Expanding ENT Referral Networks-Supporting Articles

Supporting Articles

Pdf Summary

The document provides strong evidence supporting the use of custom-made oral appliances over prefabricated devices in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. Several studies and trials have highlighted the superiority of custom oral appliances in terms of effectiveness and patient compliance compared to temporary or prefabricated devices. Temporary appliances have shown to lead to increased adverse effects and lower compliance rates. Additional research has focused on the use of temporary appliances in determining the therapeutic position of an appliance and predicting patient response to Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT). Studies have explored the feasibility and efficacy of remotely controlled mandibular positioning during sleep, as well as the effectiveness of titration appliances for temporary treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. Overall, the literature overwhelmingly supports the use of custom-made oral appliances as a more effective and reliable option for managing sleep-disordered breathing compared to prefabricated devices.

Keywords

custom-made oral appliances

prefabricated devices

obstructive sleep apnea

snoring treatment

patient compliance

temporary appliances

adverse effects

mandibular positioning

Oral Appliance Therapy

sleep-disordered breathing