Oral Appliances in the Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Clinical Effect of Personalized Adjustable Mandibular Advancement Device on Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Aims/Background: Mandibular advancement devices are effective in treating mild or moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but such devices that are commonly used in clinical settings require further improvement. In this study, we evaluated the clinical effects of personalized adjustable mandibular advancement devices on mild or moderate OSA. Methods: Forty patients with mild or moderate OSA were randomly divided into experimental (personalized adjustable device) and control (traditional device) groups. Side effects, including increased salivation, dry mouth, muscle aches, and temporomandibular joint discomfort, were assessed. Respiratory markers during sleep, including the apnea-hypopnea index, mean blood oxygen saturation, lowest blood oxygen saturation and maximum apnea time, were evaluated using polysomnography. The upper airway cross-sectional area and temporomandibular joint morphology and motion trajectory were evaluated using cone beam computed tomography. Results: Side effects were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group. Respiratory marker levels were significantly restored post-treatment. Soft palate- and tongue-pharyngeal cross-sectional areas were significantly increased in both groups, but temporomandibular joint morphology or motion trajectory remained unchanged. Conclusion: The personalized adjustable mandibular advancement devices may reduce side effects and are effective in treating patients with OSA. Clinical Trial Registration: The study was registered and approved by the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2400080306). https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=206538.

Efficacy of Oral Appliance for Mild, Moderate, and Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Oral appliances (OA) are the recommended first-line option for mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-hypopnea. However, there is a lack of evidence to compare the effectiveness of OA in different severities of OSA. The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of preferred OA (tongue retention devices [TRD] and mandibular advancement device [MAD]) in different severities of OSA.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed/MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science.

REVIEW METHODS

Concentrating on the efficacy of OA, 2 authors searched 3 databases up to November 10, 2022, independently and systematically, following the requirements and steps of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines.

RESULTS

Ultimately, 42 studies with 2265 patients met the criteria for inclusion in OA. Overall, the apnea-hypopnea index improved by 48% (5.6), 67% (14.92), and 62% (32.1) in mild, moderate, and severe OSA, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed a significant difference between MAD and TRD efficacy in mild OSA (58% vs 21%). However, no significant difference was seen between MAD and TRD efficacy in moderate (67% vs 66%) and severe OSA (66% vs 51%). There was no significant difference across groups in the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, oxygen desaturation index (ODI), and lowest oxygen saturation (LSAT).

CONCLUSION

Overall, both TRD and MAD are effective treatments for moderate and severe OSA. MAD is efficacious in mild OSA, while TRD requires further validation. Furthermore, mild-moderate and severe OSA received similar improvements in sleepiness, ODI, and LSAT. This study complements the evidence for the efficacy of OA.

Pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic approaches in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common breathing disorder in sleep in which the airways narrow or collapse during sleep, causing obstructive sleep apnea. The prevalence of OSAS continues to rise worldwide, particularly in middle-aged and elderly individuals. The mechanism of upper airway collapse is incompletely understood but is associated with several factors, including obesity, craniofacial changes, altered muscle function in the upper airway, pharyngeal neuropathy, and fluid shifts to the neck. The main characteristics of OSAS are recurrent pauses in respiration, which lead to intermittent hypoxia (IH) and hypercapnia, accompanied by blood oxygen desaturation and arousal during sleep, which sharply increases the risk of several diseases. This paper first briefly describes the epidemiology, incidence, and pathophysiological mechanisms of OSAS. Next, the alterations in relevant signaling pathways induced by IH are systematically reviewed and discussed. For example, IH can induce gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis, impair the intestinal barrier, and alter intestinal metabolites. These mechanisms ultimately lead to secondary oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, and sympathetic activation. We then summarize the effects of IH on disease pathogenesis, including cardiocerebrovascular disorders, neurological disorders, metabolic diseases, cancer, reproductive disorders, and COVID-19. Finally, different therapeutic strategies for OSAS caused by different causes are proposed. Multidisciplinary approaches and shared decision-making are necessary for the successful treatment of OSAS in the future, but more randomized controlled trials are needed for further evaluation to define what treatments are best for specific OSAS patients.

To compare different non-surgical treatment modalities on treatment of obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The study aimed to assess the effect of mandibular advancement device (MAD) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea for reduction in 24-h mean blood pressure, sleep quality, Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI), and patient compliance, compared to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), other interventions, or no treatment. Three different databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL were searched using different search terms till July 2021 as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After inclusion of studies, data extraction including risk of bias assessment was done. For each study, we used odds ratio, mean difference, and 95% confidence interval to assess and synthesize the outcomes. The quality of evidence was evaluated as per the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Twenty-one randomized controlled trials were included: 497 patients in the MAD group, 239 patients in the CPAP group, and 274 patients in the sham group. In MAD-CPAP comparison, the results favored CPAP in the reduction of AHI of 3.48 (1.76-5.19). However, unclear results were found for sleep quality measured as Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), patient compliance, and 24-h mean blood pressure. In MAD-sham comparison, the results favored MAD in the reduction of AHI of - 8.39 (-10.90--5.88] and ESS of - 0.91 (-1.70--0.12) and favored sham in terms of patient compliance while, unclear results for 24-h mean blood pressure. The GRADE score indicated that the quality of evidence is very low, low, and moderate for different outcomes. CPAP in comparison to MAD and MAD in comparison to sham showed a significant AHI reduction. However, patient compliance and 24-h mean blood pressure were not significantly different in MAD-CPAP or MAD-sham. Quality of evidence is very low and low when MAD was compared with CPAP and sham, respectively, for AHI.

Oral appliances for obstructive sleep apnea: Emerging issues, upcoming challenges, and possible solutions

Background

As per the current epidemiological studies, the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among the adult population is very high. Oral appliances (OAs) have emerged as the most recommended alternative treatment option for mild to moderate OSA.

Objective

The objective of this article is to propose or develop a new design of OA named "customized maxillary oral appliance (CMOA)," for managing moderate OSA syndrome.

Methods

The design proposed in this article is first of its kind that is fabricated on the maxillary arch. CMOA is developed by combining the principles of the three most popular OAs used in OSA, namely, soft palate lifters, tongue retaining devices, and mandibular advancement devices.

Conclusions

Given the potential impact of OSA on general and mental health and the side effects of existing appliances, there is a need for a new remedy to be introduced in the field of sleep medicine. This novel design can provide a new therapeutic option for patients with moderate OSA.