What exactly is Obstructive Sleep Apnea Appliances?

4 min read
17 November 2022

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is quite common among the adult population, according to recent epidemiological studies. The most frequently suggested alternate treatment for mild to moderate OSA is oral appliances (OAs).

By causing the jaw to protrude more, oral devices lengthen the pharynx, which lessens the likelihood that the upper airway may collapse while you sleep. Mandibular advancement splints (MAS) and tongue-retaining devices are the two main categories of dental appliances (TRDs).

The most widely utilized oral Obstructive Sleep Apnea Appliances are mandibular advancement splints (MAS), also referred to as mandibular advancement devices or mandibular repositioning appliances.

The lower jaw protrudes when the MAS are attached to the teeth, which causes mandibular advancement and various other advantageous anatomical modifications to the upper airway as you sleep. Increased upper airway cross-sectional area and volume can result from these changes, which can include anteroposterior and lateral retrolingual and retropalatal expansion. They cannot be applied to people who lack teeth.

The recurrent partial or total obstruction of the upper airway during sleeping is known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It results from the pharyngeal walls thinning or collapsing. Microarousals and oxyhemoglobin desaturation are the outcomes, which cause fragmented sleep and loud snoring. The cardiovascular system may be negatively impacted by OSA, which can also impair neurocognitive function. Additionally, among them, reports of daytime tiredness and low quality of life have been made. The risk of acquiring cardiovascular illnesses can be decreased by primary care and early detection. Strong evidence suggests that sleep apnea increases the risk of stroke, and stroke survivors are more likely to have it. OSA may be an unrecognized risk factor for poor functional outcomes and stroke recurrence following the stroke.

A qualified expert in sleep medicine uses nocturnal polysomnography to diagnose OSA. Clinically, OSA is characterized by a non-prominent uvula even during phonation and a posteriorly positioned soft palate that is close to the pharyngeal wall. The dentist should identify these clinical symptoms on their Dental Lab during the initial examination in order to make an accurate diagnosis, establish an effective course of treatment, and prevent the long-term development of serious consequences. A dentist is crucial in the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of OSA patients.

Positional therapy, pharmaceutical therapy, surgical therapies (pharyngeal and maxillomandibular operations), continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and oral appliances (OA) like the mandibular advancement device are some of the therapeutic options for OSA (MAD).

For patients with OSA, OA is thought to be the most effective and practical therapy option. By advancing the jaw and/or the tongue, OA mechanically widens the pharyngeal space. There are already more than 60 different OAs in use, all of which differ significantly in terms of design. None, however, has attained the title of "Gold standard." The customized maxillary oral appliance (CMOA), a revolutionary OA, is the focus of the current clinical technique, which offers a new treatment option for treating moderate OSA.

OSA significantly increases the risk of death. An early multispecialty therapy approach is required for this illness. To guide targeted therapy for OSA, it is necessary to find new medicines and develop streamlined phenotyping methods for use in the clinic.

Michael Allen is author of this article and writes since long time. For further details about Obstructive Sleep Apnea Appliances please visit the website.

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Michael Allen 2
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