INTRODUCTION: Oral appliances (OAs) have been widely used to treat snoring and sleep apnea, but their effects on craniofacial structures in patients after 5 years or more of wear have not yet been quantified. METHODS: Seventy-one patients who had worn adjustable mandibular repositioners to treat snoring or sleep apnea were evaluated. Upright lateral cephalometric radiographs in centric occlusion taken before treatment and after a mean of 7.3 +/- 2.1 years of OA use were compared. Baseline sleep studies and patient demographic data were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Cephalometric analyses after long term OA use showed significant (P < .01) changes in many variables, including increases in mandibular plane and ANB angles; decreases in overbite and overjet; retroclined maxillary incisors; proclined mandibular incisors; increased lower facial height; and distally tipped maxillary molars with mesially tipped and erupted mandibular molars. The initial deep overbite group had a significantly greater decrease in overbite. Duration of OA use correlated positively with variables such as decreased overbite and increased mandibular plane angle; changes in the dentition appeared to be progressive over time. CONCLUSIONS: After long-term use, OAs appear to cause changes in tooth positions that also might affect mandibular posture.
INTRODUCTION: Oral appliances (OAs) have been widely used to treat snoring and sleep apnea, but their effects on craniofacial structures in patients after 5 years or more of wear have not yet been quantified. METHODS: Seventy-one patients who had worn adjustable mandibular repositioners to treat snoring or sleep apnea were evaluated. Upright lateral cephalometric radiographs in centric occlusion taken before treatment and after a mean of 7.3 +/- 2.1 years of OA use were compared. Baseline sleep studies and patient demographic data were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Cephalometric analyses after long term OA use showed significant (P < .01) changes in many variables, including increases in mandibular plane and ANB angles; decreases in overbite and overjet; retroclined maxillary incisors; proclined mandibular incisors; increased lower facial height; and distally tipped maxillary molars with mesially tipped and erupted mandibular molars. The initial deep overbite group had a significantly greater decrease in overbite. Duration of OA use correlated positively with variables such as decreased overbite and increased mandibular plane angle; changes in the dentition appeared to be progressive over time. CONCLUSIONS: After long-term use, OAs appear to cause changes in tooth positions that also might affect mandibular posture.
Authors: Hui Chen; Alan A Lowe; Arthur M Strauss; Fernanda Riberiro de Almeida; Hiroshi Ueda; John A Fleetham; Bangkang Wang Journal: Sleep Breath Date: 2008-05 Impact factor: 2.816
Authors: Michiel H J Doff; Steffanie K B Veldhuis; Aarnoud Hoekema; James J R Huddleston Slater; P J Wijkstra; Lambert G M de Bont; Boudewijn Stegenga Journal: Clin Oral Investig Date: 2011-05-03 Impact factor: 3.573
Authors: Cristina V Perez; Reny de Leeuw; Jeffrey P Okeson; Charles R Carlson; Hsin-Fang Li; Heather M Bush; Donald A Falace Journal: Sleep Breath Date: 2012-04-04 Impact factor: 2.816
Authors: Lílian C Giannasi; Fernanda R Almeida; Márcio Magini; Maricília S Costa; Cláudia S de Oliveira; Júlio César Mendes de Oliveira; Sandra Kalil Bussadori; Luis Vicente F de Oliveira Journal: Sleep Breath Date: 2009-05-01 Impact factor: 2.816