Like any mandibular advancement splint, the O2Vent holds the lower jaw a small way forward during sleep. This helps keep the airway at the back of the throat open, so the soft tissue vibrates less and snoring is reduced.
The feature that sets the O2Vent design apart is a small built-in airway channel through the front of the device. If the nose becomes blocked overnight, this channel allows continued breathing through the mouth without the jaw dropping and the position being lost. For people whose nose tends to congest, this can make the appliance easier to wear. Whether it helps depends on the individual, and this is assessed at the consultation.
An O2Vent, like any splint, suits snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea, and people who cannot tolerate CPAP. It is not suitable for everyone. For severe sleep apnoea, CPAP is the first line treatment and controls the condition more effectively. A splint is not a cure. Peninsula Snore Clinic works with several appliance designs rather than a single brand, and will recommend a different design, or advise against a splint, where that is the better option for the patient.
Fitting begins with a digital scan of the teeth, rather than putty, along with an assessment of the teeth, any existing dental work, the jaw joints and the bite. If the O2Vent is suitable, it is made, fitted, and adjusted in small steps over the follow-up visits, as this titration is central to the result.
Dr Andre Schertel is the lead clinician at Peninsula Snore Clinic, with over 20 years of dental experience and advanced training in dental sleep medicine. After personally experiencing obstructive sleep apnoea, he developed a strong focus on effective, comfortable alternatives to CPAP therapy.
Dr Andre has completed training in sleep apnoea management in Australia and internationally and has extensive experience treating snoring and sleep apnoea with custom oral appliances. He holds a Fellowship of Dental Sleep Medicine from the Australasian Sleep Association and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry (Oral Implants) from the University of Melbourne.
