Preferences and experiences regarding the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with mandibular advancement splints - a cross-sectional pilot survey

ABSTRACT

Objective

To obtain a current overview of the use of mandibular advancement splints (MAS) as a therapeutic option for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the dental profession in Northern Germany.

Methods

A questionnaire was mailed to 2431 dental professionals, and 8.3% responded. Descriptive data analysis was performed on each question separately.

Results

Most of the surveyed dentists (51.7%) estimated the success rate of MAS therapy to be higher than 75%. Analysis of the relationship between the number of splints prescribed annually and the dental specialization (p = 0.22), work experience (p = 0.14), estimated success rate of MAS therapy (p = 0.96), and discontinuation of MAS therapy (p = 0.57) revealed no significant correlations.

Conclusion

Mandibular advancement splints seem to be a safe and successful therapy for OSA. There seems to be a lack of information on the patient side and a lack of education on the dentist side.

KEYWORDS:

• Obstructive sleep apnea
• mandibular advancement splints
• mandibular protrusion
• dental treatment

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank every dentist who participated in this study and the federal state dental board (Zahnärztekammer Schleswig-Holstein) that helped to distribute the survey link among its members.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.