The two most common OSA symptoms are loud snoring and sleepiness during the day, but also headache, irritability, cognitive weakening and sexual impotence. Long term consequences related to OSA are hypertension and a higher incidence of myocardial infarction. In 1983 Dr. Peter T. George conceived and fabricated an orthodontic modified functional appliance for treatment of OSA and in the same year he treated his first patient who had been recommended a tracheotomy by his physician. The appliance modifications consisted of total occlusal coverage and clasps in both arches to prevent dental movement in any direction. Several appliances are now available to prevent and reduce snoring.
Many patients have an excess of soft tissue in the oro-pharyngeal region that obstructs the airway.
One of these devices has an acrylic button that distally extends itself until a point in the middle of the palate that lifts the tissue preventing vibration during airflow. Despite its effectiveness it is not widely accepted by patients because it triggers the gag reflex. This appliance was conceived for patients with chronic snoring and tongue pressure. The appliance has a palatal bar behind the superior incisive region, a resin plate and a thin acrylic foil of trapezoidal shape parallel to the plate and anchored anteriorly, while posteriorly it is free to move on a transversal elastic. With this appliance the propioceptive system causes a repositioning of the tongue behind the lingual bar, permitting free airway space.