A. Gavish et al., Cephalometric and polysomnographic analyses of functional magnetic system therapy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea, AM J ORTHOD, 120(2), 2001, pp. 169-177
Citations number
39
Categorie Soggetti
Dentistry/Oral Surgery & Medicine
Journal title
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHODONTICS AND DENTOFACIAL ORTHOPEDICS
The therapeutic effect of a functional magnetic system on obstructive sleep
apnea and the system's operating mechanism have not been examined. Two hyp
otheses are postulated: a functional magnetic system increases the size of
the oral cavity airway passage, or it increases the pharyngeal space. Twent
y-eight patients with mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea were examine
d; 10 patients (9 men and 1 woman; aged, 50.5 +/- 2.6 years) met the study
criteria. After baseline nocturnal polysomnography and daytime tiredness se
lf-evaluation, a functional magnetic system was inserted. The functional ma
gnetic system is a mandibular repositioning appliance that uses a pair of a
ttractive magnets (Sm2Co17), placed opposite each other in the jaws, which
results in an advancement-to-opening ratio of 1:2. After 8 weeks of functio
nal magnetic system treatment, polysomnography, daytime tiredness, and nigh
ttime snoring were evaluated, and cephalogram radiographs with and without
the appliance were taken. It was found that the respiratory disturbance ind
ex decreased significantly; minimal oxygen saturation increased significant
ly, reaching a normal value; day time tiredness improved; snoring declined;
the oral cavity anterior region increased significantly, and the pharyngea
l airway passages did not change. Reduction in the respiratory disturbance
index and enlargement of the anterior oral cavity area were highly and sign
ificantly correlated. In conclusion, the functional magnetic system is a re
liable mandibular repositioning appliance that has no apparent adverse effe
cts. A functional magnetic system operates by increasing the anterior regio
n of the oral cavity, mainly vertically, with no change in the posterior or
al cavity region and pharyngeal airway passages.