Preferences and experiences regarding the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with mandibular advancement splints-a cross-sectional pilot survey

Objective To obtain a current overview of the use of mandibular advancement splints (MAS) as a therapeutic option for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the dental profession in Northern Germany. Methods A questionnaire was mailed to 2431 dental professionals, and 8.3% responded. Descriptive data analysis was performed on each question separately. Results Most of the surveyed dentists (51.7%) estimated the success rate of MAS therapy to be higher than 75%. Analysis of the relationship between the number of splints prescribed annually and the dental specialization (p = 0.22), work experience (p = 0.14), estimated success rate of MAS therapy (p = 0.96), and discontinuation of MAS therapy (p = 0.57) revealed no significant correlations. Conclusion Mandibular advancement splints seem to be a safe and successful therapy for OSA. There seems to be a lack of information on the patient side and a lack of education on the dentist side.