Formed in 2010 and acquired by Whole You in 2015, Respire Medical produces oral appliances designed to reduce snoring for people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). These mandibular advancement devices (MADs) gently pull your lower jaw forward to expand your airway. They require a prescription from a sleep specialist and a subsequent consultation with a Whole You dental provider.
We’ll take an in-depth look at Respire oral appliances to help you decide if one is right for you.
Whole You Sleep Appliances: What You Need to Know
Six distinct custom-fitted Respire appliances are available. Each mouthpiece has a distinct design that makes it best suited to certain sleepers based on their mouth size, tongue width, and whether they grind their teeth at night.
Respire Blue Series
Respire Blue oral appliances promote easy movement when opening and closing your mouth. These devices feature four wings — two adjustable and two fixed — to ensure stability during lateral movements. You can adjust Blue devices to advance the jaw up to 6 millimeters. This series consists of two appliances.
Respire Pink Series
In addition to helping you stop snoring, the four appliances in the Respire Pink series are designed to reduce nighttime teeth grinding. Several devices in this line accommodate people with larger tongues, while some options are intended for sleepers with smaller mouths. You can opt to add a compliance chip that’s embedded in the mouthpiece, allowing you to automatically report your treatment to your healthcare provider. Unlike Blue appliances, Pink models may qualify for Medicare reimbursement.
Is a Respire Sleep Appliance Right For You?
Respire oral appliances are designed for people with mild to moderate OSA symptoms. Those with severe OSA who have not responded well to CPAP therapy may also be candidates. Additionally, the appliances are cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for snoring. Talk to your sleep specialist and dentist to determine if a Respire mouthpiece is a good match for your symptoms.
Respire Blue and Respire Pink Comparison
Respire Blue | Respire Pink | |
|---|---|---|
Symptoms | Obstructive sleep apnea, snoring | Obstructive sleep apnea, snoring |
Ease of Movement | Winged design allows for easy lateral movements | Hinged design with limited tongue coverage |
Insurance Eligibility | Products purchased as part of an OSA treatment plan may be covered by insurance depending on your provider. | Most insurance plans cover all or some of the cost. Additionally, Respire Pink appliances may also be eligible for Medicare reimbursement. |
Available Models |
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How Do Respire Sleep Appliances Work?
Respire oral appliances aim to reduce snoring and OSA symptoms by moving your lower jaw forward and expanding your airway. Snoring typically occurs when the breathing passages are too narrow and tissue vibrates as air passes through. Holding the lower jaw forward helps open up these passages to minimize vibrations. Respire devices are adjustable, allowing you to control how far your jaw advances.
Respire Treatment Plans
After a doctor diagnoses you with OSA, they work with you to create a long-term treatment plan. A sleep study may be required for this diagnosis.
If your medical provider prescribes oral appliance therapy, you can connect with an approved Respire dental provider to take digital scans and help you select the right model. You’ll also meet with this consultant for a follow-up appointment to ensure the device fits properly.
If you’ve had a sleep study in the last 36 months but don’t have a prescription for oral appliance therapy, you can also pay for a virtual consultation with one of Whole You’s sleep specialists to assess the option. If you don’t have a prescription or a sleep study, Whole You offers at-home sleep tests with virtual consultations and prescriptions. Either of these options requires visiting an approved dentist for a consultation, digital scans, and a follow-up.
Respire Sleep Appliance Models
Each Respire Blue and Respire Pink appliance is designed for specific sleeper needs. The device your doctor or dentist recommends is based largely on the anatomy of your mouth and which model is likely to feel most comfortable. Cost may also be a factor. Pink appliances may be eligible for Medicare coverage, but the Blue line is not Medicare approved. Similarly, if you’re subject to work- or insurance-related compliance requirements, compliance chips are only available for Pink devices.
Product | Description |
|---|---|
Respire Blue+ |
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Respire Blue EF+ |
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Respire Pink AT |
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Respire Pink EF AT |
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Respire Pink EF Micro |
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Respire Pink Micro |
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Where Can You Get Respire Oral Appliances?
If you have a valid prescription, you can get a Respire oral appliance from a participating dental provider.
Alternatively, you can schedule an online consultation with a Whole You sleep professional. If you haven’t had a sleep study in over 36 months, you’ll need to complete one. Whole You also offers home sleep tests to fulfill this requirement. Should the consulting sleep professional determine that oral appliance therapy is right for you, you can then meet with a participating dental provider to get a Respire device.
Trial, Warranty, and Shipping Policies | |
|---|---|
Availability | Respire oral appliances are available through select dental providers across the country. Whole You can help you find a provider in your local area. These devices are not sold over the counter. |
Estimated Cost | Costs vary by Respire appliance model and dental provider, but sleep apnea oral appliances typically cost at least $1,500. Insurance may cover some or all of the costs depending on your carrier and plan. However, only Respire Pink appliances may qualify for Medicare reimbursement. |
Eligibility Requirements | To qualify for a Respire appliance prescription, you’ll need to undergo a sleep study if you haven’t done so within the last 36 months. A doctor can then prescribe oral appliance therapy. Next, a licensed dental provider collects digital scans to custom fit the device. |
Warranty and Replacements | As of September 2020, every Respire oral appliance comes with a three-year manufacturer’s warranty. |
About The Author
Staff Writer, Product Testing Team
Alison is a health writer with ample experience reading and interpreting academic, peer-reviewed research. Based in San Diego, she is published in the journal PLOS Genetics and the Journal of Biological Chemistry and has been a copywriter for SmartBug media. With a master’s degree in biochemistry from the University of California, Davis, she has nearly a decade of academic research experience in life sciences. She enjoys helping people cut through the noise to understand the bigger picture about sleep and health. Alison likes to stay active with rock climbing, hiking, and walking her dog.
- POSITION: Stomach Sleeper
- TEMPERATURE: Neutral Sleeper
- CHRONOTYPE: Bear
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