The role of oral myofunctional therapy in managing patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea

Introduction: Oral Myofunctional therapy could be considered as a new therapy for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), because of its direct action on oral motility. Aim of this work: to evaluate the effect of Oral Myofunctional therapy as a simple method for treatment of patients with mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). Materials and methods: 30 patients with mild to moderate OSAS were subjected to the following: 1-Thorough history taking with stress on symptoms of OSAS (snoring, fragmented sleep, witnessed apneas, morning headache and daytime sleepiness) and calculation of Epworth sleepiness scale.

Results: There was significant decrease of apnea hypopnea index (AHI), arousal index after myofunctional therapy as compared to before myofunctional therapy (p < 0.001 for all). Also there were significant decrease in desaturation parameters (desaturation index, average duration SaO2 < 90%, % total sleep time SaO2 < 90%) after myofunctional therapy (p < 0.001). Conclusion: myofunctional therapy can achieve subjective improvement in OSAS symptoms, as well as polysomonographic abnormalities in patients with mild to moderate OSAS and so can be considered as an alternative method of treatment.

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December 7, 2022