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Floa is a custom designed and fitted oral appliance, prescribed by your dentist, that treats snoring or mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea  (OSA) and other types of Breathing Disordered Sleep (BDS).

Floa is a custom designed and fitted oral appliance, prescribed by your dentist, that treats snoring or mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea  (OSA) and other types of Breathing Disordered Sleep (BDS).

The Floa appliance is also recommended for patients with more severe OSA who are unable or unwilling to tolerate CPAP therapy and/or surgery. The two-piece appliance is designed to prevent apnoeas and improve breathing by keeping the upper airway open. The lower jaw is moved forward comfortably to relax the tissue at the back of the throat and prevent the base of the tongue from collapsing and blocking the airway.

The Floa appliance is also recommended for patients with more severe OSA who are unable or unwilling to tolerate CPAP therapy and/or surgery. The two-piece appliance is designed to prevent apnoeas and improve breathing by keeping the upper airway open. The lower jaw is moved forward comfortably to relax the tissue at the back of the throat and prevent the base of the tongue from collapsing and blocking the airway.

Who Can Wear Floa?

Is the  Floa oral appliance for you?

Just about everyone who suffers from loud, bothersome snoring, or who has tested positive for mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or even those with severe OSA but who can’t use CPAP, can benefit from the use of the FloA appliance. It’s also a useful option to have on hand when you’re travelling and can’t use your CPAP machine.

Floa as complementary treatment  with CPAP.

Floa will appeal to those who want to alternate between therapy options  such as travellers or patients that function in areas with no electricity. Mandibular Advancement Devices such as Floa show a substantial improvement in the efficacy of CPAP treatment when used in combination.

How is Floa made

FloA is Custom Made, 100% digital workflow. And starts with an dentist experienced in sleep medicine

Patients prefer appliances specifically made for them a recent comparative study demonstrated that a custom-made oral appliance is twice as effective in reducing snoring than a non-custom, thermo-plastic one. It has a higher compliance rate – 94% over 69% – and patients are more likely to prefer it (82%). So it’s worth the extra effort to seek out a dentist that can make you a device rather than buy one from the internet or pharmacy.

What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea OSA

“Apnoea” literally means “no breath” or “stopping breathing”.

OSA is a common disorder characterised by snoring and breathing pauses during sleep. These breathing pauses may occur 30 times or more an hour. As a result, the quality of sleep suffers, making patients tired and listless during the day. On top of that, life partners often suffer as well as the loud and persistent snoring keeping them awake, and taking a toll on their personal well-being.

Major Sleep Apnoea Symptoms and Signs

  • Waking up with a very sore or dry throat
  • Loud snoring
  • Occasionally waking up with a choking or gasping sensation
  • Sleepiness or lack of energy during the day
  • Sleepiness while driving
  • Morning headaches
  • Restless sleep
  • Forgetfulness, mood changes, and a decreased interest in sex
  • Recurrent awakenings or insomnia
  • You have diabetes or other health problems*
  • Other sleep apnea symptoms include:
  • Memory or learning problems and not being able to concentrate
  • Feeling irritable, depressed, or having mood swings or personality changes
  • Dry mouth or sore throat when you wake up
  • Weight gain

Left untreated, sleep apnoea can have serious and life-shortening consequences: high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, automobile accidents caused by falling asleep at the wheel, diabetes, depression, and other ailments.

Prevalence

The American Sleep Apnoea Association calls sleep apnea “a debilitating and life-shortening ailment that’s estimated to affect 22 million Americans”; in its “Global Surveillance, Prevention and Control of Chronic Respiratory Diseases: A Comprehensive Approach,” World Health Organization estimates sleep apnoea affects 100 million people worldwide, calling it “the most common organic sleep disorder.”

1 of every 5 adults is estimated to have at least mild OSA

1 of every 15 adults is estimated to have at least moderate OSA

The risk for motor vehicle accidents increases by 2.45

A custom design that starts with your dentist 

The custom-design of Floa starts at the dentist. Choose one with expertise in dental sleep. They will carefully examine your mouth, and if there are no contraindications and no issues like missing teeth or major dental work to be performed, they will take a quick imprint and some measurements of your mouth.

A personalised solution that maximises comfort

Once Floa receives these imprints we will use computer-aided design and manufacturing to produce an oral appliance that is created uniquely for you. FloA is today the only company in South Africa to use such a high-tech process for oral appliances.

Address

151 Cape Road, Port Elizabeth, ZA

Call Us

+27(0)072 530 7065

Email Us

info@floa.co.za