The TheraSnore website says the device is “93% effective in the treatment of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea and simple snoring.” Jennifer Whealy, a general manager of Distar, the company behind TheraSnore, says the device is a cost-effective alternative to custom laboratory devices. She says it can be a good option for people who can not or will not try CPAP, the usual apnea treatment that supplies air through a mask.
The VitalSleep website says that the device can “help you stop snoring and start enjoying a refreshing” night of sleep. President of the company, David Hernandez says he developed it after spending $ 2,000 on a pre-installation device that broke down after a few months.
Hernandez says the anti snoring devices are not intended for the treatment of sleep apnea. However, the site gives a confusing message. Potential customers must complete an online questionnaire to check if they are compatible to buy the product; excluding people with dentures or specific jaw problems, we recommend clients who say they have sleep apnea whip out of their credit card.
The Therasnore product launched in 1987 by Dr. Thomas E. Meade, who founded Distar, an international company. Distar sells both the Therasnore Original and the Therasnore Adjustable.
Dr. Thomas E. Meade is the inventor of the TheraSnore. During the mid-1980’s Dr. Meade had a dental practice in Albuquerque, NM, while researching the connection between dentistry and sleep apnea. After developing the product, Dr. Meade’s wife, Caroline, founded the business and was the CEO of Distar. They started marketing the device by visiting medical trade shows and launched the Therasnore with great success.
By 1997 the Therasnore was a booming sleep business. In 1997, the adjustable Therasnore introduced with a 93% efficiency rate. By 2001 the company was signing new distributors and increasing sales all over the world. Distar is still the largest export of oral appliances for the treatment of snoring and mild sleep apnea and distributed to 37 countries.