Long-term oral appliance therapy in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a controlled study on dental side effects.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess possible dental side effects associated with long-term use of an adjustable oral appliance compared with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients with the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and to study the relationship between these possible side effects and the degree of mandibular protrusion associated with oral appliance therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: As part of a previously conducted RCT, 51 patients were randomized to oral appliance therapy and 52 patients to CPAP therapy. At baseline and after a 2-year follow-up, dental plaster study models in full occlusion were obtained which were thereupon analyzed with respect to relevant variables. RESULTS: Long-term use of an oral appliance resulted in small but significant dental changes compared with CPAP. In the oral appliance group, overbite and overjet decreased 1.2 (±1.1) mm and 1.5 (±1.5) mm, respectively. Furthermore, we found a significantly larger anterior-posterior change in the occlusion (-1.3 ± 1.5 mm) in the oral appliance group compared to the CPAP group (-0.1 ± 0.6 mm). Moreover, both groups showed a significant decrease in number of occlusal contact points in the (pre)molar region. Linear regression analysis revealed that the decrease in overbite was associated with the mean mandibular protrusion during follow-up [regression coefficient (ß) = -0.02, 95 % confidence interval (-0.04 to -0.00)]. CONCLUSIONS: Oral appliance therapy should be considered as a lifelong treatment, and there is a risk of dental side effects to occur. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Patients treated with the oral appliance need a thorough follow-up by a dentist or dental-specialist experienced in the field of dental sleep medicine.

Long-term oral-appliance therapy in obstructive sleep apnea: a cephalometric study of craniofacial changes.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this randomized controlled study was to cephalometrically assess possible changes in craniofacial morphology associated with long-term use of an adjustable oral-appliance compared with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients with the obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). In addition, we wanted to study the relationship between these possible changes and the degree of mandibular protrusion associated with oral-appliance therapy. METHODS: Fifty-one patients were randomized to oral-appliance therapy and 52 patients to CPAP therapy. At baseline and after follow-up (2.3±0.2 years), a lateral cephalogram of all patients was made in maximum intercuspation to determine relevant cephalometric variables. Both baseline and follow-up cephalograms were traced digitally whereupon cephalometric variables were compared. Changes in craniofacial morphology between the oral-appliance- and CPAP group were evaluated with a linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Compared with CPAP, long-term use of an oral-appliance resulted in small but significant (dental) changes. Overbite and overjet decreased, 1.0 (±1.5)mm and 1.7 (±1.6)mm, respectively. Furthermore we found a retroclination (-2.0 (±2.8)°) of the upper incisors and a proclination (3.7 (±5.4)°) of the lower incisors. Moreover, the lower- and total anterior facial height increased significantly, 0.8 (±1.5)mm and 0.9 (±1.4)mm, respectively. No changes in skeletal variables were found. Linear regression analysis revealed that the decrease in overbite was associated with the mean mandibular protrusion during follow-up (B=-0.029, SE=0.014, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Oral-appliance therapy should be considered as a life long treatment, and there is a risk of craniofacial changes to occur. Therefore, patients treated with an oral-appliance, need a thorough follow-up by a dentist or dental-specialist experienced in the field of dental sleep medicine.

Effects of a mandibular advancement device on the upper airway morphology: a cephalometric analysis.

The aims of this study were to assess changes in the upper airway morphology associated with an oral appliance in situ in patients suffering from the obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome and to relate these changes to treatment response. Changes in upper airway morphology as a result of an oral appliance were assessed in 52 patients with obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome by means of cephalometric analysis. Lateral cephalograms were taken at baseline and after 2-3 months of treatment. Baseline and follow-up cephalograms were traced twice and cephalometric variables were compared. The predictive value of changes in upper airway morphology for the treatment response was evaluated in univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Oral appliance therapy resulted in an increased posterior airway space at the level of the second vertebra, the uvular tip and the base of the tongue. The increase of the posterior airway space at the level of the second vertebra and the uvular tip were the best predictors for relative improvement of the apnoea-hypopnoea index. However, the predictive value for treatment response of these cephalometric upper airway changes should be interpreted with caution.

[Treatment of the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Side effects of a mandibular advancement device]. / Behandeling van het obstructief slaapapneusyndroom. Neveneffecten van een mandibulair repositieapparaat.

The obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is characterised by repeatedly occurring complete or partial obstructions of the upper airway during sleep, which can be accompanied by serious oxygen desaturations. This can result in cardiovascular co-morbidity and excessive daytime sleepiness, with an increased chance of motor vehicle accidents and diminished performance at work. The use of a mandibular advancement device appears to be an effective therapy. In the long term, however, the possibility of dental side effects should be taken into consideration. Development of a relative mesio-occlusion has frequently been observed. Side effects are usually mild and transient. To objectively evaluate whether the side effects are stable or progressive, a thorough follow-up is needed. It is therefore desirable that treatments with a mandibular advancement device are carried out by dentists or specialists with experience and special expertise in this area.

Predictors of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea treatment outcome.

Oral appliance therapy is an alternative to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for treating the obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome. However, the ability to pre-select suitable candidates for either treatment is limited. The aim of this study was to assess the value of relevant variables that can predict the outcome of oral appliance and CPAP therapy. Fifty-one patients treated with oral appliance therapy and 52 patients treated with CPAP were included. Relevant clinical, polysomnographic, and cephalometric variables were determined at baseline. The predictive value of variables for treatment outcome was evaluated in univariate and multivariate analyses. The outcome of oral appliance therapy was favorable, especially in less obese patients with milder sleep apnea and with certain craniofacial characteristics (mandibular retrognathism in particular). Neither univariate nor multivariate analyses yielded variables that reliably predicted the outcome of CPAP. We conclude that the variables found in this study are valuable for pre-selecting suitable candidates for oral-appliance therapy.