A two-dimensional gauge and protocol for fitting oral appliances used in treating sleep breathing disorders.

The authors tested whether a novel dental gauge that adjusts the mandibular position in both anterior-posterior (A-P) and vertical directions would improve the airway opening. A pilot study of nine patients with sleep breathing disorder used a snoring sound to guide mandibular vertical and protrusion positions with an adjustable mandibular positioning gauge (AMPG). Volumetric airway changes were confirmed by 2-dimensional (2-D) and 3-dimensional (3-D) measurements taken from cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. Patients experienced a significant average improvement in airway volumetric increase of 50%. The authors concluded that the AMPG device along with employing a snore sound technique as feedback can be used to ensure an improved awake state airway patency and may prove to be a means to optimize fit for oral appliances in treating obstructive sleep apnea.