®

The SomnoDent Herbst Advance Elite is a Herbst style appliance that is individually milled from one piece of dental material. This material has greater resistance to the bending and flexing forces that occur when you open and close your mouth, so it is less likely to break.

All the patented strength improvements in the Herbst Advance are also found in the SomnoDent Herbst Advance Elite. In fact, we are so confident of the strength of the Herbst Advance Elite, we’ll replace it for free if it breaks, no questions asked, for 3 years!*

The SomnoDent Herbst Advance Elite is only supplied with our b-flex Comfort Liner for increased comfort and to ensure it stays on patients’ teeth while they sleep.

Who the SomnoDent Herbst Advance Elite is best for:

• Medicare patients
• Mouth breathers
• Patients with a larger tongue
• Patients with a smaller mouth
• Patients with a large vertical opening
• Patients with a high deductible and/or low insurance coverage

SomnoDent Flex^®

SomnoDent Flex is our most popular brand, with more than 300,000 appliances sold around the world since it was launched in 2008. The SomnoDent Flex is made from traditional acrylic, with our b-flex Comfort Liner added for superior comfort. The b-flex Comfort Liner helps the SomnoDent Flex stay in patients’ mouths while they sleep – we adjust the Bflex liner to gently cradle each of the teeth during the manufacturing process to ensure it is comfortable on all of the teeth.

SomnoDent Flex uses a screw mechanism to advance patients’ jaws and open their airways.

Who the SomnoDent Flex is best for:

• Mouth breathers
• Patients with an extreme vertical opening
• Patients who require a nickel free device
• Transportation and positional therapy patients
• If opening and closing the mouth are priorities for the patient

SomnoDent^® Fusion

SomnoDent^® Fusion is traditionally made from dental acrylic, and then we add our b-flex Comfort Liner^™ for unsurpassed comfort.

The design of the SomnoDent Fusion includes replaceable “wings” that are used to move a patient’s jaw forward and stop their tongue and soft tissues from blocking their airway during sleep. The wings, and the screw adjustments, allow for a patient or their dentist to set the appliance in the most comfortable and effective position for the patient.

Many SomnoDent Fusion users like that they can place the upper splint on their teeth, and then their lower splint, making it easy to wear every night. The SomnoDent Fusion is one of our most comfortable and popular brands. 

Who the SomnoDent Fusion is best for:

• Mouth breathers
• Patients with a smaller mouth
• Patients with an extreme vertical opening
• Transportation and positional therapy patients
• If opening and closing the mouth are priorities for the patient

Oral Appliance Therapy Trusted by Patients Around the World

SomnoMed is the world’s largest supplier of oral sleep apnea devices, operating in 28 countries. Since 2004, we’ve helped more than 1,000,000 patients have a comfortable night’s sleep while effectively treating their sleep apnea.

We’ll make your device to the same medical device quality standards that are used for pacemakers to make sure your device is comfortable for your first night – and every night’s sleep!

Explore our SomnoDent devices here: 

https://somnomed.com/en/patients/products/somnodent/

Patients, find a provider in your area here: https://somnomed.com/en/find-a-clinic/

Sleep physicians, learn more here:  https://somnomed.com/en/physicians/physicians-contact/ 

Sleep dentists, learn more here: https://somnomed.com/en/dentists/dentists-contact/

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