Custom-made Mandibular Advancement Devices Research Articles

Case reports of oral appliance therapy on three young adults with Down syndrome and OSA.

Patients with Down syndrome (DS) have a high incidence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to hypotonia, weight, underdeveloped midface, and relative macroglossia. This article presents three cases of young adults with DS, who were diagnosed with mild to severe OSA and unable to tolerate positive airway pressure therapy. These patients have been successfully treated with a custom-made mandibular advancement device (MAD) or dual treatment with MAD and bi-level positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. The baseline apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of the three patients were 15.5/h, 31.8/h, and 41.3/h. The follow-up AHI after the application of MAD in three patients was 25/h (13 months after), 6/h (ODI 4%, 57 months after), and 21.8/h (21 months after), respectively. The application of MAD to treat OSA in patients with DS is a reasonable alternative when patients refuse PAP therapy. Although MAD might be less effective than PAP therapy, significant symptomatic improvement could be found in patients with DS after oral appliance therapy. The combination of MAD and PAP can decrease the PAP pressure and therefore improve adherence. This is the first case report to show that young adult patients with DS can successfully benefit from oral appliance therapy for OSA treatment.

Comparative analysis of two custom-made mandibular advancement devices with varied designs for treating moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea

IntroductionCustom-made titratable mandibular advancement device (MAD) treatment can nowadays be considered a promising first-line treatment in patients with mild to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Specific manufacturing designs and titration mechanisms of MAD are on the market, characterized by their titration approach, vertical opening, and materials selection.The wing-designed MAD (SomnoDent® Flex™, SomnoMed Ltd, Sydney, Australia) has a lateral screw mechanism to advance the lower jaw in incremental steps of 0.1 up to 6.0 mm. The newer uniquely designed custom-made MAD with passive mouth closing (SomnoDent® Avant™ SomnoMed Ltd, Sydney, Australia) has a frontal exchangeable advancement strap of fixed lengths as a specific titration mechanism, all supporting freedom of lateral movement.We aimed to assess the associations between the type of MAD prescribed and OSA treatment outcome. MethodsData from 209 patients (165 male, mean age 53.9 (±10.9) years, median baseline BMI and AHI 27.02 [24.8; 29.7] kg/m2 and 22.8 [17.7; 31.6]/hour sleep, respectively) were collected.Of this cohort, 91 patients with the traditional, wing-based SomnoDent® Flex™ and 118 patients with SomnoDent® Avant™. All patients were diagnosed with a type 1 polysomnography demonstrating moderate to severe OSA (15 ≤ AHI ≤65 per hour sleep). The selected MAD was fitted in the so-called maximal comfortable protrusion.After 3 months of subjective titration until resolution of subjective symptoms and/or achieving physical limits, a checkup with validated home sleep monitoring was conducted. Treatment success was defined as “AHI reduction ≥50% with MAD compared to baseline AHI and AHI with MAD <10 events per hour”. ResultsThese real-world data set showed that 67% of patients achieved treatment success, with a statistically significant reduction in AHI from 22.8 [17.7; 31.6] to 7.45 [3.4; 15.0]/h sleep. The SomnoDent® Avant™ achieved 75% treatment success versus 56% for the traditional, wing-based SomnoDent® Flex™ (P < 0.05). Overall, AHI reduction was 70% for SomnoDent® Avant™ (P < 0.05) vs. 63% for SomnoDent® Flex™ (P < 0.05). ConclusionsThis study shows that choice of MAD design can impact the treatment outcome and could become an important consideration in selecting the type of MAD for personalized treatment for OSA patients. While the results of the traditional wing-based MAD design were comparable to the therapeutic outcome with other titratable, custom-made MADs, the MAD with the passive mouth closing feature showed significantly greater reduction in total AHI potentially due to encouraged nasal breathing, reduced mouth breathing and lesser vertical opening thereby decreasing the probability of tongue base collapse.

