A review of the use of mandibular advancement appliances in sleep-disordered breathing.
This paper sets out to provide a review of the provision of mandibular advancement appliances for patients with sleep-disordered breathing. A contemporary overview is provided in relation to: the rationale for their use; guidelines on patient selection; design features; clinical evidence of success; advantages; disadvantages; treatment objectives and follow-up and practical aspects to their provision.


CONCLUSIONS
Mandibular advancement appliances are now increasingly being recognized by sleep specialists as playing a valuable role in the management of sleep-disordered breathing. The dentist is ideally positioned and, with the appropriate training, could provide this relatively simple form of treatment for patients who suffer what can be a socially-embarrassing condition, with high levels of morbidity.
Department of Oral Growth and Development, Bart's and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, Queen Mary's College, London, UK.
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D004867:Equipment Design; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019186:Mandibular Advancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018579:Patient Selection; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome