The effect of occlusal splints on sleep and respiratory variables in OSA patients.

Gagnon et al (2004) investigated the possibility that an occlusal splint would
change the airway patency in obstructive sleep apnoea ( OSA ) patients during
sleep. The authors hypothesized that the use of an oral splint may aggravate
the respiratory disturbance in OSA patients. They concluded that the use of an
occlusal splint in OSA patients is associated with a risk of aggraviation of
respiratory disturbances.
Obstructive sleep apnoea patients have a higher risk to develop cardiovascular
diseases and to pass away because of a heart attack. Many blood factors are
considered to be related with the OSA condition, such as *serum matrix
metalloprotease-8* (MMP-8) , *C-reactive proteine* (CRP) en *pro-brain
natriuretic peptide* (Pro-BNP).

To what extend should a possible worsening of the OSA condition, caused by an
increase of mouth opening and partial palatinal coverage, be taken into
consideration in daily dental practice, when an occlusal splint is placed in
the mouth.
Amendement: It will be investigated whether there is a connection between
several blood factors and the severity of the OSA condition as well as with the
wearing of a splint or a MAD (snoring device).

Cross- over RCT design study.

Occlusal splint for the upper jaw.

The patients need to spend time for this research. They will need to come to
ACTA 3 times . They also need to sleep with the ambulatory equipment 6 times at
home. Before each night, the mounting of the equipment and blood sample
collection takes 2 hours.
Blood collection will take place 4 times during the study. (10 ml each time
that will be divided in 4 portions of 2,5 ml) The primair care of the blood
samples will be done in Slotervaart Medical Center and the analysis will be
done in Helsinki, Finland.

The whole time that the patient need to spend 14 hours.