Maxillomandibular Expansion and Advancement for the Treatment of Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Children and Adults

Sleep-disordered breathing is a prevalent disorder characterized by repetitive episodes of upper-airway collapse and mechanical obstruction of airflow during sleep. An anatomically smaller pharyngeal airway, often the result of maxillomandibular hypoplasia, causes clinically significant airflow limitation and resultant nocturnal collapse. We discuss the therapeutic effects of rapid maxillary expansion, maxillomandibular expansion, mandibular (or maxillary) distraction osteogenesis, and maxillomandibular advancement for the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing in children and adults.