title: Orthoimplants: an alternative treatment for SAHS?
abstract: Numerous sleep studies have been published recently regarding the use of intraoral devices (ODs) for the treatment of sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS). The effectiveness of these devices varies, however, according to the series studied (patient characteristics, parameters assessed, type of device, etc.). Two factors should always be assessed: the presence of an appropriate dental support and a possible temporomandibular joint pathology which can, on occasions, contraindicate the use of these devices.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To use orthoimplants as orthodontic anchorages for intermaxillary elastic bands which allow a mandibular advancement to be performed as an alternative treatment to ODs in SAHS patients without appropriate dental support.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four orthoimplants were placed in an edentulous SAHS patient who did not tolerate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). The mandible is pushed forward using orthodontic elastic bands anchored to the orthoimplants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although more studies are still required, orthoimplants could be an alternative treatment for reducing snoring and the apnea-hypopnea index and increasing SaO2, which should be considered for patients who do not tolerate CPAP and lack appropriate dental support for attaching intraoral devices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialities, Area of Orthodontics, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Oviedo, Clinica Universitaria de Odontologia, C/Catedrático José Serrano, Oviedo, Spain. fcarlos@uniovi.es
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Carlos
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cobo
authors.forename: Maria Pilar
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Fernandez Mondragon
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alvarez Suarez
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calvo Blanco
mesh_terms: D002508:Cephalometry; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019186:Mandibular Advancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D017289:Orthodontic Appliances, Functional; D017286:Polysomnography; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D053441:Suture Anchors