Sleep Apnea Scan Guide

Dr. Jeremy Wano

Updated August 31, 2023 19:33

101 for Best Quality Scans

What is needed?

Upper arch
Lower arch
Protruding bite scans

Key Notes

Capture all the way around back molars on upper and lower scans.
Keep the jaw stable with no movement between each bitescan.
Avoid holes and distortions.

Bite Scans

TO ENSURE WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE THE BEST PRODUCT FOR YOUR PATIENT:

Set the therapeutic bite position.
Leave roughly 3mm vertical clearance between the arches.
Leave roughly 5mm between the opposing anteriors.
Ensure stable jaw position with a gauge, gig or firm makeshift device, in the therapeutic bite position.
The bite scan should cover at least 3-4 teeth to get proper alignment.
Scan the bite on both sides.

Arch Scans

TO ENSURE WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE THE BEST PRODUCT FOR YOUR PATIENT:
Do your best to capture the full arch and scan those hard to reach back teeth.
Try and make sure there aren’t any voids/distortions on the scans (this is to ensure we make a product that most accurately fits the patient’s mouth).

Tips for better scans:

MOISTURE CONTROL

Keep the area dry before and during scanning.
Try using active suction or compressed air - one person can scan while another can work to keep the area dry.
Saliva is the leading cause for voids and distortions.

CHEEK AND LIP RETRACTION

Use tools around the office to your advantage. Cheek retractors help greatly in keeping the cheek away from the hard to get vestibule areas.

GUM TISSUE AND SCANNING

Tilt the scanner on both sides of the patients arch.
Do not just hover directly over the occlusal surface - try different angles.
Slow down when scanning the posterior teeth - scanning too quickly leads to voids.

Before scan submission & dismissing the patient, check the following:

√ Are all surfaces of the posterior teeth captured?
√ Are both of the retromolar pads captured?
√ Are there any distortions, holes, or layering?
√ Is the entire palate captured?