[A PhD completed. Predictability and long-term effects of MAD treatment of obstructive sleep apnea].

Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder, characterized by repetitive obstruction of the upper airway during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea can be treated with a mandibular advancement device (MAD), which advances the mandibula into a forward position, thus preventing obstruction of the upper airway. Different MAD designs are available, however, clinically significant differences in effectiveness have not been found. Besides this, a randomized crossover study found the effectiveness of a new 'boil and bite' MAD to be equal to that of the custom MAD. After a 10-year follow-up, too, the MAD has been proven to be a successful treatment option. However, attention must be paid to minimalizing dental side effects, such as tooth repositioning.