What Is eXciteOSA, the Daytime Device for Snoring and Mild Sleep Apnea?

eXciteOSA is a prescription mouthpiece that sends mild electrical pulses to the tongue muscles for 20 minutes a day while you are awake. The FDA authorized it in February 2021 for adults with snoring or mild obstructive sleep apnea. It is not meant for moderate or severe sleep apnea, and it should be considered only after a physician has diagnosed the problem.

How does it work?

In obstructive sleep apnea, the airway repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep. A relaxed tongue falling back toward the throat is often part of the problem. eXciteOSA is designed to train the tongue muscles so the tongue is less likely to collapse backward at night.

The mouthpiece has four electrodes, two above the tongue and two below it. The prescribed routine is 20 minutes once a day for six weeks, then once a week after that.

What did the FDA review?

The FDA looked at data from 115 people who snored, including 48 who also had mild sleep apnea. Everyone used the device daily for six weeks, stopped for two weeks and was then reassessed.

• In 87 of the 115 people, time spent snoring louder than 40 decibels fell by more than 20 percent.

• In 41 of the 48 people with mild sleep apnea, the average apnea-hypopnea index (the number of breathing pauses and shallow breaths per hour of sleep) fell from 10.21 to 5.27, a 48 percent drop.

The most common side effects were extra saliva, tongue or tooth discomfort, tongue tingling, sensitivity in fillings, a metallic taste, gagging and a tight jaw.

Who should not use it?

According to the FDA, the device should not be used by people who:

• have a pacemaker or implanted pacing leads

• are pregnant

• have braces, metal fillings or other metal dental work, or implants in the mouth

• have sores in or around the mouth

• have sleep apnea with an apnea-hypopnea index of 15 or higher

The FDA also says patients should have a comprehensive dental examination before using it, because the device sits against the teeth and gums and is not suitable for some dental work.

How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

Sleep apnea is diagnosed by a physician, usually after a sleep study done in a lab or at home. Snoring alone does not tell you whether you have sleep apnea or how severe it is. Untreated sleep apnea is linked to heart disease, daytime sleepiness and problems with memory and concentration, so loud snoring, pauses in breathing or waking unrefreshed are worth raising with your physician.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) remains a first-line treatment. Depending on the diagnosis, physicians may also consider other options. The right choice depends on the severity of your sleep apnea, your anatomy and your other health conditions.

Where does a dentist fit in?

A dentist cannot diagnose sleep apnea. A dental examination can check whether your teeth, gums and dental work are healthy enough for any device worn in the mouth, and a dentist may notice signs worth mentioning to your physician, such as heavy tooth wear from grinding.

If you live in Jacksonville and want your mouth checked before trying a device your physician has recommended, you can arrange a dental examination or contact our office.

Sources

1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA authorizes marketing of novel device to reduce snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea in patients 18 years and older. News release, February 5, 2021. Reproduced by BioSpace. Retrieved October 6, 2026.

2. American Academy of Sleep Medicine. FDA authorizes eXciteOSA device for snoring and mild sleep apnea. February 5, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2026.

About the author. CJ Henley, DMD, is a general dentist in Jacksonville whose practice focuses on cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental implants and dental care around head and neck cancer. Meet Dr. Henley.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA · 3675 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207 · 904-398-1549
Updated October 2026.

Can Stem Cell Research Reverse Gum Disease?

Not yet. No stem cell treatment for gum disease is available to patients. This post originally described a 2020 laboratory study suggesting that two molecules derived from omega-3 fats could help stem cells rebuild gum tissue under inflammation. That study was retracted by the journal in 2026, so its findings should not be relied on. Gum disease is treated today with proven steps that stop the infection and, in some cases, regenerate lost support.

What did the 2020 study claim?

Researchers at the Forsyth Institute grew stem cells from the ligament that holds teeth in their sockets, taken from extracted wisdom teeth. They exposed the cells to inflammatory signals in a dish and then added two molecules, maresin-1 and resolvin E1. They reported that the molecules restored the cells' ability to grow, move and form tissue. [1]

This was laboratory work on cells, not a study in patients.

Why was it retracted?

In August 2026, the journal Frontiers in Immunology retracted the paper. According to the notice, the authors themselves contacted the journal about a duplicated image in one figure. They could not provide the raw data, and the journal concluded that the data and conclusions were unreliable. [2]

A retraction doesn't settle whether these molecules could ever help, but it does mean this paper can't be used as evidence that they do.

How is gum disease treated today?

Treatment follows a stepwise approach. [3]

1. Home care and risk factors. Better brushing and cleaning between teeth, help stopping smoking, and better blood sugar control for people with diabetes.

2. Deep cleaning. Removing plaque and tartar from the tooth roots below the gumline, called scaling and root planing. For many people, this controls the disease.

3. Reevaluation and surgery where needed. Deep pockets that don't respond may need gum surgery. In some defects, regenerative procedures using bone grafts, membranes or other materials can rebuild part of the lost support. Not every area is suitable.

4. Maintenance. Regular professional cleanings and checks, usually every few months, keep the disease from returning.

Gum disease is a long-term condition. It can be controlled, and some lost bone can be regenerated in the right circumstances, but lost support usually can't be fully restored.

How common is gum disease?

About 4 in 10 US adults aged 30 and older have some level of periodontitis. [4] Because it is usually painless until it is advanced, a professional exam is how it is found.

Where can you get your gums checked in Jacksonville?

A comprehensive dental exam at our office includes measuring the pockets around each tooth. If you have gum disease, we explain your options, including referral to a periodontist when that is the right step. Read more about how gum disease relates to your overall health, or contact us at 904-398-1549.

Sources

1. Albuquerque-Souza E, Schulte F, Chen T, et al. Maresin-1 and resolvin E1 promote regenerative properties of periodontal ligament stem cells under inflammatory conditions. Front Immunol. 2020;11:585530. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2020.585530 Retracted. (retrieved via PubMed)

2. Frontiers in Immunology. Retraction: Maresin-1 and resolvin E1 promote regenerative properties of periodontal ligament stem cells under inflammatory conditions. Front Immunol. 2026;17:1961138. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2026.1961138 (retrieved via PubMed and frontiersin.org)

3. Sanz M, Herrera D, Kebschull M, et al. Treatment of stage I-III periodontitis: the EFP S3 level clinical practice guideline. J Clin Periodontol. 2020;47(Suppl 22):4-60. doi:10.1111/jcpe.13290 (retrieved via PubMed)

4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gum (periodontal) disease. Retrieved October 6, 2026.

About the author. CJ Henley, DMD, is a general dentist in Jacksonville whose practice focuses on cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental implants and dental care around head and neck cancer. Meet Dr. Henley.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA · 3675 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207 · 904-398-1549
Updated October 2026.