[Current research of dentistry on obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome]

Obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) has been the main research area of the Dental Therapy Center for Sleep Apnea, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology. The basic research in the center includes: epidemic survey of OSAHS and snoring in a Beijing population, setting up the cephalometric and MRI standard of airway and surrounding structures for non-snoring Chinese, aetology exploring OSAHS from views of airway size, craniofacial form, neck circumference and genioglossus muscle activity. Clinically, different dental appliances were developed. The treatment effects of the oral appliances for OSAHS patients were evaluated quantitatively. Two and three dimension changes of the airway and surrounding structures, genioglossus muscle activity, as well as snoring loudness following mandible advancing and opening were studied. Besides, research was expended to OSAHS in children recently. Under the support of National Nature Science Foundation 7 PhD and 3 MS students have graduated. More than 60 papers were published domestically and abroad and two awards were received from the National Ministry of Education and Chinese Medical Association in the past 10 years. This paper is a review of the past and current situation of dental research on OSAHS in China.