Short-term change in occlusal function after using mandibular advancement appliance for snoring: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Dental Sleep Medicine
• Occlusal Function Analysis
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Snoring is a common issue often managed with mandibular advance appliances (MAAs).
• Different MAA designs may impact occlusal function and patient comfort differently.
• Understanding these effects is crucial for optimizing treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effects of one-piece and two-piece MAAs on occlusal contact area (OCA), maximum bite force (MBF), center of occlusal load (COL), and tooth pain.
• To evaluate the duration of these effects after nocturnal MAA use.
• To determine which MAA design offers a better side effect profile.

Main Methods:

• Ten adult volunteers with mild snoring participated.
• Occlusal function (OCA, MBF, COL) and tooth pain (VAS) were measured at baseline and at intervals up to 120 minutes after MAA removal.
• Data were collected immediately, and 5, 15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes post-appliance removal.

Main Results:

• The two-piece MAA resulted in significantly larger OCA and MBF compared to the one-piece MAA at 5 minutes post-removal.
• The negative impact on COL and VAS pain scores resolved more quickly with the two-piece MAA.
• No significant differences were observed in the long-term effects between the two designs.

Conclusions:

• The two-piece MAA appears to be superior to the one-piece MAA regarding immediate side effects on occlusal function.
• The findings suggest that MAA design can influence the degree and duration of occlusal side effects.
• Further research with larger sample sizes may be warranted to confirm these findings.