ADL Snorer's Friend Installation guide

S n o r e r' s F r i e n d ™
Fix snoring fast and get on with your life!
Instructions for Use
What is the Snorer's Friend™?
The Snorer's Friend™is a Mandibular Advancement Device designed to stop the noise of snoring It is made
from a soft thermoplastic material and intended for custom-fitting by the user in their own home
Who should use the Snorer's Friend™?
This device is designed for healthy adults who wish to reduce the volume and frequency of their snoring It is
not suitable for children, for people with a history of epilepsy, for people with tooth or gum problems, or for
people with obstructive sleep apnoea (except under the supervision of a doctor or dentist, see below)
If you do not have a full and healthy set of teeth, you may still be able to use the device but you must consult
a dentist or doctor before starting to use the device
Some topical medications, lotions or pastes may react with the material of the device, so you must not use
the device on nights when you apply any other product to your mouth
Under the supervision of a doctor, this device may be an effective treatment for people suffering from
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA), a condition which sometimes occurs along with snoring Sufferers of OSA
repeatedly stop breathing for short periods while they sleep The Snorer's Friend™ is not always effective in
treating OSA, so it is important to seek guidance from a doctor if you suspect you may have OSA OSA is a
very serious condition which will have long term effects on your health unless treated properly Symptoms
that could indicate OSA include (1)recognised pauses in breathing during sleep, usually with "choking"
sounds (2) a feeling of not having had enough sleep despite spending enough hours in bed
How do I use the Snorer's Friend™?
The first step is to mould the device to suit your mouth Instructions for fitting are below After this once-off
fitting you insert the device into your mouth before going to sleep each night, and take it out when you wake
in the morning A storage case is provided to store the device while you are not using it Allow the device to
air-dry in the container between uses Cleaning is important and we recommend keeping the device and
container clean with a normal toothbrush and toothpaste, as often as required
The device should give between 4 and 24 months effective service With continued wear it will slowly lose its
shape and eventually become ineffective If you grind or clench your teeth (bruxism) the device will wear
quickly in certain places, which could lead to the device breaking up This could present a choking hazard It
is important to replace the device before there is any possibility of pieces breaking off For a very heavy teeth
grinder or teeth clencher replacement may need to be as often as every 4 months With minimal grinding and
clenching the device should last 24 months
How does the Snorer's Friend™work?
When you wear the device your tongue is held slightly forward, because it is connected to your jaw This
helps keep your upper airway open, by increasing the clearance between the back of your tongue and the
back of your throat
Lack of clearance in that area is the source of most snoring noise
What are the side effects?
Some side effects are common with this device Usually they don’t occur for more than 2 weeks If you
experience any of these symptoms and they persist for longer than 2 weeks, or you feel they are becoming
serious, you must stop using the device and consult your doctor before continuing Common side effects
are : Sore jaw joint (Temporomandibular joint) This often occurs for the first week or so as your jaw becomes
accustomed to its new sleeping position However, you should discontinue use immediately if the pain is
anything more than mild discomfort or persists for more than 30 minutes after removal of the device
Sore teeth The device holds your jaw forward by gripping your teeth This can result in some discomfort
which should not last more than a few minutes after removing the device There is some evidence that
prolonged regular use of devices like the Snorer’s Friend™ can cause gradual movement of the teeth,
although this seems to occur only in certain individuals and only with “hard” acrylic devices, rather than soft
devices like the Snorer’s Friend™ It is recommended that you mention to your dentist that you are using a
Snorer’s Friend™ and ask him or her to monitor the positions of your teeth at your normal dental checkups
Gum problems In some people with sensitive gums or mouth tissues, the prolonged contact with the device

may result in ulcers or tissue damage
Excessive salivation This is a non-serious side effect but can be a nuisance Usually it will improve as you
become accustomed to the device
How do I adjust the fit of the device?
The Snorer's Friend™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 read all the instructions carefully before you begin
Preparation
(1) Get the following items ready
A watch that will allow you to accurately measure 17 seconds
A jug or kettle to boil some water
Two bowls or mugs deep enough to immerse the device
(2) Fill one bowl or mug 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 (labeled “A” in the picture
above) should go at the top
(5) Work out the correct 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 still select a position which is about halfway between the forward and
backwards limits
Nor al Position : Fully extended : Halfway position
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 If the 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 pain in your jaw joint (TMJ) on waking If significant TMJ pain 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 jaw joint 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 or mug as soon as it is boiling
(7) Holding the device by wooden spatula, immerse the device fully in the hot water for 17 seconds This
timing is critical, so use the watch to make sure you immerse it for the right amount of time Make sure you
are not pushing the device against the edge of the bowl or mug as this will deform it and make it hard to fit to
your teeth
(8) Take the device out of the water, and shake any excess water off it 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 yet 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 Holding your mouth closed, use your fingers to push on your lips and cheeks
to force the device against your teeth Do the same on the inside with your tongue, especially concentrating
on the area behind your lower 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
Your Snorer's Friend™ is now ready for use!
ARTG#115164 Manufactured by ADL resources, PO Box 455 HINDMARSH SA 5007 Freecall 1800 726 889