These instructions are for you to refer to and print in the event you misplace yours!  Also included - some troubleshooting tips for you, but please remember to contact us for help if you need to!

How do I adjust the fit of the device?

The device needs to be moulded to suit your mouth before you use it for the first time. This is done by

warming the device in hot water, which makes it soft so you can mould it. After it cools, it regains its

strength and is ready to use. Please follow the procedure below. You’ll need to work fairly quickly

once you commence the actual fitting, so please read and rehearse all the instructions carefully

before you begin and then you will find the moulding process simple and straightforward. Please

contact us for any assistance! Remember – the two keys to the device working effectively are

the jaw position and to have a good snug fit!

Preparation

(1) You’ll need the following items :

A watch that will allow you to accurately measure 17 seconds

A jug or kettle to boil some water

Two ceramic bowls deep enough to immerse the device

(2) Fill one bowl with cold water (room temperature or below)

(3) Insert the wooden spatula that came in the box into the slot in the front of the device.

The spatula will act as a handle when you immerse the device in the hot water, and also

prevent the slot being squashed during the moulding process. The slot must remain open

to ensure you can breathe easily with the device in your mouth.

(4) Practise putting the device in your mouth. Make sure you get your upper and lower teeth into the

grooves. Make sure the device is the right way up. The small cutout at the front of the device should go at the top.

(5) Work out the position for your jaw. Move your jaw forwards and backwards (extend and retract) a

few times, and then find a comfortable position which is about halfway between those two limits. If you

have “normal” teeth, this will be where the upper and lower front teeth are vertically aligned. If you

have an overbite or underbite, you should just select a position which is about halfway between the

forward and backwards limits.

Very Important. If you do not extend your jaw far enough, the device will be less likely to be effective.

If you extend your jaw too far, you are increasing the likelihood of jaw joint pain. Everyone is slightly

different, so treat the above advice as a starting position. If your snoring persists after the first night,

remould the device (using this same procedure) to increase the jaw extension by about 2mm. If

necessary, continue increasing the extension in small steps, and retesting each night, until either the

snoring stops or you notice significant discomfort in your jaw joint (TMJ) on waking. If significant TMJ

discomfort is occurring but the snoring has not stopped, then this device is not suitable for you and

you should discontinue use immediately. Please note that some mild discomfort in the TMJ is normal

whilst getting used to this device, see “side effects” on the previous page.

Fitting

(6) Boil some water and tip it into the second bowl as soon as it is boiling.

(7) Holding the device by the wooden spatula, quickly immerse it fully in the hot water for 17 seconds.

We’ve assumed that 3 or 4 seconds will elapse between the water boiling and immersion of the

device. This timing is important, so use the watch to make sure you immerse it for the right amount of

time. Make sure you are not touching the device against the edge of the bowl as this will deform it and

make it hard to fit to your teeth.

(8) Take the device out of the water, and very gently rotate it to allow excess water to run off. Touch it

against the skin on your arm to make sure it is not too hot to put in your mouth. If you’ve left it in the

hot water longer than 17 seconds, it may be too hot and could burn your mouth. In that case, you

should wait for it to cool down before inserting into your mouth.

(9) Place the device into your mouth, so that your upper and lower teeth are located in the upper and

lower channels of the device. Don’t bite into the device just yet. You need to read step 10 before

biting into it. Also, don’t remove the spatula until you have finished the moulding (step 13).

(10) Extend your lower jaw forward to the position you established earlier (point 5 above), and bite

with moderate force into the device. Don’t bite really hard, just hard enough to get a good impression

in the material. Then quickly put your fingers into your mouth and push to mould the material against

your teeth. The front teeth (both upper and lower) are the most important. The back teeth are also

important, but do the front first, while the material is softest.

Do the same on the inside with your tongue, especially concentrating on the area behind your lower

front teeth.

(11) Keep applying pressure with your fingers and tongue for 30 seconds.

(12) Remove the device from your mouth and immerse it in the cold water. Leave it there for 1 minute.

(13) Remove the spatula and place the device back in your mouth. It should feel comfortable, and grip

your upper and lower teeth snugly. If you feel any areas where the fit is poor, you can repeat the

above procedure up to 3 times.

Troubleshooting

When people contact us for help – these are the troubleshooting tips we forward them:

Please forgive me if I suggest things you feel you have definitely already done, but I need to run

through my essentials checklist just to make sure. These are the tips that I normally send to anyone

who has initial issues as most cases can be solved by either the jaw position or the tightness of the

fit.

Now, if you haven't used one of these devices before it is natural to be a little reticent about moulding

it with the lower jaw far enough forward. I can't stress enough that that is the key to it, and all

similar devices, working effectively. When you are in the reclining position moving the lower jaw

forward slightly actually lifts the tongue away from the soft palate. You can test this by placing your

fingers in the hollow of your throat and then moving your lower jaw forward - you can actually feel the

muscles working. This device is modelled on the same principle as dentists use in their expensive

custom fitted mouthpieces so it's not gimmicky at all - they really do work very effectively in most

people.

Perhaps you already have it moulded in this position and if so I'm sorry, but best to be sure. In most

people, unless they have an overbite, the best position is with the front, top and bottom teeth roughly

lined up - or if still fairly comfortable with the lower teeth even one or two millimetres in front of the

top. The key is finding that mix of snoring cessation whilst still maintaining as much comfort as

possible. If you can manage it that little bit further as suggested that's great as the device will 'give' a

little of course.

The other key is ensuring a very snug fit - if it moves around at all you won't have

success. The most important places to mould tightly are the front and the 'near front' sides. Please

only ever rinse with cold water or you will upset the moulding. Ensure you follow the time in the

boiling water EXACTLY or you won't have success as the substance will become unstable, then

quickly pop it up into your mouth and push quickly and firmly on the top teeth for literally a second or

two and then mover the lower jaw forward and up into position. At that point start pushing and

moulding around your teeth very firmly and push from the inside with your tongue also. I realise that

aspect is hard - so take it out and try 'pinching' the ridges that your teeth fit into a little once you are

sure you have the general position/fit accurate.

It could simply be that you have the jaw in the correct position forward - but the device is not snug

enough and it's a common enough mistake. If you feel that the shape of the mould is ok, here are the

tightening tips.

To tighten a device that's already been molded:

Sit the device on the table the 'right side' up - as if it was in your mouth. Pop the paddle into it. Then

what you will do is simply dunk into recently boiled water to a depth of only about 2 millimetres, the

'bottom' of the device as it was when sitting on table. Which is simply the ridges into which the lower

teeth would fit. You'll need to hold it horizontally and since you're not doing a complete remould

probably just about 10-12 seconds will do as you are simply then going to carefully 'pinch' together

the ridges a fraction so that when you put it in you'll have to ever so slightly push your teeth into the

groove. Then flip it over and do the same on the 'top' side. We're aiming to get it sitting as tightly on

your teeth top and bottom as we can, without disturbing the overall mould.