Treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea in edentulous patients--design of a combination appliance: a case study.
This report describes the fabrication of a prosthesis to prevent obstructive sleep apnoea in edentulous patients. The objective of treatment in a 62-year-old man was to establish a comfortable protrusive and vertical position of the mandible that minimised hypopharyngeal obstruction nocturnally. An appliance was designed incorporating two concepts in the elimination of obstructive sleep apnoea: mandibular advancement, which maintains hypopharyngeal width nocturnally; and advancement of the tongue with the aid of a device holding the tongue in a protrusive position by vacuum pressure. This combination appliance offers a treatment modality to a large group of otherwise forgotten patients.
Robertson
C J
CJ
D006801:Humans; D007013:Hypopharynx / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D019186:Mandibular Advancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017090:Occlusal Splints; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000628:therapy*; D014059:Tongue / Q000503:physiopathology