Innovation moving medical technology forward
Oventus was developed by the company founder and Clinical Director, Dr Chris Hart. As a sleep disorder sufferer himself, Dr Hart was anxious to find a sleep-disordered breathing therapy that was better than the current market alternatives. Using his expertise as a professional dentist, he thought he could devise an oral appliance himself that would better increase airflow to the lungs and bypasses multiple sites of obstruction including the nose, tongue and soft palate. In an industry first, Dr Hart partnered with Australia’s peak scientific body, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in 2013 to design a bespoke mouthguard, using innovative titanium 3D-printing technology.
Do you screen your patients for OSA?
A recent population study cited 17% of females and 22% of male subjects suffered from Obstructive Sleep Apnoea*. As a dentist, you are well positioned to recognise the signs and symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea in your patients. Screening your patients, and discussing signs and symptoms, will assist them in making the first step in their treatment journey. As a dentist, you have an important role to play in supporting your patients through diagnosis and treatment of their sleep disordered breathing. With appropriate training and experience in dental sleep medicine, many dentists are recognising the potential to increase the service offering of their practices, and to provide life-changing professional services in Dental Sleep Medicine to their patients. Of the millions of patients that suffer OSA, nasal obstruction and soft palate collapse are major contributing factors, which may not be adequately dealt with by mandibular advancement alone. With variable success rates for surgery in these patients, the O2VentTM technology may be of benefit.
To help you start screening your patients for OSA, and for assistance in discussing Oventus Airway technology as part of a treatment platform, you may find the following link useful: Find a Sleep service near you * Defined at an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5 for eleven published epidemiological studies published between 1993 and 2013. Karl A. Franklin, Eva Lindberg: Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder in the population — a review on the epidemiology of sleep apnea.
How the O2VentTM works
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If there is reduced flow through the nasal airway or a soft palate obstruction occurs, air can be drawn into the front of the device while lips are closed around it to maintain an oral seal
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Air passes through to the back of the device in an enclosed airway
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The device advances the lower mandible to stabilise jaw position, bringing the tongue forward and opening the airway
For a more detailed explanation of how the unique design allows for breathing through the device, bypassing obstruction in the nose which can contribute to snoring and sleep apnoea, simply watch this video.
The Oventus Treatment Platform
The Unique O2VentTM Oral Devices offer three key benefits
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Comfort
The O2VentTM custom mouthguard devices are custom made for you to provide a perfect fit. Made from a titanium core inserted into soft mouthguards, these lightweight sleep apnoea treatment devices weigh only 35 grams (1.23 oz). The streamlined design has enabled an airway to be built into the device whilst not obstructing the tongue.
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Portability
The lightweight device has no mask or complicated machines attached, so it is easy to take with you as you travel, and store during the day when not in use.
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Oventus Airway Technology — The Second Nose
Each O2VentTM device has an airway incorporated into it about the size of a healthy human nostril. Air enters the mouth and is delivered to the back of the throat, so you can breathe through the device while maintaining an oral seal, to avoid a dry mouth or sore throat.
Clinical trial results with O2VentTM Mono
100% of patients experienced significant improvement in snoring using the O2VentTM
82% of patients experienced complete elimination of snoring using O2VentTM
76% of patients decreased their Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) by more than 50%**
**Lavery D, Hart C et al. Safety and Efficacy of a Novel Oral Appliance in the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Journal of Dental Sleep Medicine Vol.4 No.3 July 2017
Ongoing Clinical Studies are taking it further
Current studies are looking at upper airway physiology and the effect of Oventus’ low-resistance airway on pharyngeal collapsibility when used in combination therapy — not just the reduction in pressure requirements but also the ability to breathe physiologically while simultaneously applying CPAP. If the clinical data continues to support these early findings, these two advances may represent a significant paradigm shift in the treatment of OSA. Please find also in Clinical Resources, a link to a webinar recording hosted by Dr Chris Hart in May, 2018. The webinar, ‘An Introduction to Oventus Airway Technology’ is available to view and listen to.