Mandibular Advancement Device Therapy in Japanese Rugby Athletes with Poor Sleep Quality and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may contribute to poor sleep quality. This study assessed subjective sleep quality, the Respiratory Event Index (REI), reaction times, and the therapeutic effects of a custom-made mandibular advancement device (MAD) in male Japanese elite rugby athletes. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and level III sleep test (REI and minimum oxygen saturation [SpO2 min]) were used to evaluate sleep quality. MAD therapy was used daily for 3 weeks. A telephone-based reaction time test of kinetic vision (the ability to identify moving objects) was recorded within 15 min of waking and over 5 days of pre- and post-MAD therapy. Differences in variables were evaluated using paired t-tests. Of the 42 players (mean age, 26.3 ± 3.7 years; mean body mass index, 28.7 ± 3.2 kg/m2) included in this study, 29 (69.0%) had poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5.5), and 27 were diagnosed with OSA (64.3%) (mild = 16/moderate = 9/severe = 2). Six were treated with MAD therapy, which significantly improved the REI (p < 0.01), SpO2 min (p < 0.001), ESS score (p < 0.001), reaction times (p < 0.01), and sleep quality. A significant reduction in reaction times suggests that OSA treatment can improve kinetic vision. Future studies should systematically evaluate the impact of sleep-disordered breathing on kinetic vision in athletes.

Changes in pharyngeal anatomy and apnea/hypopnea index after a mandibular advancement device

ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effcacy of custom-made mandibular advancement devices (MAD) in the control of primary snoring and sleep apnea and to correlate with anatomical changes identified through imaging tests.MethodsPatients (n = 17) diagnosed with sleep apnea or primary snoring were included in this study and subsequently treated with MADs. Changes were assessed using a polysomnographic study (PSG), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and an imaging study with computed tomography scanning (CT). Studies were performed before and after the use of MAD. Anteroposterior measurements were taken in the sagittal plane at the hard palate, glottis, and supraglottic levels along the hard palate axis. Afterward, measurements were taken in the axial plane at the same levels along the hard palate axis.ResultsFrom the six recorded measurements, the airway caliber increased by five. However, these changes were significant only in two measurements (sagittal hard palate and axial supraglottic). Snoring was controlled in 16 of the 17 subjects. From these sixteen, 12 subjects had a correct opening of the airway at the hard palate level. Moreover, daytime sleepiness decreased in all subjects.DiscussionPresent results suggest that sagittal hard palate and axial supraglottic opening after use of MAD are mainly responsible for eliminating snoring and improve sleep apnea.

Dropout and adherence of obstructive sleep apnoea patients to mandibular advancement device therapy: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials with meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Mandibular advancement devices (MADs) are used as an alternative to continuous positive airways pressure to treat obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) patients, but to date, specific data on the adherence to MAD therapy are lacking. The aim of the present systematic review was to investigate the dropout rate and adherence of OSA patients to different custom-made (CM) and non-custom-made (NCM) MAD therapies. An electronic search was performed in MEDLINE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Scopus, LILACS and Web of Science. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the compliance to customised and not customised MADs in the treatment of adult OSA patients were included. The quality of evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) and the risk of bias by the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias in RCT. The dropout rate of each study was computed and the adherence to MAD therapy in terms of hours per night and nights per week was extracted from each study. Thirty-two RCTs were included. The risk of bias resulted low in most of the studies. The GRADE scores indicated that the quality of evidence was from very low to moderate. The meta-analyses showed that the mean dropout rate did not significantly differ between CM and NCM MADs: The overall mean dropout rate was 0.171 [0.128-0.213] with a mean follow-up of 4.1months. The hours per night adherence was significantly higher for CM MADs (6.418 [6.033-6.803]) compared to NCM MADs (5.107 [4.324-5.890]. The meta-regression showed that the dropout rate increases significantly during time (p<.05). There is a very low to moderate quality of evidence that the dropout rate of MAD therapy is similar among CM and NCM MADs, that the dropout rate increases significantly during time and that CM MADs have higher hours per night adherence compared with NCM MAD. The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (n. CRD42020199866).

The predictive value of drug-induced sleep endoscopy for treatment success with a mandibular advancement device or positional therapy for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

As drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) can provide additional diagnostic information on collapse patterns of the upper-airway, it is widely used in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Although more controversial, DISE may also predict the success of treatment with a mandibular advancement device (MAD) and/or positional therapy (PT). In 2018, we proposed a prediction model to investigate the predictive value of passive maneuvers during DISE - such as jaw thrust and changes in body position - on upper-airway patency. Based on the outcomes of various studies, we then adjusted our DISE protocol to better mimic the effect of a MAD, PT, or acombination of both. The aim of this study was to verify whether or notour adjustments would increase the value of DISE as a selection tool. This single-center retrospective cohort study involved a consecutive series of patients with OSA. Patients were included if a DISE had been performed in supine and non-supine sleeping position and with and without a boil-and-bite MAD in situ between December 2018 and February 2020. The VOTE scoring system was used to evaluate the obstruction at four levels of the upper-airway. Among 94 patients included. the median apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 16.2 (events/h). As a temporary MAD during DISE reduced obstruction by 54% and jaw thrust by 57%, both mimicked the effect of the custom-made MADs referred to in the literature, which reduces the AHI by 60%. Head-and-trunk rotation reduced obstruction by 55% and thus mimicked the effect of PT, which is known to reduce the AHI by 50%. A jaw thrust, a temporary MAD, and head-and-trunk rotation during DISE all seem to mimic the treatment effects of MAD and PT. These findings may be of added value when choosing OSA treatment. To prove the predictive value of these maneuvers during DISE, a prospective study should be performed.

Dimensional analysis of the upper airway in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome patients treated with mandibular advancement device: A bi- and three-dimensional evaluation.

The efficiency of the mandibular advancement device (MAD) in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) has been demonstrated. Nevertheless, the behaviour of the upper airway once MAD is placed and titrated, and its correlation with the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) is still under discussion. To analyse the morphological changes of the upper airway through a bi- and three-dimensional study and correlate it with the polysomnographic variable, AHI. Patients were recruited from two different hospitals for the treatment of OSAS with a custom-made MAD. A cone-beam computer tomography and a polysomnography were performed at baseline and once the MAD was titrated. A total of 41 patients completed the study. Treatment with MAD reduced the AHI from 22.5±16.8 to 9.2±11.6 (p≤.05). There was a significant increase of the total airway volume with MAD from 21.83±7.05cm3 to 24.19±8.19cm3 , at the expense of the oropharynx. Moreover, the correlation between the improvement of the AHI and the augmentation of the volume of the upper airway was not statistically significant. The oral device used in this prospective study increased the mean upper pharyngeal airway volume and significantly reduced the AHI. Future studies that measure the muscular tone are needed to completely understand the association between the AHI and the physiological and anatomical response of the upper airway.

Effect of mandibular advancement device on plasticity in corticomotor control of tongue and jaw muscles.

This study aims to investigate whether the use of a mandibular advancement device (MAD) is associated with neuroplasticity in corticomotor control of tongue and jaw muscles. Eighteen healthy individuals participated in a randomized crossover study with 3 conditions for 2 weeks each: baseline, wearing an oral appliance (sham MAD), or MAD during sleep. The custom-made MAD was constructed by positioning the mandible to 50% of its maximal protrusion limit. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was applied to elicit motor-evoked potentials (MEPs). The MEPs were assessed by constructing stimulus-response curves at 4 stimulus intensities: 90%, 100%, 120%, and 160% of the motor threshold from the right tongue and right masseter and the first dorsal interosseous muscles (control) at baseline, after the first and the second intervention. There was a significant effect of condition and stimulus intensity both on the tongue and on masseter MEPs (P < .01). Tongue and masseter MEPs were significantly higher at 120% and 160% after the MAD compared with the oral appliance (P < .05). There were no effects of condition on first dorsal interosseous muscle MEPs (P = .855). The finding suggests that MAD induces neuroplasticity in the corticomotor pathway of the tongue and jaw muscles associated with the new jaw position. Further investigations are required in patients with obstructive sleep apnea to see whether this cortical neuroplasticity may contribute or perhaps predict treatment effects with MADs in obstructive sleep apnea. Matsuzaki S, Shimada A, Tanaka J, etal. Effect of mandibular advancement device on plasticity in corticomotor control of tongue and jaw muscles. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(9):1805-1813.

