The Borgias and Dental Sleep Medicine

There was a half page advertisement in today's New York Times Dining section. The ad read

MACY'S CULINARY CHEF TODD ENGLISH PREPARES AN ORIGINAL DISH INSPIRED BY THE SHOWTIME ORIGINAL SERIES THE BORGIAS!

Now correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't Lucretia the chick with the ring that flipped open to dispense poison? Is it really a good marketing ploy to prepare an original dish based on a family that chose poison as a signature statement?

What does this have to do with dental sleep medicine? Well, there's one company marketing dentists who provide oral appliance therapy for snoring and sleep apnea by using a boil-and-bite appliance that anyone can buy over-the-counter for $9.95 as a "trial" appliance.

Those of us in the field know full well that while these devices may reduce or eliminate snoring they are far from medically acceptable therapeutic devices for treating sleep apnea. And, in addition, may have a whole range of side effects including:

This is a temporary device; it is not intended for use for more than the time determined by the prescribing Provider or if complications occur. Some complications may include soreness in the teeth, soreness in the jaws, tooth damage, existing restoration damage, facial muscle and TMJ pain, TMJ dysfunction and temporary and/or permanent bite changes. These specified complications are not intended to include all possible complications that may occur. By agreeing to participate as a patient in the [name removed] program you are agreeing that you will not hold the prescribing Provider , [names removed] liable or responsible to you, to your spouse or to any other person for physical or emotional injury, or for monetary damages, in the event one or more complications occur as a result of your participating in the[name removed] program and your use of the non-custom anti-snoring dental device provided to you as part of your participation in the [name removed] program.

(Quotation from that company's disclaimer - name of company removed intentionally)

Is subjecting medically ill patients to a device that can actually cause harm not the same marketing concept as using the Borgias to promote an original recipe? Will an OTC device really be able to predict success or failure with a well-designed, custom appliance?

It's up to you, it's your practice...