Introduction: Based on a mail-out questionnaire, this study analyzed compliance and side effects of one commonly used (TheraSnore) boil and bite oral appliance (OA) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
Methods: The questionnaire was sent to 84 patients 6 months after the delivery of the OA.
Results: Fifty-eight percent (n = 47) of the patients returned the questionnaire. There was no significant difference in baseline data [age, body mass index (BMI), apnea-hypopnea index or the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)] between the returned and nonreturned questionnaires. Of the responding patients, 74.5% (n = 35) continued to use the appliance. Nonusers had a higher BMI and higher baseline ESS when compared with users. The majority (74.3%) of the users and 50.0% of the nonusers previously used a nasal continuous positive airway pressure machine. Some 82.9% of the users wore their OA more than 3 days a week. Of the nonusers, 77.8% stopped using the OA in the first 3 months, and the most frequent reason given was "uncomfortable." Many users complained about a dry mouth and/or excessive salivation and nonusers significantly complained more about ill-fitting appliances. Over 80% of the users experienced improvement in their snoring, daytime sleepiness, and apnea. More than 60% of the users were satisfied with OA therapy.
Conclusion: While this study demonstrated similar self-reported compliance as previous reports, there were different side effects from those reported for custom-made appliances. Difficulty in optimal fit is considered to be the main cause of the subsequent stopping of the use of the boil and bite appliance.