Clinical effect and airway changes of adjustable oral appliance in the treatment of adult obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

: Objective:To investigate the effect of adjustable oral appliance on airway changes and clinical effect in obstructive sleepApnea hypopnea syndrome,and to observe the effect of jaw joints.Method:Forty adult cases diagnosed as OSAHS by polysomnography(PSG), were treated with adjustable oral appliance.After six months,the sleep apnea hypoventilation index(AHI)and the lowest oxygen saturation (LSaO₂) by PSG were evaluated. And three-dimensional cone beam computed tomography(CBCT) reconstruction was used to analyze the morphological changes of the upper airway,and the gap of jaw joint preliminarily.Result:After such treatment, LSaO₂ level of all cases increased, and AHI reduced(P< 0.01).The total volume and area of the upper airway increased significantly(P< 0.01), There was no obvious anomalies found in jaw joints.Conclusion:The adjustable oral appliance applied to in adult OSAHS can increase the shape and size of the airway,improve the airway ventilation effectively, and have no affection to the jaw joints in initial observation.