Dental/Mouthpiece Question

[zuzanne]

I wear dentures and am looking for a mouthpiece that will be more comfortable than the one that came on my Reg. Someone said that there is a new one on the market that uses the jaw instead of the teeth for holding the reg in your mouth. Does anyone know where I could get one of these or have any other ideas for making the mouthpiece more comfortable?
Thanks,
zuzanne

 

[miguel sanz]

I don´t know this one you´re talking about, but you can find a few different kinds in many diving shops, there´re very easy to change and are cheep. I´ve seen ones with longer plastic so you use more teeth so the strengh is less for each teeth.
then there is a kind that might help you more, with a palate part that will keep your reg in place even with your mouth open (almost).

 

[rab]

then there is a kind that might help you more, with a palate part that will keep your reg in place even with your mouth open (almost).

The LDS where I took my OW uses mainly Aqua Lung regs for the class equipment and many have the Comfo-Bite™ mouthpiece. It really does allow you to maintain the reg without having to really "bite" on it.

I tried to find a good picture, but so far only this:
http://www.aqualung.com/choose_equip/cd_pdfs/AL_GUIDE_Regs.pdf

There was an article Rodale's Scuba Diving, that mentions the Comfo-Bite™, but no picture.

-Rob

 

[CuriousMe]

The LDS where I took my OW uses mainly Aqua Lung regs for the class equipment and many have the Comfo-Bite™ mouthpiece. It really does allow you to maintain the reg without having to really "bite" on it.

I tried to find a good picture, but so far only this:
http://www.aqualung.com/choose_equip/cd_pdfs/AL_GUIDE_Regs.pdf

There was an article Rodale's Scuba Diving, that mentions the Comfo-Bite™, but no picture.

-Rob

...but not dentures

The biggest difference is that it has a palate that fits up against your palate <smile>.

Generally, I like it and I do think it makes it easier to keep the thing in my mouth.....but if I do a lot of diving (like a week long liveaboard), by the end of the week the palate bothers my mouth a bit...nothing terrible, but a little sore.

Peace,
Cathie

 

[scuba-punk]

I think that this might be what you're looking for...

http://www.seacure1.com/

If you have any kind of gag reflex, the comfo-bite should be called the comfo-barf...

-Frank

 

[Laurence Stein DDS]

Hi Zuzanne,

I think the ComfoBite is the one you want as mentioned by Rab. It doesn't rely on your teeth to hold it in. Part of the mouthpiece crosses the hard palate and it sort of "floats" in the mouth.

Scuba-punk...if a person can wear a denture wouldn't you suppose that they can also tolerate the ComfoBite? Much of the gag reflex is actually learned and can be unlearned...especially if you are motivated.

Don't knock the product just because you cannot wear it. I have tried it and it actually is comfortable...not a hint of a gag and I have all my teeth.

The SeaCure is only for divers with teeth. It is heat formed to your bite...something you can't do without your teeth. Wearing dentures is not recommended while diving...it poses an aspiration or obstruction hazard.

The safest advice to denture wearers is to dive without the denture. While this may not always be possible, it is still the safest way.

There is mention of a custom molded bite to be made by a dentist. I have not tried to fabricate one but have seen the instructions. The cost will be prohibitive...especially with products like the ComfoBite around. Only in divers unable to tolerate the Comfobite would I consider the custom bite.

Good luck Zuzanne.

Laurence Stein, DDS
:doctor:

 

[miguel sanz]

...but not dentures

The biggest difference is that it has a palate that fits up against your palate <smile>.

Generally, I like it and I do think it makes it easier to keep the thing in my mouth.....but if I do a lot of diving (like a week long liveaboard), by the end of the week the palate bothers my mouth a bit...nothing terrible, but a little sore.

Peace,
Cathie

I have it, I think it´ll be the best for you Zuzanne, but it´s true that if you dive a lot of diving in one day, it bothers a little.

 

[zuzanne]

Thank you all for the information. I will check out the ComfoBite. That sounds like the one that I read about.

Zuzanne

 

[6Gill]

I have both upper and lower dentures and use the Secure mouth piece. It works just fine for me! The only problem that I have had with it is having my lower denture kind of get embedded in the mouth piece and coming out with the mouth piece when I take the second stage out of my mouth. It will drop from the Secure as soon as it clears my mouth and I have had to recover it a couple of times. Normally, I try to keep this in mind and not just jerk it out of my mouth (Not opening wide either.) I would hate to lose it as replacement is around $1000.00 not covered by insurance.

DDS Stein, I can't imagine diving without dentures! I have no experience with the ComfoBite or Manta (Held in by your cheeks.) I do have a severe gag reflex brushing my tongue, etc. My lower plate was also cut shallow because of my gag reflex. Iv'e tried a few regular mouth pieces that come with various regulators and have not liked them nor did they feel secure in my mouth. I did find that the mouth piece that came on my Atomic M-1 felt good enough to me, that I removed it from the M-1 (Replaced with the Secure) and put it on my Atomic Z-1 (Octo) Second stage.

For me the Secure is the best mouth piece around!

 

[Laurence Stein DDS]

Hi 6gill,

I also use the SeaCure. In order for you to use it you must use your dentures and customize the bite to them.

The reason you see recommendations against doing so is because it is possible for the denture to be displaced by a blast of air and then it can obstruct the airway. If you had to share air with your SeaCure you run the risk of losing your denture and the lucky buddy may either find some teeth embedded in your reg or an oddly shaped regulator which won't fit very well. Actually, anyone using a custom bite would be donating a regulator that is not comfortable for anyone else.

While I must recommend not diving with a denture, I appreciate that it would be embarrassing to dive without them and the you may very well be more comfortable with them. It's kind of like telling a denture patient not to sleep with them....OK, that's another story.

Regards,

Larry Stein