Evaluation of facial soft tissues by stereophotogrammetry method in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea: a morphological study

Background: We aimed to use the “SomnoMed MAS” device, which brings the mandible forward in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome patients due to mandibular retrognathia, and to examine its effects on facial soft tissues by stereophotogrammetry (3dMD) method. Materials and methods: Thirty-one patients with a mean age of 44 years and 6 months were included in the study. SomnoMed MAS, one of the splint appliances that position the mandible in front, was applied to all patients and the changes in facial soft tissues were examined by overlapping the images taken at different times with the 3dMD face system. The obtained data were analysed statistically and the level of statistical significance was determined as p ≤ 0.05. Results: Mouth width decreased statistically during T0–T1 period. In T0–T2 period, while crista philtri and labiale inferius points moved backwards, Mouth width, nose width decreased and nasal base width increased. In the T0–T3 period, nasal base width increased statistically, the philtrum width and the mouth width decreased, and the soft tissue nasion point came to the fore. Conclusions: Splint treatment, which positions the mandible in front in adult obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome patients, affected the middle and lower facial soft tissues with the forward and downward translational movement of the lower jaw