Removable snore reduction appliances can help those with complete dentures

Nov. 25, 2009
Report details construction and successful use of a removable oral snore-reduction appliance in a female patient with no teeth in the lower jaw.

An oral snore-reduction appliance is typically thought to stay in place only if the patient has at least six to10 natural teeth; however, a case report in an issue of the Journal of Oral Implantology demonstrates that this belief may not always be accurate.

The report details the construction and successful use of a removable oral snore-reduction appliance in a female patient with no teeth in the lower jaw.

The focus of this case report was on mandibular protrusion. Two endosseous implants were surgically placed to retain the denture, as well as the removable snore reduction appliance.

When secured in a protrusive, but comfortable manner, a greater airway space was created. The patient and her husband reported more restful sleep.

The appliance was constructed by vacu-form, fitting the patient's upper natural teeth and lower denture to soft/hard dual-laminate appliance parts, which were then bonded together with cold-cure clear acrylic.

Along with mandibular protrusion, the study also details three other parameters that affect the success of snore reduction appliances--sleep position, severity of sleep apnea, and the body-mass index of the patient--with an emphasis on how sleep apnea is affected.

To read the article, "A Removable Snore Reduction Appliance for a Mandibular Edentulous Patient," visit snore reduction.

For more information about the journal or society, visit Journal of Oral Implantology.

To read more about sleep medicine, go to snore reduction.

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