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Does surgically assisted maxillary expansion improve obstructive sleep apnoea in adults? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Evidence-Based Dentistry (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of maxillary expansion on adults with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).

Methods Electronic searches up to July 2021 in eight electronic databases were conducted. Study selection, data extraction, risk of bias evaluation using ROBINS-I, quality of evidence assessment using GRADE and meta-analyses were performed.

Results The electronic searches yielded 1,007 studies. Following the application of the eligibility criteria, 15 articles were fully read and five studies were included. The studies evaluated the effects of surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion in adults with OSA. The meta-analysis demonstrated an improvement in Apnoea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) (MD = -9.91, CI = -14.57 to -5.25), Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI) (MD = -7.95, CI = -12.23 to -3.67), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) (MD = -4.40, CI = -6.39 to -2.40). ROBINS-I indicated serious, no information and critical risk of bias for the included studies. The quality of the evidence was very low.

Conclusion The findings herein suggest that maxillary expansion could improve OSA in adults in the short term.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dentistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Lívia Torquato Oliveira, Giordani Santos Silveira, Vânia Eloisa de Araújo & Dauro Douglas Oliveira

  2. Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Lucas Guimarães Abreu

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  1. Lívia Torquato Oliveira
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Contributions

LTO, LGA, and DDO designed the study and guided the protocol development. LTO, GSS, and LGA selected the studies and extracted data of the included articles. LTO and GSS assessed the risk of bias of included articles. LGA analysed the data. LTO, LGA, and GSS drafted the original version of the manuscript. VEA and DDO critically revised the manuscript. LTO, LGA, GSS, VEA, and DDO revised and approved the final version of the article.

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Correspondence to Giordani Santos Silveira.

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Oliveira, L., Abreu, L., Silveira, G. et al. Does surgically assisted maxillary expansion improve obstructive sleep apnoea in adults? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Evid Based Dent (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41432-022-0829-7

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