Effects of Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) on Airway Dimensions Assessed With Cone-Beam Computed Tomography

Upper airway constriction is an important contributing factor to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which may be treated in a palliative manner with mandibular advancement devices (MADs) to increase patency of the airway. It may be the treatment of choice for affected individuals who cannot use a continuous positive airway pressure device or who are not candidates for surgical correction of OSA. The specific distance applied during mandibular advancement, however, is often arbitrarily determined. This project uses cone beam computed tomography imaging in patients with OSA to determine a quantifiable relationship between airway patency and mandibular advancement. This correlation may be the basis to create an ideal technique to diagnose and treat patients having OSA. Twenty-six subjects successfully treated for OSA with a MAD received 2 cone beam computed tomography scans; 1 with and 1 without the MAD. Volumetric, cross-sectional, and cephalometric measurements were gathered from these scans. With the use of linear regression statistical analysis, specific predictor parameters have been identified for volumetric and cross-sectional airway information. An average oropharyngeal volume increase of approximately 2800 mm³ was achieved with MAD therapy.