Investigation of antomical characteristics of upper airway of obstructive sleep apnea patients and healthy adults and evaluation of the effects of a mandibular repositioner on anatomical characteristics and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

TEZ KONUSU : Investigation of Anatomical Characteristics of Upper Airway ofObstructive Sleep Apnea Patients and Healthy Adults and Evaluation of theEffects of a Mandibular Repositioner on Anatomical Characteristics andObstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.ÖĞRENCİNİN ADI ve SOYADI : Dr. Nesrin ÖZGÜRTEZ DANIŞMANININ ADI ve SOYADI : Prof. Dr. T. Cihan AKÇABOYANABİLİM DALI : Protetik Diş Tedavisi ADYILI : 2007STATÜSÜ : DoktoraSUMMARYSleep-Related Breathing Disorders are important healthproblem in public. Obstructive Sleep Apnea made up the majority ofthese disorders. In the study, the upper air way anatomy of OSASpatients and healthy adults were evaluated cephalometrically and thedifferences were investigated. The effects of the mandibulerrepositioner on the upper air way anatomy and efficiency on theOSAS treatment were investigated. As a conclusion of the study, themandibuler repositioner appliance was found to decrease the AHIand AI values and was also beneficial as a treatment choice in theOSAS patients as 77.8 %. Although the effect of the mandibulerrepositioner on the upper air way anatomy of OSAS patients andhealthy adults was found to be sufficient, the correlation betweenthem was not clearly established.Key words: Apnea, Intraoral device, Cephalometry