Mandibular Advancement Splints, Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and Occlusal Derangement: A Case Report

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder affecting an estimated 1.5 million adults in the UK. The British Lung Foundation describes it as a sleep-related respiratory condition. During sleep, it results in repeated temporary breathing cessations owing to the narrowing or closure of the upper airway.¹

If left untreated, OSA is associated with serious morbidities, including metabolic disorders (for example, diabetes), cardiovascular disease (for example, hypertension or stroke), cognitive impairment and depression. It is also associated with decreased productivity and motor vehicle accidents, resulting in injury and fatality.² Symptoms of OSA include hypopnea (described as a period of shallow breathing) or apnoea (the complete cessation of breathing).³ Patients commonly present with a history of nocturia, morning headaches, excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue, increased irritability and memory loss.² Often, OSA is diagnosed and treated in specialist sleep clinics, usually after a patient presents to their general medical practitioner (GMP) with any of the above symptoms. Once referred, they may undergo an assessment of breathing and heart rate while they are asleep. These investigations aid in the diagnosis of sleep apnoea and can also highlight its severity.⁴