title: Role of Oral Appliances in the Management of Sleep Disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A study was undertaken with the aim to evaluate the therapeutic and clinical efficacy of oral appliances in the management of upper airway sleep disorders like snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Oral appliances were prescribed in eight cases of non - apneic snoring and 42 polysomnography (PSG) diagnosed cases of OSA. The cases were assessed on Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Apnea - Hypopnea Index (AHI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  62.5% of the non - apneic snoring cases reported gross reduction/cessation of snoring. In the OSA cases, the mean AHI and ESS scores decreased from 51.48 ± 23.70 to 32.78 ± 18.06 and 12.50 ± 3.57 to 7.20 ± 2.917 respectively. A statistically significant (p<0.0001) improvement in AHI and ESS scores was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short term therapeutic efficacy of oral appliances therapy in non-apneic snoring and OSA cases was observed.
authors.affiliation: Classified Specialist (Orthodontics), Army Dental Centre, Army Hospital (R&R), Delhi Cantt 10.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jayan
authors.affiliation: Consultant (Medicine and Respiratory Medicine), MH (CTC), Pune.
authors.forename: Bnbm
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.affiliation: Classified Specialist (Prosthodontics), Commanding Officer, Military Dental Centre Allahabad.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Dhiman
keywords: Obstructive sleep apnea; Oral appliances; Snoring