Treatment with Oral Appliances in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder caused by a number of factors like an obstruction of the upper airway during sleep because of insufficient motor tone of the tongue and/or airway dilator muscles or inadequate growth of the maxillary jaw bone etc. Oral appliances (OAs) are commonly used as a non-invasive treatment for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The primary oral appliance (OA) used in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment is the mandibular advancement device (MAD). Tongue-retaining devices or tongue-stabilizing devices (TSDs) are a second type of OA, which displace the tongue anteriorly and may be customized or come in different stock sizes. This review article aims to examine the best in class on this particular subject of treatment of OSA with oral appliances, explaining acceptability of an appliance in patients on the basis of its construction and results, while providing enough cognizance regarding the diagnosis, management and causes of discontinuation.

The Effect of Functional Mandibular Advancement for Adolecent Patients with Skeletal Class Ⅱ Malocclusion on the TMJ——a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives: This study aimed to assess whether functional mandibular advancement will induce or aggravate temporomandibular joint disorders.Methods: All searched databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trails were searched. Gray literature and unpublished literature was also searched. Randomized controlled trails directly observe the condition of patients’ TMJ after finishing treatment will be considered to include in our study. Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool was used to assess the quality of included studies according to the established inclusion criteria.Result:Finally 13 researches were statistically pooled in meta-analysis. The number of samples under investigated among primary studies was 285 individuals ,there were 142 patients who developed temporomandibular symptoms during or after treatment. But all the subjective symptoms disappeared during follow-up time. The statistical outcomes proved that patients recieved FMA didn’t show more tendency to develop temporomandibular symptoms[I²=25%, OR=0.39, 95%CI (0.22 ,0.68), p=0.001].Conclusion: (1) TMJ symptoms may occur during the functional oral appliance wearing, but the symptoms will release or disappear during follow-up period. (2) Less convinced evidence indicate that slightly previous TMD will be improved after treatment. (3) There is TMJ disc anterior displacement observed during treatment, but most of them will return to the normal position later. (4) Moderate evidence support that FMA will not induce or aggravate TMD.

Snoring Remediation with Oral Appliance Therapy Potentially Reverses Cognitive Impairment: An Intervention Controlled Pilot Study

Respiration rate (RR) dynamics entrains brain neural networks. RR differences between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in response to oral appliance therapy (OAT) is unknown. This pilot study investigated if RR during stable sleep shows a relationship to pathological severity in subjects with MCI and AD who snore and if RR is influenced following stabilization of the upper airway using OAT. The study cohort was as follows: cognitively normal (CN; n = 14), MCI (n = 14) and AD (n = 9); and a sub-population receiving intervention, CN (n = 5), MCI (n = 7), AD (n = 6) subjects. The intervention used was an oral appliance plus a mouth shield (Tx). RR maximum (max) rate (breaths/minute) and RR fluctuation during 2116 stable sleep periods were measured. The Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) was administered before and after 4 weeks with Tx. Baseline data showed significantly higher RR fluctuation in CN vs. AD (p < 0.001) but not between CN vs. MCI (p = 0.668). Linear mixed model analysis indicated Tx effect (p = 0.008) for RR max. Tx after 4 weeks lowered the RR-max in MCI (p = 0.022) and AD (p < 0.001). Compared with AD RR max, CN (p < 0.001) and MCI (p < 0.001) were higher with Tx after 4 weeks. Some MCI and AD subjects improved executive and memory function after 4 weeks of Tx.

Drug-induced Sleep Endoscopy: Are there Predictors for Failure of Oral Appliance Treatment?

Introduction In the literature, evidence is lacking on the predictive value of drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) for oral appliance treatment (OAT). Objectives The aim of the present study is to evaluate whether DISE with concomitant mandibular advancement maneuver can predict failure of OAT. Methods An observational retrospective study including patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who previously received OAT. Results of DISE were analyzed in a group with documented OAT failure (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] > 10 events/hour or < 50% reduction) and a group with OAT benefit (AHI <10 events/hour or > 50% reduction). The upper airway was assessed using the velum, oropharynx, tongue base, epiglottis (VOTE) classification. Additionally, a mandibular advancement maneuver, manually protruding the mandible by performing a jaw thrust, was performed to mimic the effect of OAT. Results The present study included 50 patients with OAT failure and 20 patients with OAT benefit. A subgroup analysis of patients with OAT failure and an AHI < 30 events/hour included 26 patients. In the OAT failure group, 74% had a negative jaw thrust maneuver. In the subgroup with an AHI < 30 events/hour, 76.9% had a negative jaw thrust maneuver. In the OAT benefit group, 25% had a negative jaw thrust maneuver (p < 0.001). Conclusions A negative jaw thrust maneuver during DISE can be a valuable predictor for OAT failure, independent of AHI. Drug-induced sleep endoscopy should be considered as a diagnostic evaluation tool before starting OAT.

Prevention of oral and maxillofacial trauma secondary to orofacial dyskinesias associated with anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis: a case series

Background Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis (anti-NMDARE) is a multi-stage autoimmune-mediated disease associated with a multitude of neuropsychiatric and dysautonomic features. Orofacial dyskinesias are frequently associated with this condition and manifest as abnormal movements of the orofacial musculature. These involuntary movements may result in significant trauma to the oral and maxillofacial complex including the avulsion of the dentition and orofacial lacerations. Case presentation We describe the course of two female patients with anti-NMDARE in whom significant involuntary self-inflicted maxillofacial trauma was suffered despite the use of complex parenteral sedation regimens. The application of traditional maxillomandibular wiring techniques and pharmacologic strategies, including botulinum toxin, to immobilize the mandible were initially unsuccessful. These difficulties led to the fabrication and wire-based fixation of a patient-specific acrylic oral appliance that maintained the mandible in a depressed position and mitigated all lateral and protrusive movements. Discussion and conclusions These cases illustrate the first known successful use of an appliance-based therapy for managing orofacial dyskinesias in the anti-NMDARE patient population through an adaptation of traditional maxillomandibular fixation techniques. This approach eliminated further orofacial trauma and afforded physicians with safer means to manage and assess patients afflicted with this condition during their protracted intensive care unit admissions.