Objective:This study aims to investigate the clinical effectiveness of muscle function training combined with occlusal inducers in the treatment for children's malocclusion after obstructive sleep apnea（OSA） surgery. Methods:A total of 40 pediatric patients who underwent surgery for OSA at Shanghai Children's Medical Center, affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, from January 2020 to December 2021 were involved in this study. They were divided into a treatment group（n=20） and a control group（n=20）. The treatment group received muscle function training combined with occlusal inducers, while the control group received muscle function training alone. Cephalometric measurements of hard tissues were compared between the two groups before and 12 months after surgery. Additionally, the OSA-18 questionnaire, which includes 18 items to assess the life quality of children with OSA, was filled out before surgery, 6 months after surgery, and 12 months after surgery by these patients. Results:①The scores of sleep disorders, physical symptoms, emotional status, daytime sleepiness and energy status and the degree of influence on guardians in the two groups were significantly improved at 12 months after operation（P<0.05）. The scores of sleep disorders, physical symptoms, emotional status and the degree of influence on guardians in the treatment group were better than those in the control group（P<0.05）. ②Cephalometric data at 12 months after operation showed that the upper and lower alveolar seat angle（ANB）, Overbite, upper and lower central incisor angle（U1-L1） and Overjet in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group at 12 months after operation, and the difference was statistically significant（P<0.05）. