[Oral appliances in the treatment of respiratory disturbances in sleep--from goals to outcomes].

PURPOSE: To synthetically present the current state of knowledge regarding the use of oral devices for the treatment of sleep breathing disorders, according to the data provided by the specialised literature references.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

A MEDLINE search was performed, alongside with a hand search of periodicals in the field.

RESULTS

172 articles were identified, out of which 86 for pneumologists, 7 for otorhinolaryngologists and 79 for dentists.

DISCUSSIONS: Data obtained from the specialised literature indicate that oral devices represent a viable alternative in the treatment of sleep breathing disorders, due to their low cost and to the relative comfort their wearing offers to the patients, as such solutions are better tolerated than other treatments. Despite the numerous controversies regarding the efficacy of oral devices in the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), their use for cases of mild OSA is accepted by numerous specialists, and the competence is delegated to the dentist, specifically to the orthodontics and dento-facial orthopaedics specialists.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral devices treatment represents an opportunity for the dentist to contribute to the efficient treatment of many patients with the OSA syndrome, in close cooperation with other sleep medicine specialists.