Arvind Tripathi1, Ashutosh Gupta2, Sabyasachi Sarkar3, Suryakant Tripathi4, Narendra Gupta5. 1. Saraswati Dental College and Hospital, Lucknow, India. 2. Department of Prosthodontics, Saraswati Dental College and Hospital, Lucknow, India. 3. Sarkar Diagnostics & Research Centre, Lucknow, India. 4. Department of Pulmonary Medicine, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India. 5. Department of Prosthodontics, BBD College of Dental Sciences, Lucknow, India.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study was an attempt to verify the utility of complete dentures modified as a mandibular advancement device (MAD) in effecting expansion in pharyngeal volume to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in edentulous patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 17 patients (12 male, 5 female, average age 61 ± 4 years; BMI, 22 ± 5; apnea hypopnea index [AHI] 15 to 30). All patients had worn complete dentures for at least 1 year; all patients had the dentures modified to a MAD. Five variables were assessed preoperatively and 6 months after wearing the modified MADs. These variables were: sleep efficiency, AHI, oxygen desaturation events/hr., mean oxygen saturation, snoring index, and airway volume. This assessment was done by subjecting the patients to all-night polysomnography. RESULTS: Without any prosthesis or device in the edentulous patients, the mean velopharyngeal volume was 8.05 ± 0.58 cm(3) , oropharyngeal volume was 2.14 ± 0.38 cm(3) , and hypopharyngeal volume was 3.26 ± 0.78 cm(3) . With complete dentures (unaltered) in the edentulous patients, the mean velopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and hypopharyngeal volumes were 10.73 ± 0.98 cm(3) , 2.60 ± 0.48 cm(3) , and 4.31 ± 0.89 cm(3) , respectively. There was a statistically significant change in the airway volume following insertion of the complete dentures modified as MADs with velopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and hypopharyngeal volume recorded as 11.76 ± 1.07 cm(3) , 3.33 ± 0.51 cm(3) , and 4.94 ± 0.83 cm(3) , respectively. CONCLUSION: From the results obtained in this limited small sample study, it was inferred that the pharyngeal expansion induced by complete dentures modified as MADs effectively reduced symptoms of OSA. Increased volume was most pronounced in the velopharynx region followed by hypopharynx and oropharynx.
PURPOSE: This study was an attempt to verify the utility of complete dentures modified as a mandibular advancement device (MAD) in effecting expansion in pharyngeal volume to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in edentulouspatients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 17 patients (12 male, 5 female, average age 61 ± 4 years; BMI, 22 ± 5; apnea hypopnea index [AHI] 15 to 30). All patients had worn complete dentures for at least 1 year; all patients had the dentures modified to a MAD. Five variables were assessed preoperatively and 6 months after wearing the modified MADs. These variables were: sleep efficiency, AHI, oxygen desaturation events/hr., mean oxygen saturation, snoring index, and airway volume. This assessment was done by subjecting the patients to all-night polysomnography. RESULTS: Without any prosthesis or device in the edentulouspatients, the mean velopharyngeal volume was 8.05 ± 0.58 cm(3) , oropharyngeal volume was 2.14 ± 0.38 cm(3) , and hypopharyngeal volume was 3.26 ± 0.78 cm(3) . With complete dentures (unaltered) in the edentulouspatients, the mean velopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and hypopharyngeal volumes were 10.73 ± 0.98 cm(3) , 2.60 ± 0.48 cm(3) , and 4.31 ± 0.89 cm(3) , respectively. There was a statistically significant change in the airway volume following insertion of the complete dentures modified as MADs with velopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and hypopharyngeal volume recorded as 11.76 ± 1.07 cm(3) , 3.33 ± 0.51 cm(3) , and 4.94 ± 0.83 cm(3) , respectively. CONCLUSION: From the results obtained in this limited small sample study, it was inferred that the pharyngeal expansion induced by complete dentures modified as MADs effectively reduced symptoms of OSA. Increased volume was most pronounced in the velopharynx region followed by hypopharynx and oropharynx.