Predicting treatment response to mandibular advancement therapy using a titratable thermoplastic device.

Mandibular advancement device (MAD) therapy is the most commonly used second-line treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but MAD may be ineffective in a subgroup of patients. We describe the use of a trial of a titratable thermoplastic MAD to predict treatment outcomes with a custom-made MAD. Patients treated with a thermoplastic MAD as a trial before custom-made MAD manufacturing were included in the study. Sleep recordings and clinical outcomes assessed after 6 months of treatment with each device were compared. Predictive utility of thermoplastic MAD to identify custom-made MAD treatment success defined as a reduction greater than 50% and final apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) less than 10 events/h was evaluated. Thermoplastic MADs were installed in 111 patients, but only 36 patients were finally treated with both devices and were included in the analysis. A significant correlation was observed between the impact of the two devices on the AHI (r=0.85, p<0.0001), oxygen desaturation index (r=0.73, p<0.0001), snoring index (r=0.85, p<0.0001), and Epworth sleepiness scale (r=0.77, p<0.0001). A high positive predictive value (86%) but a low negative predictive value (46%) was observed regarding AHI decrease. Similar impacts of both MADs were observed on major OSA severity markers and symptoms. The ability of thermoplastic MAD to indicate likelihood of success with custom-made MAD will require further controlled studies. Thermoplastic MADs could represent a useful and easily implemented tool to predict the likelihood of success of a custom-made MAD as treatment for OSA.

What can a dentist and dental sleep apnea researcher do under COVID-19 lockdown?

Citation:Tanaka Y, Almeida FR. What can a dentist and dental sleep apnea researcher do under COVID-19 lockdown? J Clin Sleep Med. 2020;16(9):1641–1643.

Designing a mandibular advancement device with topology optimization for a partially edentulous patient

Statement of problemPatients with partial tooth loss treated with implant-supported fixed partial dentures (FPDs) have difficulty using conventional mandibular advancement devices (MADs) because of the risk of side effects. Also, which design factors affect biomechanical stability when designing MADs with better stability is unclear. PurposeThe purpose of this finite element (FE) analysis study was to analyze the effect of the MAD design on biomechanical behavior and to propose a new design process for improving the stability of MADs. Material and methodsEach 3D model consisted of the maxillofacial bones, teeth, and implant-supported FPDs located in the left tooth loss area from the first premolar to the second molar and a MAD. Three types of custom-made MADs were considered: a complete-coverage MAD covering natural tooth-like conventional MADs, a shortened MAD excluding the coverage on the implant-supported FPD, and a newly designed MAD without anterior coverage. For the new MAD design, topology optimization was conducted to reduce the stress exerted on the teeth and to improve retention of the MAD. The new MAD design was finished by excluding the coverage of the maxillary and mandibular central incisors based on the results of the topology optimization. A mandibular posterior restorative force for a protrusion amount of 40% was used as the loading condition. The principal stress and pressure of the cancellous bone and periodontal ligaments (PDLs) were identified. ResultsConsidering the load concentration induced by the complete-coverage MAD, bone resorption risk and root resorption risk were observed at both ends of the mandibular teeth. The shortened MAD resulted in the highest stress concentration and pressure with the worst stability. However, in the case of the complete-coverage MAD, the pressure in the PDLs was reduced to the normal range, and the risk of root resorption was reduced. ConclusionsFor patients with implant-supported FPDs, MAD designs with different extents of coverage had an influence on biomechanical behavior in terms of stress distribution in cancellous bone and PDLs. A MAD design without anterior coverage provided improved stability compared with complete-coverage or shortened designs. The presented method for MAD design, which combined FE analysis and topology optimization, could be effectively applied in the design of such improved MADs.

