Quality of life of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome treated with an intraoral mandibular repositioner.

BACKGROUND Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a very important and prevalent disease, which is associated with a poor quality of life in many patients. Treatments for OSAS include surgery, Continuous Positive Air way Pressure, and an intraoral mandibular repositioner (IOMR), but the tendency of sleep centers is to emphasize the apnea index, neglecting quality of life as treatment outcome. OBJECTIVE To verify to what extent treatment with an IOMR improves the OSAS patient's quality of life. METHOD Eleven male patients aged 34 to 63 years (mean=49) with mild to moderate OSAS were evaluated using the Calgary SAQLI questionnaire applied before and four weeks after treatment with an IOMR. The mandibular repositioners were manufactured individually for each patient with acrylic polymer and equipped with a retentive device to maintain the mandible in a forward position during sleep. RESULTS Excellent improvement in the quality of life was observed in five patients (45.5%) and excellent improvement in symptoms in 10 (90.9%). CONCLUSION The systematic use of the IOMR indicates a clear improvement in the global quality of life as well as in the symptoms of patients with OSAS.