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CBCT assessment of upper airway changes and treatment outcomes of obstructive sleep apnoea: a systematic review

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to review studies using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to assess dimensional changes in the upper airway after appliance or surgical therapy in subjects with obstructive sleep apnoea and to correlate CBCT findings with treatment outcome.

Method

Several electronic databases were searched. Studies that met selection criteria were evaluated using a customized evaluation tool.

Results

Study parameters were met in seven articles. Fifty adults were assessed using CBCT 1.6–10 months after appliance therapy or maxillary mandibular advancement surgery with or without genial tubercle advancement. Airway parameters measured were linear, cross-sectional (CS) area, volume or airway function. In only two validated surgical case reports, airway volume increased by 6.5–9.7 cm3 (>80 %) and minimum CS area by 0.1–1.2 cm2 (21 and 269 %).

Conclusion

The available published studies show evidence of CBCT measured anatomic airway changes with surgery and dental appliance treatment for OSA. There is insufficient literature pertaining to the use of CBCT to assess treatment outcomes to reach a conclusion. High-quality evidence level studies, with statistically appropriate sample sizes and cross validated clinically, are needed to determine if CBCT airway dimensional changes are suitable for assessment of treatment outcome.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Statement of clinical relevance

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) has recently gained interest in the dental specialty. This systematic review will shed some light on the potentiality of CBCT to quantitatively and/or qualitatively assess the upper airway after treatment (appliance or surgical) of OSA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Noura A. Alsufyani, Mohammed A. Q. Al-Saleh & Paul W. Major

  2. Department of Dentistry, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 5th floor, 11405-87 AVE NW, Edmonton, T6G 1C9, AB, Canada

    Noura A. Alsufyani

Authors
  1. Noura A. Alsufyani
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  2. Mohammed A. Q. Al-Saleh
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  3. Paul W. Major
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Noura A. Alsufyani.

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Table 6 Electronic database search
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Alsufyani, N.A., Al-Saleh, M.A.Q. & Major, P.W. CBCT assessment of upper airway changes and treatment outcomes of obstructive sleep apnoea: a systematic review. Sleep Breath 17, 911–923 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-012-0799-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-012-0799-7

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