Journal of Sleep Disorders & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

A Novel Combined Protocol for the Resolution of Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Heit TC, Sebastian J and Singh GD

A 27-year-old woman was referred to our office for a dental assessment regarding temporomandibular joint pain. On initial screening, she was found to be at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea, and subsequently underwent polysomnography, which revealed an apnea-hypopnea index of 118 hr-1. Her condition was initially controlled with continuous positive airway pressure therapy, which she did not tolerate well. Therefore, treatment proceeded with biomimetic oral appliance therapy. After 10 months of combined continuous positive airway pressure therapy and biomimetic oral appliance therapy, the apnea-hypopnea index fell to 1 hr-1 and obstructive sleep apnea could not be observed with or without the appliances in situ. We conclude that combined continuous positive airway pressure therapy and biomimetic oral appliance therapy might represent a potential cure for severe cases of obstructive sleep apnea in certain patients.