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Cooke ME, Battagel JM Eur J Orthod. 2006; 28: 327–338

Snoring is a common cause of social disharmony. Most snorers do not have obstructive sleep apnoea, which has a risk of complications. Various methods have been used to treat snoring, ranging from weight loss to surgery. Custom-made appliances are relatively inexpensive and some can be made at the chairside. In this study, 27 patients (23 completed the study) who had a diagnosis of non-apnoeic snoring with a tongue base contribution to it entered a randomized cross-over trial of wearing an appliance with (active position) and without (placebo) mandibular advancement. The 2 study periods were each of 4-6 weeks, separated by a 1 day washout.

Median snores with advancement reduced from 398 to 17 per hour. Oxygen saturation also improved. A 9 dimension quality of life questionnaire revealed no significant differences between not wearing an appliance and the 2 appliance positions. Bulk and dry mouth were the main drawbacks. However, partners reported improvements in their sleep quality and reductions in daytime tiredness. The authors point out that the appliance used has the advantage of being adjustable.