From the Guidelines
Yes, people with dentures can be fitted for an oral appliance, though there are important considerations. Dentists can create custom oral appliances designed to work with complete or partial dentures. For those with complete dentures, the appliance may need to be designed to hold the dentures in place during sleep, as traditional oral appliances might dislodge them.
Key Considerations
- For partial denture wearers, the appliance can be designed to attach to remaining natural teeth.
- The process typically involves removing dentures during the initial examination, taking impressions of the mouth with and without dentures, and creating a device that accommodates both the oral structure and the dentures.
- This approach is particularly important for sleep apnea patients who wear dentures, as the appliance needs to maintain an open airway while ensuring denture stability.
- Success depends on the condition of the oral tissues, bone structure, and the fit of existing dentures, so a thorough evaluation by a dentist experienced with both dentures and oral appliances is essential, as suggested by 1.
Important Factors
- A custom, titratable appliance is recommended over non-custom oral devices, as stated in 1.
- Qualified dentists should provide oversight of oral appliance therapy to survey for dental-related side effects or occlusal changes and reduce their incidence, as recommended in 1.
- Follow-up sleep testing is suggested to improve or confirm treatment efficacy, as indicated in 1.
From the Research
Oral Appliance Therapy for Denture Wearers
- People with dentures can be fitted for an oral appliance, but it may require special consideration and customization 2.
- Studies have shown that oral appliance therapy, including implant-retained mandibular advancement devices (MADs), can be successful in selected cases of edentulous patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) 2.
- The effectiveness of oral appliance therapy for OSA has been demonstrated in various studies, with mandibular advancement devices improving the Apnea Hypopnea Index and symptoms in 92% of subjects 3.
Considerations for Denture Wearers
- Denture wearers may require regular oral examinations to manage potential issues such as denture stomatitis, poor fit, and poor hygiene 4.
- The maintenance of denture prostheses is important for the health of patients and to maintain an esthetic, odor-free appliance 5.
- Specialized cleaning strategies, such as using household bleach or vinegar, or commercial effervescent products, may be necessary to effectively clean and disinfect dentures 5.
Limitations and Future Directions
- There is a need for further clinical studies to improve the management of edentulous OSA patients, as current treatment options are limited 2.
- The integration of biosensors for diagnosis and follow-up may be a future direction for oral appliance therapy 3.
- More research is needed to fully understand the impact of oral appliance therapy on denture wearers and to develop effective treatment strategies 2, 3.