Clinical resources
1. Clinical Procedure Guide
2. Clinician Brochure
3. Clinician FAQ’s
4. Patient Brochure 5. Brisbane clinical study presented at ASA Sleep DownUnder 2018 – Airway open-airway closed: The effect of mandibular advancement therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea with and without a novel in-built airway.
5. NeuRA clinical study presented at ASA Sleep DownUnder 2018 – Combination therapy with CPAP plus MAS reduces CPAP therapeutic requirements in incomplete MAS responders.
6. NeuRA clinical study presented at ASA Sleep DownUnder 2018 – Combination therapy with mandibular advancement and expiratory positive airway pressure valves reduces OSA severity.
7. UWA clinical study presented at ASA Sleep DownUnder 2018 – Predictors of Response to a Novel Mandibular Advancement Device (Oventus O2Vent T) in patients with OSA.
8. NeuRA clinical study presented at AADSM, Boston 2017 – The role of a novel oral appliance therapy device on pharyngeal pressure swings and CPAP requirements during sleep in obstructive sleep apnea: A pilot study
9. UWA clinical study presented at ASA Sleep DownUnder 2017 – The effect of a novel oral appliance therapy on obstructive sleep apnea: preliminary results
10. NeuRA clinical study presented at ASA Sleep DownUnder 2017 – The effects of posture and mandibular advancement on nasal resistance and obstructive sleep apnea treatment outcome with a novel oral appliance therapy device.
11. Clinical Study Abstract on the role of a Novel oral appliance on pharyngeal pressure swings and CPAP requirements during sleep in OSA – NeuRA/UNSW
12. Clinical Study Abstract on the effect of a novel oral appliance therapy on obstructive sleep apnea: preliminary results
13. Clinical Study Abstract on safety and efficacy of a novel oral appliance in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea
14. Clinical Study Abstract on the effects of posture and mandibular advancement on nasal resistance and obstructive sleep apnea treatment outcome with a novel oral appliance therapy device
15. Oventus Webinar hosted by Dr Chris Hart, ‘An Introduction to Oventus Airway Technology’ – 21 May, 2018
16. Dental Innovations Webinar hosted by Dr Chris Hart, ‘An Introduction to Oventus Airway Technology’ – 27 June, 2018
17. Oventus Webinar hosted by Dr Chris Hart, ‘Clinical Evidence and Indications for Oventus Airway Technology: Introducing a new treatment modality’ – 3 July, 2018
18. Oventus Webinar hosted by Dr Chris Hart, ‘Innovation in sleep treatment for OSA using Oventus combination therapy: Revolutionising oral appliance therapy via our CPAP alternative’ – 6 August, 2018
Education in Dental Sleep Medicine
Dentists practising in the field of Dental Sleep Medicine should follow the recommendations for practice protocol as reported in the most recent American Academy of Sleep Medicine publication ‘Practice Parameters for the Treatment of Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Oral Appliances.’ Oventus encourages dentists to undertake regular appropriate training and educational activities to ensure their knowledge is up to date in this area. Further details of accredited and approved courses are available from the Australasian Sleep Association. Dentists interested in practising in this field are encouraged to become associate members of the ASA and to attend and participate in the annual scientific meetings. These conferences will offer postgraduate introductory courses in Oral Sleep Medicine and present current scientific content in all sleep disorders.
Oventus also recommends internationally recognised training through Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. See the attached flyer for a Tufts University Dental Sleep Medicine Comprehensive Introduction Program in Singapore in April and July 2019.
Upcoming events and training
Oventus Medical are proud to support major Dental Sleep Medicine events. Events, training and webinars for 2019 coming soon!
Tufts University Dental Sleep Medicine Comprehensive Introduction Program
18-20 April, 2019 and 4-6 July, 2019. Singapore
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