Dr. Kübra Bi
Clinical Fellow
Topic
Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Chapter 13: Oral Appliance Therapy.
Oral appliance (OA) therapy is used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and snoring by improving upper airway patency during sleep. The mandibular advancement device (OAM), the most widely used oral appliance, advances the lower jaw to reduce upper airway
collapsibility, whereas tongue-retaining devices hold the tongue forward. OAM is most effective in patients with mild to moderate OSA and may be used alone or combined with positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. Treatment outcomes vary according to disease
severity, airway anatomy, and mandibular advancement. Benefits include reduced apnea severity, snoring, and blood pressure. Long-term treatment requires monitoring because dental occlusion changes and reduced efficacy may occur.