INCREASING THE UPPER AIRWAY SPACE USING ORAL APPLIANCES IN PATIENTS WITH MILD SLEEP APNOEA CAUSED BY STOMATOGNATHIC DYSFUNCTIONS.

Introduction: Abnormal breathing can be caused by developmental malformations or anatomical variations in the upper airways. Stomatognathic diseases may significantly impair the patency of the upper respiratory tract. Treatment of advanced stomatognathic dysfunctions is difficult due to their multifactorial aetiology, and often involves many phases. Sleep apnoea is one of the most bothersome complications. The mainstay therapeutic strategy relies on modifying the position of the mandible against the maxilla, achieved by using different types of oral appliances.
Material and Methods: The study was carried out in 2006-2010 on 92 patients (mean age 42.5 years) with diagnosed advanced dysfunction of the stomatognathic system. The treatment relied on the use of an orthodontic appliance (54 patients) or combined multi-phase therapy with splints used in the first phase (22 patients). Two different appliances were used (one of them was modified by the authors). Parameters assessed in the study included time to resolution of pain, reduction in the incidence of sleep apnoea, and improvement in nasal breathing.
Results: Change in the protrusion of the mandible not only relieved problems with the stomatognathic system, but also improved breathing in patients. The use of modified oral appliances reduced treatment duration and improved patients' comfort. Therefore, it may be useful in the treatment of patients with mild sleep apnoea.