title: Influence of oral and craniofacial dimensions on mandibular advancement splint treatment outcome in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mandibular advancement splints (MASs) can effectively treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); however, no validated and reliable prediction method for treatment outcome currently exists. The efficacy of MAS may relate to anatomic factors, including craniofacial size and upper-airway soft-tissue volume and anatomic balance between them. We aimed to assess whether craniofacial and oral measurements are associated with MAS treatment outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dental impressions and lateral cephalometric radiographs were obtained from patients with OSA prior to commencing MAS treatment. Intertooth distances and palatal depths were measured on dental casts, and standard cephalometric analysis was performed with the addition of cross-sectional area (CSA) of the tongue and bony oral enclosure. Treatment outcome was determined by polysomnography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 53 patients, 25 were complete responders (posttreatment apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] < 5/h), 17 were partial responders (≥ 50% AHI reduction), and 11 were nonresponders (< 50% AHI reduction). Cephalometric analyses did not reveal any significant differences between responders and nonresponders. Oral cavity measurements or CSA did not differ with treatment outcome; however, there was a trend toward a larger tongue CSA in complete vs partial and nonresponders (39.5 ± 1.3 cm(2) vs 35.5 ± 0.5 cm(2), P = .09). Tongue/oral enclosure CSA ratio, indicating a larger tongue for a given oral cavity size, was greater in complete responders (P = .012, n = 30).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral dimensions do not appear to differ between patients who respond and those who do not respond to MAS treatment. However, the larger tongue for a given oral cavity size in responders suggests that MAS may help to correct anatomic imbalance. Further research to assess whether the ratio between tongue and bony oral enclosure size may be useful in selecting patients for MAS treatment is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sydney, Sydney Dental Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Whitney
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mostafiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sydney, Sydney Dental Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Oyku
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dalci
authors.affiliation: Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Centre for Sleep Health and Research, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sutherland
authors.affiliation: Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Atul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sydney, Sydney Dental Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Vasanth
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sydney, Sydney Dental Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: M Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Darendeliler
authors.affiliation: Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Centre for Sleep Health and Research, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: peter.cistulli@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cistulli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002508:Cephalometry; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019186:Mandibular Advancement; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000473:pathology*; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D017286:Polysomnography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013165:Splints; D016896:Treatment Outcome