Treatment of sleep apnoea using a mandibular advancement splint--an open prospective study.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) may cause considerable disturbances, including the development of health problems. This study was performed in order to evaluate the results of treating OAS with a mandibular advancement splint (MAS), and to evaluate the effects of this treatment. This was a prospective open longitudinal study. Ninety patients were randomly selected and included in the study. All 90 patients received an MAS. Forty-eight patients concluded the study, whereas 27 dropped-out and 15 were excluded. The sleep pattern was monitored at home with portable equipment. There was a clear tendency towards a reduction in the apnoea/hypopnea index (AHI) and the oxygen desaturation index (ODI) between the two investigations. Furthermore, there was a tendency towards reduced sleep apnoea; ratings on the Epworth sleepiness scale were lower, indicating a reduction in daytime sleepiness. Treatment with MAS in our study reduced sleep apnoea and snoring, and lowered the values of the Epworth sleepiness scale, indicating a reduction in daytime sleepiness in the majority of the patients. Lifestyle factors are not believed to have affected the results.