PMC

Individual visual analog scores indicating snoring before and during tongue-retaining device (TRD) use (n = 39). The figure shows a significant decrease in the intensity of snoring with the TRD (68%, p < 0.0001).

The tongue-retaining device. Tongue protraction is achieved due to the design of the device, which results in a slight negative pressure in the lingual compartment of the device, following the displacement of air once the tongue is placed in this compartment.

Side effects reported by users and nonusers. Two or more side effects were reported in 11 patients from each group. These side effects were not listed by nonusers as a reason for stopping use of the tongue-retaining device (TRD). * = p < 0.05 for discomfort in users vs nonusers.

Evolution of the number of users and nonusers over time, and principal cause of treatment failure (first of 2 possible answers). The term Other groups dryness, esthetic reasons, and unjustified cases (n = 2). No withdrawals were recorded after 36 months. Among the 18 patients who discontinued use within the first 6 months, 8 stopped within the first month.

Objective assessment of the tongue-retaining device (TRD) by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) (n = 55). The diagonal represents an absence of modification of the AHI, points below show a decrease in the AHI, and points above an increase in the AHI with TRD. The dotted line indicates an AHI of 10, ie, a complete response (47% of the cases). The 2 patients in whom the AHI was worse with TRD (empty circles) were users until the post-TRD polysomnogram was carried out. Following the polysomnography results, which indicated an obvious deleterious effect of the device, treatment was stopped.