Authors' recommendations: The literature showed that compared with inactive devices or compared to pre-treatment, MAD therapy is effective in improving sleep disordered breathing and quality of life in snoring and OSA patients. The compliance for MAD therapy was high in the included studies, and patients who were compliant tended to be long-term users. There were no serious adverse events associated with MAD therapy in the literature, but occlusal changes were noted over long period of use. The literature indicated that both MAD and CPAP treatments improved sleep outcomes, but CPAP was found to be more effective. Compared with upper airway surgery, MAD therapy appeared to be more effective over long-term use. Recent systematic reviews/meta-analyses recommended the prescription of MAD therapy to patients with mild-to-moderate OSA, and those patients who are unwilling and are unable to tolerate CPAP therapy. There is evidence that patients with mild cases of OSA were likely to continue treatment than patients with more severe cases.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.cadth.ca/media/pdf/L0091_Oral_Appliances_Treatment_Snoring_Obstructive%20Sleep_Apnea.pdf

Year Published: 2009

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health

Contact Address: 600-865 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S8 Canada. Tel: +1 613 226 2553; Fax: +1 613 226 5392;

Contact Name: requests@cadth.ca

Contact Email: requests@cadth.ca

Copyright: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)