• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.270-278
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• 2019

Oral appliances therapy is becoming increasingly recognized as a successful treatment for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea(OSA). Compared with continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP), the gold standard therapy for OSA, oral appliance therapy are less efficacious for severe OSA but are more acceptable and tolerable for patients, which in turn, may lead to a comparable level of therapeutic effectiveness. Nevertheless, the various side effects of oral appliance therapy, such as, increased salivation or dryness, pain or discomfort in the teeth or gums, occlusal discomfort in the morning, temporomandibular disorders, dental and occlusal changes may cause discontinuation of treatment or changes in treatment plan. Therefore, oral appliance therapy should be provided by a qualified dentist who can evaluate oral tissues, occlusion, and temporomandibular joints, and prevent and manage the possible side effects.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.190-195
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• 2010

Oral appliance therapy is a simple, reversible way for improving snoring and/or obstructive sleep apnea. It may be indicated for the patients who are unable to tolerate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or who have potential risks for surgical intervention. Oral appliance therapy increases airway space by the providing stable anterior positioning of the mandible, pulling out tongue, lifting up soft palate, or changing the muscle activity of the genioglossus. Currently, more than 80 different types of oral appliances have been introduced for snoring and/or obstructive sleep apnea. They are classified by their characteristics such as mode of action, adjustability and material used. This article provides a detailed clinical protocol and treatment procedure for oral appliance therapy.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2021

Background: The options for stabilization appliance therapy for masticatory muscle pain include soft occlusal and hard stabilization appliances. A previous study suggested that hard stabilization appliance therapy was effective for patients with local myalgia who developed long facets on their occlusal appliances. The objective of this study was to identify patients in whom a soft occlusal appliance should be used to treat masticatory muscle pain by analyzing the type of muscle pain present and patient factors that influenced the effectiveness of this treatment. Methods: The study included 42 patients diagnosed with local myalgia or myofascial pain according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders Diagnostic Decision Tree. The analysis of patient factors included variables believed to be associated with temporomandibular disorders. First, a temporary screening appliance was used for 2 weeks to assess each patient for bruxism during sleep. Soft appliance therapy was then started. For each patient, the effectiveness of the appliance was evaluated according to the intensity of tenderness during muscle palpation and the treatment satisfaction score at one month after starting treatment. Results: Data from 37 of the 42 patients were available for analysis. Twenty-five patients reported satisfaction with the appliance. In logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio for reduction of facet length was 1.998. Nineteen patients showed at least a 30% improvement in the visual analog scale score. The odds ratio for local myalgia was 18.148. Conclusion: Soft appliance therapy may be used in patients with local myalgia. Moreover, patients who develop short facets on the appliance surface are likely to be satisfied with soft appliance therapy. Soft appliance therapy may be appropriate for patients with local myalgia who develop short facets on their occlusal appliance.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.84-87
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• 2021

Morsicatio buccarum is a condition caused by chronic cheek biting. It means frictional hyperkeratosis by repetitive cheek biting, which may be associated with obsessive compulsion. Clinically it presents as rough, shaggy, whitish, often peeling surface. We report a 9-year-old female patient who complained oral ulceration on both buccal mucosa. The initial diagnosis was oral candidiasis because of whitish plaques which were peeled off. Topical antifungal agent was ineffective and the symptom did not disappear. By incisional biopsy, she was diagnosed with morsicatio buccarum. A soft oral appliance was placed in the patient's oral cavity. Although morsicatio buccarum improved significantly when the appliance was used, the oral lesion had a tendency to recur, when the patient stopped using the appliance. In case of recurrence, cognitive behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder is needed for the fundamental treatment.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2013

Objective: All patients who have the disc displacement with reduction (DDwR) are always not progressive but some of them with significant catching or locking progress to disc displacement without reduction (DDw/oR). In this study, we suggest opening exercise therapy using Locking-free Appliance (LA) to be helpful to prevent progressive derangement. Methods: Retrospectively, a total 37 patients who received exercise treatment using LA was analyzed from January 2010 to December 2011. Patients had been instructed in proper exercise technique to practise for opening and closing of mouth wearing the appliance 30 times a day in locking-free position. Results: None of the patients took a turn for worse to DDw/oR (37 patients). The 16 patients (43.2%, locking-free group) of them could open their mouth without intermittent condylar locking. Measurement of data was analyzed using and Mann-Whitney test. There was no statistically significant difference for age, gender, presence of palpational pain, locking period, VAS quantitative pain score between locking-free group and locking group. Conclusions: In this study, some patients could open their mouth without intermittent locking and did not take a turn for worse to DDw/oR after opening exercise therapy with LA. Furthermore, LA had advantages which were short wearing time, low costs and minimizing patients' uncomfortable compared to conventional treatment method. This therapy can be more appropriate new treatment to prevent progress to DDw/oR.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.259-265
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• 2015

Recently, oral appliances for treating snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are widely used. Among various appliances, mandibular advancement devices are most effective without serious side effects. Advancement of mandible keep airway open and decrease snoring and/or obstructive apnea events. They can be used as stand-alone therapy or an adjunct to continuous positive air pressure for lowering air pressure. Oral appliances should be applied by dentists who have knowledges and experiences on occlusion and temporomandibular disorders and manage of side effects.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.247-251
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• 2000

Snoring, the sign of obstructive sleep apnea may cause medical problems and also a serious problem in human relationship. Some of the treatment methods for snoring patients are drug therapy, intraoral appliance, surgical operation, etc. This is a case report of a 48 years old female patient who continuously complained about snoring after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and a remarkable improvement of the symptom after the delivery of an oral appliance.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.97-107
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• 1996

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.54-60
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• 2016

Purpose: Mandibular advancement devices (MAD) are used effectively and widely for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and rapid-eye-movement (REM) dependency of the patients can affect the treatment outcome of OSA. The aim of this study was to compare treatment outcomes of MAD between REM-related and not-REM-related OSA patients. Methods: Fifty-six consecutive patients with OSA who received MAD therapy were evaluated using full night polysomnography before and after insertion of the MADs. The patients were divided into REM-related (REM apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] at least two times higher than their non-REM AHI) and not-REM-related (REM AHI less than two times higher than their non-REM AHI) OSA groups. Results: MAD is used for the treatment of OSA effectively. In respect of AHI, MAD therapy were effective both in REM-related OSA and not-REM-related OSA, but MAD therapy was more effective in not-REM-related OSA than REM-related OSA in overall sleep and non-REM sleep. $SpO_2$ saturations were improved after MAD therapy, but were not different between two groups. Epworth sleepiness scale scores were not improved after MAD therapy. Percentage of REM sleep was increased after MAD therapy but was not different between two groups. Conclusions: MAD therapy was more effective in not-REM-related OSA than REM-related OSA and REM dependency can be a predictive factor of treatment outcome of oral appliance for OSA patients.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.288-295
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• 2019

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is defined as a disturbed breathing during sleep caused by repetitive upper airway collapse. Complete collapse causes a cessation of breathing, known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and snoring can arise from partial collapse. Undiagnosed and untreated OSA means recurrent intermittent hypoxemia and leads to a variety of cardiovascular disorders, disturbed neurocognition, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Various behavioral modalities have been suggested for treating snoring and sleep apnea including changing the sleep position, avoiding alcohol, and weight loss. Until now continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is one of effective treatment for patients with OSA, but its discomfort causes less tolerance and compliance. Therefore, clinical effectiveness and convenience for oral appliance have emerged and the role of dentists has become more important in the management of OSA.