title: Efficacy of an oral appliance for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to validate the use of a mandibular repositioner appliance (MRA) to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and primary snoring, comparing polysomnographic and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) data obtained prior to and during MRA treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-three patients who presented with different degrees of OSA severity or primary snoring were fitted to a PM positioner between 2009 and 2011. The diagnosis was established by a polysomnogram (PSG) prior to treatment and after 6 months to verify the efficacy of MRA therapy. Subjective daytime sleepiness was evaluated by ESS questionnaire prior to treatment and at the follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were divided into primary snoring and OSA groups. For the primary snoring group, PSG variables did not show significant results, except for a decrease in snoring. For the OSA group, the mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was reduced from 23.0 ± 11 to 5.3 ± 4.0 and median ESS reduced significantly from 13.0 to 8.5. Complete response (AHI < 5) was found in 25 (40%) patients and partial response (AHI ≤ 10) in 27 (43%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings validate the efficacy of the adjustable PM positioner for the safe treatment of OSA.
authors.affiliation: UNINOVE Nove de Julho University Sleep Laboratory, São Paulo, Brazil. odontogiannasi@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Lilian Chrystiane
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Giannasi
authors.forename: Fernanda Ribeiro
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Sergio Roberto
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Nacif
authors.forename: Luis Vicente Franco
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019186:Mandibular Advancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017286:Polysomnography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012074:Remission Induction; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology; D012913:Snoring / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome