Microimplant mandibular advancement (MiMA) therapy for the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

Abstract

This case report describes the treatment of a 66 year old adult patient with a diagnosis of severe obstructive sleep apnea who was intolerant of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) treatment and oral appliance therapy. An alternative treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with 2 orthodontic microimplants anchored to the mandible providing skeletal anchorage for mandibular advancement was implemented. After a 2 week healing period, a custom designed facemask provided extraoral anchorage to which the microimplants were connected to for titratable mandibular advancement. Microimplant Mandibular Advancement (MiMA) therapy resulted in resolution of the symptoms of severe OSA with a reduction of the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), snoring and OSA symptoms. (Korean J Orthod 2010;40(2):115-126)