Patients' and sleeping partners' experience of treatment for sleep-related breathing disorders with a mandibular repositioning splint

Abstract

Aim: To determine in detail the complications associated with the use of mandibular repositioning splints (MRS) to treat sleep-related breathing disorders. Method: This prospective cross-sectional cohort study audits the management with mandibular repositioning splints of 121 patients suffering from sleep-related breathing disorders. Investigation of patients' and sleeping partners' perspectives on treatment was undertaken with the use of a questionnaire based study. Results: Sixty-eight per cent of respondents reported that they were compliant with treatment; various side effects were reported of which excess salivation was the most common. Investigation of sleeping partners' perspectives revealed that 70% felt that their partners' snoring was improved and 47% felt that their partner's breathing pauses during sleep were reduced. Sixty-four per cent of the sleeping partners also reported that their own sleep pattern had improved since their partner's treatment. Conclusion: Mandibular repositioning splints used in the manner described by this paper are demonstrated to have a good compliance rate, provide successful treatment and exhibit only minor, reversible side effects. © British Dental Journal 2006.