• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.283-292
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• 2007

In several treatment modalities for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), oral appliances mainly including mandibular advancement appliance (MAA) and tongue retaining device (TRD) are recognized as a non-invasive, reversible alternative with favorable results. Tongue bulb is a major component of TRD which prevents the tongue from approaching the posterior wall of the pharynx and can be combined with MAA. Determination of tongue bulb size for the patient is important for therapeutic effect, but frequently needs time-consuming work. For effective fabrication and standardization of tongue bulbs, this study aimed to categorize tongue bulb size for healthy young men and to examine its relation with maximum retention force and with physical parameters including tongue-related variables. 36 non-snoring, asymptomatic young men with normal occlusion were voluntarily participated in this study (mean age: $24.47{\pm}2.58$ years). Experimental procedures consisted of prefabrication of tongue bulb set (20 types with a width of 27-36mm and thickness of 8 and 10 mm), determination of tongue bulb size and the maximum retention force for each subject, and measurement of physical parameters including body mass index (BMI), neck circumference and width, thickness and length of tongue. This study showed that there was significant difference of retention force among the bulb size-related groups both in upright and supine position (p<0.05) and that retention force increased with bulb size. Correlation of tongue bulb size with physical parameters was not clearly verified and there was no significant difference in retention force between upright and supine positions. Based on our results, it can be suggested that retention force relates with tongue bulb size, ultimately with tongue volume. A further study needs to be performed in the patients with snoring and OSA.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.35-45
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• 2014

Many therapeutic modalities including continuous positive airway pressure, surgery, and oral appliances are used to treat patients with sleep-disordered breathing. However, there are no definitive treatment modalities for individual patients due to various causes of sleep-disordered breathing. Clinicians should have select best options for individual patients and it is quite challenging process. Oral appliances attracted clinical attention for its convenience and safety. Several designs of oral appliances are introduces such as soft palate lifter, tongue retaining device, and various appliances which aimed to mandibular advancement. Among these oral appliances, mandibular advancement devices (MADs) are considered the most excellent based on their effectiveness and patient tolerance. Although MADs are not guarantee dramatic outcome and less consistent than continuous positive airway pressure, they offer several advantages over continuous positive airway pressure and surgical methods, including non-invasiveness, silence, portability, and tolerability, simplicity. Therefore, general dental practitioner who had passed sleep dental curriculum or coursework can treat the patients with sleep problems. This article reviews the history, clinical indications, suggested mechanism of actions, various positive effects and several side effects, factors predicting a favorable outcome, determining amounts of mandibular advancement, compliance and long-term efficacy of MADs use.