Silencing the snorers: no gain without pain?

Abstract

Mandibular advancement splints and coblation have similar efficacies. However, their efficacy does not match that of radical surgery.

Night‐to‐night variation in snoring sound severity: one night studies are not reliable

“…The mean SSI score, out of a minimum of 0 and maximum of 100, was 59.5 (range 20–88). This is similar to our previously published SSI scores for snoring patients undergoing coblation palatoplasty (mean SSI 60.2) or a trial of mandibular splint (mean SSI 61.4) 8 Table 2. displays the correlation coefficients of the maximum objective measures and the subjective SSI scores.…”

Randomised cross‐over study of oral appliances for snoring

“…The reduction in SSI scores with MAS use is similar to that observed in patients previously reported by our group (diagnosis of mild‐to‐moderate OSAS) 12 . In the current study, both of the splint designs led to a statistically significant reduction in the primary outcome measure of SSI.…”

“…We have previously suggested, 'a priori', a reduction of 15 units in SSI as a desirable and clinically useful response. 12 In the earlier study, 18% of participants achieved this level of reduction compared to this study where 16% of the participants achieved this threshold. This further suggests that there is a sub-group within these patient groups who clearly respond better to the use of oral appliances.…”

“…Although the power of this study suffered from the attrition of subjects, this estimate provides confidence that only a relatively small difference (<6 units of SSI) exists between these two splint designs. We have previously suggested, ‘ a priori ’, a reduction of 15 units in SSI as a desirable and clinically useful response 12 . In the earlier study, 18% of participants achieved this level of reduction compared to this study where 16% of the participants achieved this threshold.…”

“…Previous work by our group, recording SSI in patients using a MAS, showed a mean (sd) reduction of 6.6 (13.5) units. 12 Assuming that the BRA would have little effect upon SSI we estimated that a difference between splints of 6 units of the SSI (sd 14) was likely. Paired measurements from 45 subjects would give power of 80% (P = 0.05) to detect this difference.…”