Dental Appliances for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Daniel Marciuc,
Stefan Morarasu,
Bianca Codrina Morarasu,
Emilia Adriana Marciuc,
Bogdan Ionut Dobrovat,
Veronica Pintiliciuc-Serban,
Roxana Mihaela Popescu,
Florinel Cosmin Bida,
Valentin Munteanu,
Danisia Haba
Affiliations
Daniel Marciuc
Surgery Department, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Stefan Morarasu
2nd Department of Surgical Oncology, Regional Institute of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Bianca Codrina Morarasu
Department of Internal Medicine and Toxicology, “Saint Spiridon” University Regional Emergency Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Emilia Adriana Marciuc
Department of Radiology, Emergency Hospital “Prof. Dr. Nicolae Oblu”, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Bogdan Ionut Dobrovat
Department of Radiology, Emergency Hospital “Prof. Dr. Nicolae Oblu”, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Veronica Pintiliciuc-Serban
Surgery Department, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Roxana Mihaela Popescu
Surgery Department, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Florinel Cosmin Bida
Department of Implantology, Removable Prostheses, Dental Prostheses Technology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Valentin Munteanu
Department of Intensive Care Unit, “Saint Mary” Emergency Children Hospital, 700309, Faculty of Medical Bioengineering, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Danisia Haba
Department of Radiology, Emergency Hospital “Prof. Dr. Nicolae Oblu”, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Background and objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children is a debilitating disease, difficult to treat. Dental appliances have been proposed as a valid therapy for improving functional outcomes with good compliance rates. Herein, we aimed to perform a meta-analysis comparing clinical outcomes between OSA children treated with dental appliances versus controls. Materials Methods: The study was registered with PROSPERO. A systematic search was performed for all comparative studies examining outcomes in pediatric patients who underwent treatment of OSA with oral appliances versus controls. Data was extracted and analyzed using a random effects model via Rev Man 5.3. Results: Six studies including 180 patients were analyzed split into two groups: patients treated with dental appliances (n = 123) and the controls (n = 119). Therapy with dental appliances was shown to significantly improve the apnea–hypopnea index (p = 0.009) and enlarge the superior posterior airway space (p = 0.02). Maxilla-to-mandible measurements were not significantly different between the two groups, nor was the mean SO2 (p = 0.80). Conclusions: This is the most updated meta-analysis assessing the role of dental appliances for OSA in children; it shows that such devices can improve functional outcomes by decreasing the apnea–hypopnea index.
