Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea using a custom-made titratable duobloc oral appliance: a prospective clinical study

PURPOSE: This prospective clinical study investigates the efficacy of a specific custom-made titratable mandibular advancement device (MAD) for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This MAD has attachments in the frontal teeth area that allow for progressive titration of the mandible. METHODS: Sixty-one adult OSA patients were included (age, 46.7 ± 9.0 years; male/female ratio, 45/16; apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), 23.2 ± 15.4 events/h sleep; body mass index, 27.9 ± 4.1 kg/m²). After an adaptation period, titration started based on a protocol of symptomatic benefit or upon reaching the physiological limits of protrusion. As a primary outcome, treatment response was defined as an objective reduction in AHI following MAD treatment of ≥50 % compared to baseline, and treatment success as a reduction in AHI with MAD to less than 5 and 10 events/h sleep. Compliance failure was defined as an inability to continue treatment. RESULTS: A statistically significant decrease was observed in AHI, from 23.4 ± 15.7 at baseline to 8.9 ± 8.6 events/h with MAD (p < 0.01). Treatment response was achieved in 42 out of 61 patients (68.8 %), whereas 42.6 % met criteria of AHI < 5 and 63.9 % achieved an AHI < 10 events/h sleep, respectively. Four patients (6.6 %) were considered as “compliance failures.” CONCLUSIONS: The present study has evaluated the efficacy of a specific custom-made titratable MAD in terms of sleep apnea reduction.