Oral Appliance Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Clinical Benefits and Limitations

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition characterized by recurrent upper airway obstruction during sleep. It is associated with a wide range of symptoms and complications. Management includes positive airway pressure (PAP), upper airway surgery, oral appliance therapy, positional therapy, and weight loss. Oral appliance therapy treats OSA through direct expansion of the upper airway or indirectly by preventing its collapse. Its effectiveness in improving apnea-hypopnea index and oxygen desaturation is gaining wider approval and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine currently recommend oral appliance as an alternative therapy for those who are unable to PAP therapy. To achieve maximum benefits, it is essential to evaluate factors that can affect treatment outcomes as well as create devices tailored to the individual patient’s dentition and capable of manipulating the degree of mandible advancement. While most are minor and transient, patients should always be warned about the potential adverse effects on mastication and mandibular joint as they can negatively influence treatment compliance. Although PAP shows superior results in improving polysomnography parameters, oral appliance therapy displays comparable health outcomes and greater adherence. Additional studies on establishing patient selection, optimal titration procedure, and measuring objective adherence will further improve oral appliance therapy acceptance.