Can Oral Appliances be an Alternative Treatment for Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Patients?

Abstract

Background: Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is recognized as a serious health problem that impairs quality of life. Although, optimal treatment of OSAS with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) reduce the number of respiratory events during sleep, and thus improve quality of life, a large number of patients do not tolerate CPAP. In the last decade, there has been an explosion of interest in the using of oral appliances to treat OSAS; however, in severe OSAS there is only scanty evidence available indicating that dental appliances are effective.