Evaluation of an oral appliance in patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome intolerant to continuous positive airway pressure use: Preliminary results.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a phenomenon of repeated, episodic reduction, or cessation of airflow (hypopnea/apnea) as a result of upper airways obstruction. First-line treatment in younger children is adenotonsillectomy, although other available treatment options in middle-aged adults include continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) and airway adjuncts. Oral appliances (OA) are a viable treatment alternative in patients with OSAS.The objective of this study was to assess, in a 1-year follow-up study, an OA in OSAS patients. The participants were subjected to polysomnographic examination with a validated device (MicroMESAM). Eight participants were fitted with a Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP). The participants were asked to wear the test appliance for 7 nights, and in case of compliance, for 6 months. The selected patients record their usage of the appliance and any adverse effects in a treatment journal. The research focused on the following outcomes: sleep apnea (i.e. reduction in the apnea/hypopnea index) and the effect of oral appliances on daytime function.In conclusion, the results suggest that OA have a definite role in the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea.

Three-dimensional changes of the upper airway in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome after a non-adjustable oral appliance treatment.

The diagnosis, the therapy and the monitoring of the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) are to be considered as critical factors in order to prevent severe systemic complications that can be caused by this pathological condition. This work presents three cases of adult patients affected by OSAS, undergoing therapy with oral appliances (OAs), meant to remove the pharyngeal obstruction caused by mandibular retrusion and tongue collapse in nocturnal supine position. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of the OAs both through the comparison of the polysomnographic analysis, in the presence and absence of the appliance in situ, and also through the volumetric measurements of the pharingeal airway thanks to the cone beam computed tomography.