The role of oral appliance therapy in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea

Oral appliances are an established treatment option for simple snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Recently published, randomized controlled clinical trials have shown them to be an effective treatment option in many patients, and some studies have suggested a reasonable level of effectiveness in more severe OSA. Oral appliances are appealing because they are simple to use, reversible, and portable and generally have a low complication rate. This article reviews available types of oral appliances, their mechanism of action, and the evidence for using oral appliance therapy. The role of the physician and dentist is discussed. The article also reviews the side effects and complications of appliance therapy and the evidence about predictors of outcome of treatment.