Heat-moulded versus custom-made mandibular advancement devices for obstructive sleep apnoea: a randomised non-inferiority trial

RationaleCustom-made mandibular advancement devices (MADs) are reported as providing higher efficacy rates compared with thermoplastic heat-moulded MADs but at the price of higher costs and treatment delays.ObjectiveTo determine whether a...

Scoring of Hypersomnolence and Fatigue in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treated With a Titratable Custom-Made Mandibular Advancement Device.

The objective of this study was to measure fatigue and hypersomnolence in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treated with a mandibular advancement device (MAD), using Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) for hypersomnolence and Checklist Individual Strength questionnaire (CIS20R) for fatigue. This was a single-center, prospective cohort study. A total of 58 patients with OSA filled out ESS and CIS20R questionnaires at baseline and after 3 months of MAD treatment. A total of 39 full datasets were collected. Statistical analysis for reliability of the questionnaires, comparison between baseline and 3-month follow-up, correlation between the changes in the values of the two questionnaires, and changes in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) were performed. CIS20R showed excellent reliability in this patient group at baseline and 3-month follow-up (Cronbach α = .97), ESS showed a marginally good reliability (Cronbach α = .82). The CIS20R (82/140) expressed high levels of fatigue at baseline, and ESS showed a normal level of daytime sleepiness. AHI, ESS, and CIS20R were significantly reduced under MAD treatment. A significant correlation between ESS and CIS20R was observed. No significant correlation between any of the questionnaires and the change in AHI was found. The CIS20R questionnaire results showed a high level of fatigue in the patients with OSA, and the questionnaire can be used to evaluate changes in fatigue due to MAD treatment after 3 months. The ESS failed to show similar characteristics. Therefore, a combination of ESS for hypersomnolence with CIS20R for fatigue is proposed for the follow-up of patients with OSA treated with MAD.

Effectiveness of mandibular advancement appliances in treating obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: A systematic review.

Mandibular advancement devices are an alternative to continuous positive airway pressure for patients with mild or moderate obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). The main aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness of different devices in treating OSAHS, based on polysomnographic measurements such as the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) and oxygen saturation, and on changes in the upper airway and improvements in the most common symptoms: snoring and somnolence. Their adverse effects were also noted. Systematic review. Following an exhaustive search in the Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases, 22 articles published in the past 10 years met the quality and inclusion criteria. Using mandibular advancement devices during the hours of sleep helps to prevent snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness, reduce the AHI significantly, and bring about beneficial changes in the upper airway. Adjustable and custom-made mandibular advancement devices give better results than fixed and prefabricated appliances. Monobloc devices give rise to more adverse events, although these are generally mild and transient. Mandibular advancement devices increase the area of the airway. They bring the soft palate, tongue, and hyoid bone forward and activate the masseter and submental muscles, preventing closure. All these effects reduce the AHI, increase the oxygen saturation, and improve the main symptoms of OSAHS. NA.

Do Mandibular Advancement Devices Influence Patients' Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea? A Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Analysis of the Upper Airway Volume

