Facial esthetics and subjective impairment assessed after maxillomandibular advancement surgery for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

OBJECTIVE: To assess facial esthetics and quality of life (QoL) as measure of success or failure after maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgery for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). METHODS: Visual analog scales (VAS) on facial esthetics and QoL survey, including EQ-5D3L, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and Functional Outcome of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ) were collected. Outcomes were analyzed for surgical-success/failure after MMA. RESULTS: Forty-one patients returned completed surveys (response: 66%). Mean VAS on facial esthetics was 57 ± 22 mm preoperative and 51 ± 24 mm postoperative (p = 0.217). When MMA was considered a surgical-failure, VAS was significantly more negative (40 ± 22 mm; p = 0.026). EQ-5D-3L showed an overall mean score of 73.2 ± 15.7, ESS was 6.3 ± 5.4, and FOSQ was 16.0 ± 3.3. CONCLUSION: No significant alteration of facial esthetics were reported after MMA; however, lower QoL was associated with surgical-failure; whereas, in surgical-success, QoL were higher.

Durability of treatment effects of the Sleep Position Trainer versus oral appliance therapy in positional OSA: 12-month follow-up of a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: The Sleep Position Trainer (SPT) is a new option for treating patients with positional obstructive sleep apnea (POSA). This study investigated long-term efficacy, adherence, and quality of life during use of the SPT device compared with oral appliance therapy (OAT) in patients with POSA. METHODS: This prospective, multicenter trial randomized patients with mild to moderate POSA (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] 5-30/h) to SPT or OAT. Polysomnography was performed at baseline and after 3 and 12 months' follow-up. The primary endpoint was OSA severity; adherence, quality of life, and adverse events were also assessed. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients were randomized and 58 completed the study (29 in each group). Median AHI in the SPT group decreased from 13.2/h at baseline to 7.1/h after 12 months (P < 0.001); corresponding values in the OAT group were 13.4/h and 5.0/h (P < 0.001), with no significant between-group difference (P = 1.000). Improvements throughout the study were maintained at 12 months. Long-term median adherence was also similar in the two treatment groups; the proportion of patients who used their device for ≥ 4 h for 5 days in a week was 100% in the SPT group and 97.0% in the OAT group (P = 0.598). CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of SPT therapy was maintained over 12 months and was comparable to that of OAT in patients with mild to moderate POSA. Adherence was relatively high, and similar in the two groups. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02045576).

Correction to: Durability of treatment effects of the sleep position trainer versus oral appliance therapy in positional OSA: 12-month follow-up of a randomized controlled trial.

The article "Durability of treatment effects of the Sleep Position Trainer versus oral appliance therapy in positional OSA: 12-month follow-up of a randomized controlled trial", by M. H. T. de Ruiter et al., was originally published online in SpringerLink on 15 September 2017 without open access.

Biomechanical effects of a mandibular advancement device on the temporomandibular joint.

PURPOSE: Mandibular advancement devices are commonly used in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Designed to maintain the mandible in forced protrusion while being worn, mandibular advancement devices (MADs) are intended to increase the upper airway during sleep, thereby reducing OSA symptoms. Depending on the extent of mandibular protrusion, side effects including temporomandibular joint dysfunction are frequently reported. These are likely to reduce overall treatment success by affecting therapeutic adherence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To investigate the biomechanical effects of an MAD on the temporomandibular joints, we used a biomechanical model of the human masticatory system. Alterations to the model were applied to mimic the effects of a titratable duoblock MAD. The extent of mandibular protrusion was simulated up to 10 mm in steps of 1 mm. Compression and shear stresses on the temporomandibular structures were predicted during an open-close maneuver and in neutral position. RESULTS: As the extent of mandibular advancement increased, the mandibular condyle migrated anteriorly until passing the articular tubercle. Stress on the temporomandibular joint structures did not considerably increase in rest whatever the extent of mandibular advancement. However, closure of the jaw required extra muscle force as mandibular advancement increased. CONCLUSION: Results from this study suggest that temporomandibular dysfunction following MAD wearing might be related to altered muscle dynamics rather than changes due to increased stress in the temporomandibular joint itself.

Three-dimensional imaging of the upper airway anatomy in obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: The pathogenesis of upper airway collapse in people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature in order to assess the most relevant anatomical characteristics of the upper airway related to the pathogenesis of OSA by analyzing the three-dimensional upper airway anatomy. METHOD: A PICO (population/patient, intervention, comparison, outcome) search strategy, focusing on the upper airway anatomy of people with OSA, was conducted using the following databases: MEDLINE (PubMed), Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE), Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. The studies in which three-dimensional images were made from the participants who were awake and in the supine position during quiet breathing were selected in this systematic review. RESULTS: Of the 758 unique retrieved studies, eight fulfilled the criteria for this systematic review. The minimum cross-sectional area of the upper airways of people with OSA, which is influenced by many factors such as hard and soft tissues surrounding the upper airway, was significantly smaller than that of those without OSA. CONCLUSION: Within the limitation of the selected studies, this systematic review suggested that a small minimum cross-sectional area is the most relevant anatomical characteristic of the upper airway related to the pathogenesis of OSA.

Management of obstructive sleep apnea in edentulous patients: an overview of the literature.

PURPOSE: A high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is seen in edentulous individuals. Treatment options for edentulous OSA patients however are limited with continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP) remaining the current therapy of choice. As CPAP is associated with high non-adherence rates and oral appliance therapy requiring sufficient dentition, there is a clinical need for effective treatment strategies aimed at edentulous OSA patients. The purpose of this study was to present a thorough overview of the literature regarding (1) the effects of nocturnal denture wearing on OSA, (2) the outcomes of oral appliance therapy, and (3) surgical treatment in edentulous OSA patients. METHODS: A computer-assisted literature search was performed in the MEDLINE database on "edentulism" and "obstructive sleep apnea." The search yielded a total of 34 original articles. RESULTS: A total of 20 studies were included after exclusion of non-relevant, duplicate, and non-English publications, comprising 4 randomized clinical trials, 12 case reports, and 4 cohort or cross-sectional studies. The outcomes of these studies were addressed in detail concerning nocturnal wearing of dentures, oral appliance therapy, and surgical treatment. CONCLUSION: Currently, there is no consensus in the literature on the effects of nocturnal wearing of dentures on OSA. Several studies report the successful use of oral appliance therapy, including implant-retained mandibular advancement devices (MADs), in selected cases of edentulous patients with varying stages of OSA. Little evidence is available regarding outcomes of surgical procedures in edentulous patients. Based on the results of this literature overview, the paucity of effective evidence-based treatment strategies for edentulous OSA patients indicates the further need of clinical studies to improve clinical management.