Eri Makihara

Assessment of oral appliance for obstructive sleep apnea patients

Although oral appliances (OAs) have become widely used for the management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), side effects of OAs are generally related to poor utilization. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate relationship between utilization and treatment efficacy of a boil‐and‐bite appliance for OSA patients. A total of 135 patients with OSA who had used an OAs were mailed a questionnaire to determine whether they were currently using the OA. If so, they were asked about OA use, improvement of signs and subjective symptoms, and utilization. Otherwise, they were asked to indicate why and when they quit using the OA. Results of overnight polysomnography (PSG) before and after treatment were reviewed. Of the 48 responding patients, 33 patients were currently using the OA. The most common complication was excessive salivation (n = 11). All indices from PSG excluding arousal index were significantly improved after treatment (p < 0.05). Thirty patients showed improved signs and subjective symptoms. Eight out of 12 subjects (66.7%) were successfully treated, achieving an apnea‐hypopnea index (AHI) < 10/h and >50% reduction in apnea‐hypopnea index. Of the 15 patients no longer using the OA, the primary reason for quitting was “no treatment effect” (n = 5). No indices from PSG recording differed between before and after treatment in the not‐using group. These results suggest that both subjective and objective signs and symptoms improved with use of the OA in the using group. However, no signs and subjective symptoms or indices of sleep quality differed between before and after treatment in the not‐using group. Device improvements are needed to achieve better treatment efficacy, and thus improve compliance. The present study evaluated relationship between utilization and treatment efficacy of a boil ‐and bite appliance for OSA patients. Device improvements are needed to achieve better treatment efficacy, thus improve compliance.

Evaluation of Tongue Movement Function and the Effect of Tongue Movement Exercise

The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in tongue movement function between young and elderly subjects . We developed a tongue −movement measuring device and which was used with 3 young subjects and 3 elderly subjects to measure the duratiQn of two types of tasks (anteroposterior and lateral movements ). In bQth movements , the duration measured for elderly subjects pro▽ed to be longer than that for young subjects . In both groups , the duration Df the first trial of each task was longer than that of the second or the third triaL These results suggested that tongue movement functionality for elderly subjects was lQwer than that for young subjects , and tongue movement function was improved by repeating the sarne task, Key words : Tongue movement function/Elderly/Movernent exercise 工工 一leotronio ibra y Kyushu Dental Society NII-Electronic Library Service yushu ental o iety 一 154 一 九州歯会誌 第 60巻第 6号 20G7 抄 録 高齢化社会 お い て 摂食 ・嚥 F障害 へ の 対応 は重要な課題 で あ る.今 回,舌運動機能を 評価 する方法 と して 舌運動機能測定器を試作 し , 検査 者が指示 した タ ス ク (左右運動お よび前後運動)を各被験者 に 行わせ ,こ れ に要す る時間に っ い て 若年者群 お よび高齢者群問で 比較す る こ と に よ り,両者間 にお け る 舌運動機能 の 相違 に っ い て 評価 した.また,同一 タ ス クを繰 り返 す こ とに よ る学習効果 に つ い て も両群 間 の 比較を行 っ た と こ ろ,呈示 した舌運 動に 要す る平均時間 は高齢者群が若年者群 よ りも長 く, 同 一 運 動を繰 り返す こ と に よ り , 各被験者 に学習効果 が認 め られ,各 タ ス ク の 所用時間が 短縮 さ れ る こ とが わ か っ た. キ ー ワ ー ド: 琶運 動機能/高齢者/学習効果