Ten-year follow-up of mandibular advancement devices for the management of snoring and sleep apnea.
BACKGROUND
Intraoral mandibular advancement devices have become widely used in recent years for the management of snoring and sleep apnea, and short-term effectiveness has been demonstrated. However, there is a shortage of data regarding long-term compliance.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term compliance of patients who were provided with a mandibular advancement device.


METHODS
Records of 180 patients who were provided with a mandibular advancement device in 1996 were available for review. A questionnaire was sent to all of these patients inquiring about continued device usage, comfort, and effectiveness. Questions were also asked about smoking, alcohol consumption, height, and weight. Data were analyzed with chi-square tests for any association between these factors and success of the device (alpha=.05).


RESULTS
The response rate was 40%, with 72 replies. Of this number, 34 patients were currently wearing the device every night, with a further 13 wearing the device for up to 6 nights per week. Thirty-one of the respondents who were wearing the device felt more refreshed on waking. The median body mass index (BMI) was 30, 8 were smokers, and 12 subjects drank more than 20 units of alcohol per week. Few adverse effects of the device were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
The mandibular advancement device appears to be an effective long-term solution for a significant number of patients with problem snoring and also those with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
Jauhar
Sachin
S
Department of Restorative Dentistry, Glasgow Dental Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
Lyons
Mervyn F
MF
Banham
Stephen W
SW
Cameron
Donald A
DA
Orchardson
Robin
R
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D019186:Mandibular Advancement / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*; D012907:Smoking; D012913:Snoring / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome