Background. Although maxillomandibular advancement, or MMA, surgery is highly successful, the indications for and staging of MMA in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, or OSAS, have not been settled upon.
Types of Studies Reviewed. The author presents a retrospective review of several published case series with inclusion criteria of 20 or more patients who underwent MMA and received documented preoperative and postoperative diagnostic polysomnography. Protocols of MMA as a primary vs. secondary operation, with and without adjunctive procedures in a site-specific approach, are compared and discussed.
Results. As an extrapharyngeal operation that enlarges and stabilizes the entire velo-orohypopharyngeal airway, MMA, which can be safely combined with adjunctive non-pharyngeal procedures, may circumvent the staging dilemmas associated with multiple, less successful, segmental, invasive, pharyngeal procedures. In accordance with current goals and guidelines governing OSAS surgery, MMA does not need to be limited to severe OSAS cases as a last resort after other procedures have failed but, rather, is also indicated as an initial operation for (velo-oro)hypopharyngeal narrowing.
Conclusions. MMA is a highly successful and potentially definitive primary single-staged surgery that may result in a significant reduction in OSAS-related health risks, as well as financial savings for the health care system.
Clinical Implications. The diagnosis and management of OSAS requires a multi-disciplinary team approach, including a working relationship between the dentist and sleep physician. General dentists and dental specialists who participate in the management of snoring and OSAS cases should have some knowledge of basic sleep medicine.
