Comparison of titratable oral appliance and mandibular advancement splint in the treatment of patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Objective. To compare the effect of two intraoral devices (titratable oral appliance-Klearway (KW) and mandibular advancement splint (MAS)) in mild and moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. Method and Materials. The study group was comprised of twenty-four adult volunteer patients with OSA. Twelve subjects were fitted with a titratable oral appliance (group KW) protruding the mandible (85% of maximum protrusion). The other 12 subjects received MAS with 75% protrusion of the mandible (group MAS). Baseline, ("0.PSG"), first week (K1.PSG for KW group and M1.PSG for MAS group), and after the first month (K2.PSG for KW group and M2'. PSG for MAS group). Results. Both groups produced similar reduction in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) from baseline till the end of the first week and first month (P < .05). However, the success rate of both groups at the end of the first month was found to be statistically different from the success rate of the first week (P < .05). The reduction in mean AHI of group KW-moderate (KW-mo) was significantly different from the mean AHI of group MAS-moderate (MAS-mo) at the end of the first month (P < .05). Conclusion. This study suggests that Klearway appliance was more effective in treating moderate OSA patients than MAS appliance. It was concluded that an appliance that provides 85% mandibular advancement to open the upper airway was more effective in reducing the number of high apneic events during sleep in comparison to the one which provides 75%.