Pasa®
Pasa FAQ
1. What is snoring and sleep apnea?
Snoring is a noise that occurs when the airway becomes narrow, causing a blockage in the airflow
that can lead to a lack of oxygen.
Sleep apnea is a condition where the airway is completely blocked, causing a brief suffocation period where breathing is impossible, also resulting in a lack of oxygen.
2. What are treatment options for Snoring/Sleep Apnea?
Treatment options for snoring and sleep apnea include surgery, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, and oral appliances. Surgery involves removing the soft tissue in the back of the throat which grows back eventually and can have side effects. The CPAP machine can be effective but is difficult to adapt to and is uncomfortable. The oral appliance is another option, which resolves snoring and sleep apnea by advancing the lower jaw forward. Most of the patients at our clinic have undergone surgery or failed to adapt to CPAP machines.
3. What causes Snoring / Sleep Apnea?
Snoring/sleep apnea occurs when the airway narrows from the tongue or the lower jaw falls back and obstructs the airway, or when the cervical spine tilts forward and presses on the airway, creating a breathing bottleneck during sleep.
4. Can Snoring / Sleep Apnea be treated permanently?
There is currently no permanent solution to completely cure snoring/sleep apnea. The main concept of treatment is to provide sufficient oxygen supply with the help of an external device (CPAP or Oral Appliance) for life. Many people who have failed with conventional methods of treatment (Surgery and CPAP) are highly satisfied with PASA.
5. How does PASA work?
PASA brings the lower jaw forward, preventing the tongue from falling back obstructing the airway, and making the airway wider to increase oxygen intake during sleep.
6. Will using PASA every day be okay for my jaw?
Using an oral device for sleep apnea/snoring can force the jaw into an abnormal position for about 8 hours each day, leading to muscle and ligament strain and potential temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. This can cause changes in chewing and lead to pain or other related health issues. Long-term use of such devices increases the risk of TMJ and bite disorders, which can be uncomfortable and lead to discontinuation of use.
Pasa was developed to focus on preventing or reducing the likelihood of such side effects. To achieve this, the lower jaw must be moved forward within each individual's physiological range, while considering their unique diagnostic results and causal factors. Only then can all surrounding muscles and ligaments be properly relieved of tension. Pasa is designed with these considerations in mind, allowing for free and precise movement of the jaw both inside and outside the device, resulting in greater freedom from the side effects commonly found in conventional oral appliances.
7. Is it possible to diagnose snoring/sleep apnea without undergoing a sleep study?
Ilmi Dental Clinic and Pasamedi have developed a new system to diagnose, analyze, and track sleep apnea/snoring using a non-sleep study method. We have also developed the CIP index to compare snoring treatment results visually and numerically.
8. Can PASA treat severe obstructive sleep apnea?
PASA can treat both mild and severe cases regardless of the patient's condition, using a different approach that maximizes the patient's natural physiological response. It differs from traditional methods that simply advance the lower jaw to open the airway. PASA is applicable to almost all patients with sleep apnea or snoring symptoms, except for those with complete dentures or severe temporomandibular joint disorders.
9. What is the adaptation period for PASA?
Patients who have used other oral appliances find PASA more comfortable and can speak and even yawn with it. However, for first-time users, it takes about 3-4 days to adapt due to the foreign sensation. The mouth is a sensitive area, but like after most dental treatments, it quickly adapts. For individuals with a small or no chin, the adjustment time may be longer, but within four weeks, most people adapt.
10. What is PASA made of?
Pasa is made of a high-quality, biocompatible dental resin that has passed safety tests for biological and physical compatibility required by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. It has a simple design, weighs around 10g, and feels comfortable in the mouth. Maintenance is easy: drop a cleaning tablet into water, place PASA into bubbling water for 10-15 minutes, and rinse with running tap water.
11. What is the product lifespan for PASA?
It is expected to be used for an average of 3-5 years without physical deterioration of the resin. It is recommended to undergo any necessary dental treatment before getting Pasa.
12. Who cannot use PASA?
Those who have complete dentures on both upper and lower jaws cannot use the oral appliance due to the lack of attachment points for the device. However, in the case of partial dentures, it depends on the situation and is generally possible