Hi everyone,
Oral Appliance (OA) therapy has been used in patients with primary snoring and mild sleep apnea and has been proven effective. The concept is to position the mandible and tongue anteriorly (forward) to help open the airway. However, long term use has been shown to cause tooth shifting in about 85% of patients with about 41% having a favourable change and 44% unfavourable. Overbite and overjet also tended to decrease.
Source: Sevels I, Snoring, Sleep Apnea and Occlusion, Ontario Dentist, April 2007, Vol 8, No 3, pg 20-21.
Take care
Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100