The upper airway volume is central to the development and treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, and mandibular advancement devices (MADs) have increasingly been used as an effective alternative to continuous positive airway pressure for these 2 conditions. We investigated the changes in breathing patterns and upper airway volume parameters measured on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of patients with and without the use of custom-made MADs. We performed a prospective study at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Odense University Hospital, on consecutively treated patients. CBCT scans were performed with and without the MAD to measure the changes in the upper airway volume. The patients underwent diagnostic cardiorespiratory monitoring before and after 3 months of MAD therapy. Measurements with and without MAD were compared using Student's t test and the Wilcoxon signed rank test, and mixed-model analyses were performed adjusting for sleep apnea severity, type 2 diabetes, body mass index, gender, and age. A total of 44 patients (31 men and 13 women, age 50 ± 13 years, body mass index 31 ± 5.6 kg/m(2)) completed the trial. MAD therapy was associated with an increase in the total upper airway volume from 22.9 ± 8.7 cm(3) before treatment to 26.7 ± 10.7 cm(3) after treatment (P < .001). MAD therapy reduced the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) from 15.8 ± 17.4 events/hour before treatment to 6.2 ± 9.8 events/hour after treatment (P < .001). The results of the present study indicate that MAD therapy appears to produce significant changes in the upper airway volume that correlate with a decrease in the AHI.

The use of oral appliances in two patients diagnosed with different stages of obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common, chronic disorder of sleep, and breathing that causes disability from pathologic sleepiness, respiratory, and cardiovascular complications. Oral appliance therapy is an alternative in the treatment of OSA, especially in mild and moderate cases. The aim of this report was to assess the effectiveness of custom-made mandibular advancement devices (MAD) and analyze the change in sleep quality and polysomnographic variables in patients diagnosed as having severe OSA and primary snoring. In the present report, two custom-made MADs were produced for two patients who were diagnosed as having severe sleep apnea and primary snoring, according to polysomnographic measurements. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was changed after follow--up period, and complaints were reduced in both patients. MADs are generally indicated for patients with mild to moderate OSA but can be effectively used by severe OSA and primary snoring patients.

Effects of Mandibular Advancement Devices on Sleep, Blood Pressure and Jaw Functions in Patients with or without Diabetes

Severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has two main components: severity of daytime sleepiness and apnea hypopnea index (AHI) in addition to adjacent health complications. We investigated the effect of custom-made Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs) on breathing pattern parameters (including apneahypopnea index), blood pressure, daytime sleepiness (Epworth score) and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in a randomized crossover trial at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Odense University Hospital, on consecutively treated patients diagnosed with snoring or sleep apnea. Continuous registrations of outcome variables were performed; patients underwent diagnostic cardio-respiratory monitoring before and after 3 months’ MAD therapy, and results obtained in patients before MAD therapy were compared with those obtained after MAD therapy. Measurements with and without MAD were compared using Student’s t-test or Wilcoxon signed rank test, and mixed-model analyses was performed to analyze repeated measurements and adjusting for sleep apnea severity, type 2 diabetes, body-mass-index, sex and age. A total of 44 patients (31 men; 13 women, aged 50 ± 13 years, BMI 31 ± 5.6, diabetic n=18; non-diabetic n=26) completed the trial. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) reduced from 15.8 ± 17.4 without MAD to 6.2 ± 9.8 events/h with MAD (P<0.001). After 6 months without therapy compared with 6 months’ MAD therapy, mean systolic blood pressure decreased from 135 ± 15 to 132 ± 15 mm/Hg (P=0.02) and Epworth score decreased from 10 ± 5 to 6 ± 3 (P<0.001). The occurrence of TMD diagnoses did not increase, no patients discontinued therapy due to TMD, and there were no interactions between diabetes status or obstructive sleep apnea severity evident for any outcome parameter. Conclusions: The present study confirmed MAD therapy to be a relevant treatment option without significant side effects on jaw function in patients with high as well as low AHI, and in diabetic as well as non-diabetic patients.

Impact of mandibular advancement devices on C-reactive protein levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

To determine the effect of treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with custom-made mandibular advancement devices (MADs) on C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Case series with chart review. Charts of consecutive patients fitted with custom-made mandibular advancement devices for treatment of OSAHS between December 2011 and November 2012 were reviewed. Demographics such as age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) were collected. Prefitting and postfitting polysomnograms were reviewed. Pre- and posttreatment apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and average O2 saturation were compared. Only patients with documented CRP levels determined prior to mandibular advancement device fitting and again after improvement of OSAHS symptoms were included. Forty-nine patients (77.6% male, age 47.4 ± 11.7 years, BMI 29.6 ± 5.0 kg/m(2)) were included in this study. Patients initially had elevated CRP levels (2.5 ± 1.8 mg/dl), which decreased significantly following use of their custom-made mandibular advancement device (1.9 ± 1.3 mg/dl, P = 0.006) by approximately 24%. AHI decreased significantly from 33.3 ± 21.7 pretreatment to 12.1 ± 22.3 posttreatment (P < 0.001). Treatment with MADs reduced AHI by approximately 69.3%. Minimum oxygen saturation significantly improved from 85.1% ± 5.9 pretreatment to 90.7% ± 3.6 posttreatment (P < 0.001). Treatment with custom-made mandibular advancement devices significantly reduced elevated CRP levels in patients with mild to severe OSAHS. Therapy achieves reasonable response and cure rates in the observed patients with a significant reduction in AHI.

Compliance and Efficacy of Titratable Thermoplastic versus Custom Mandibular Advancement Devices

To share our experiences treating patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) with titratable thermoplastic (TPD) and custom-made mandibular advancement devices (MAD) and to compare these devices in terms of objective improvement and cure and treatment success (improvement/cure plus adherence at 6 months). Case series with planned data collection. Tertiary care center. Patients with OSAHS who failed or refused both continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and surgery had a titratable oral appliance fitted. Patients were offered an office-fitted TPD or a custom-made dentist-fitted device. Assessment included pretreatment and appliance-titration polysomnography (PSG). Improvement was defined as ≥ 50% apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) reduction plus posttreatment AHI <20, and cure was defined as AHI <5. Patients were contacted at 1 and 6 months regarding treatment adherence. A total of 180 patients (123 TPD, 57 custom) with complete PSG data were reviewed. Improvement/cure were significantly better with the custom device overall (91.2%/71.9% vs 77.2%/52.0%, P = .024/.012). Adherence data at 1 and 6 months were obtained from 128/180 and 119/180 patients, respectively. Using an intention-to-treat analysis, those lost to follow-up were considered nonadherent. Adherence at 1/6 months was 64.9%/50.9% for custom versus 53.7%/32.5% for TPD (P = .156/.018), yielding treatment success rates (with initial improvement/cure) of 49.1%/40.4% for custom versus 27.6%/17.1% for TPD (P = .005/<.001) at 6 months. Custom-fit devices achieve higher rates of objective improvement and cure of OSAHS than TPD at the time of titration-PSG. TPDs have a high acceptance rate, low cost, and reasonable initial improvement and cure rates of 77.2% and 52.0%, respectively, but significantly poorer 6-month compliance.

Non-CPAP therapies in obstructive sleep apnoea: mandibular advancement device therapy

Mandibular advancement devices (MADs) represent the main non-continuous positive airway pressure (non-CPAP) therapy for patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). The aim of the European Respiratory Society Task Force was to review the evidence in favour of MAD therapy. Effects of tongue-retaining devices are not included in this report. Custom-made MADs reduce apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI) and daytime sleepiness compared with placebo devices. CPAP more effectively diminishes AHI, while increasing data suggest fairly similar outcomes in relation to symptoms and cardiovascular health from these treatments. Patients often prefer MADs to CPAP. Milder cases and patients with a proven increase in upper airway size as a result of mandibular advancement are most likely to experience treatment success with MADs. A custom-made device titrated from an initial 50% of maximum mandibular advancement has been recommended. More research is needed to define the patients who will benefit from MAD treatment compared with CPAP, in terms of the effects on sleep-disordered breathing and on other diseases related to OSA. In conclusion, MADs are recommended for patients with mild to moderate OSA (Recommendation Level A) and for those who do not tolerate CPAP. The treatment must be followed up and the device adjusted or exchanged in relation to the outcome.