The development and clinical application of novel connectors for oral appliance.

PURPOSE: Currently, over 40 different types of oral appliances (OA) are available to dentists to treat sleep disordered breathing. OA can be classified by mode of action or design. One of the major categories is tongue retaining device; the other is a mandibular advancement device (MAD). Each device, however, has its own particular drawbacks, the most common revolving around cost or inherent difficulties in the production process.In this present report, we will introduce a "movable" OA which does not disturb the physiologic function. This approach utilizes novel connectors that are both low in cost and involve a straightforward production procedure.

METHODS: Our device is categorized as a MAD. The design of the appliance followed that of the cap clasp, and the undercut was set at 0.25 mm. The polyester sheet was pressed to casts via a pressure molding machine, and cut along the design line mentioned above. In our device, we converted a Co-Cr wire as a connector for the OA. From this we developed and applied 2 new connectors for the clinical setting that were low in cost and allowed for mandible movement. These are lingual-side and labial-side types. In this present study the rate of success was 75.5%; with a good response classified as an AHI with less than 5 events/h, or a 50% decrease in their pre-treatment AHI. The efficacy of our OA was equal to previous studies.

CONCLUSION: In this present report, we could propose inexpensive novel connectors which do not disturb the physiologic function.