Dental Device for Treatment of Sleep Apnea

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) will be included in this prospective controlled trial. OSA patients who are unable to tolerate CPAP or refuse CPAP(Continuous positive airway pressure) (and who are deemed appropriate by their attending physician for dental device treatment of OSA will be randomized to a control group (no MAD treatment) or to active MAD therapy. Epidemiologic studies suggest that OSA is associated with insulin resistance independent of other known risk factors such as obesity. The cyclic intermittent hypoxia in OSA is the primary stimulus that leads to insulin resistance, a primary risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes. There is an association between the level of hypoxic stress in OSA and insulin resistance. The overall hypothesis to be tested is that treatment of OSA with MAD will improve insulin sensitivity, increase levels of HMW (High-molecular- weight) adiponectin, and improve psychological adjustment.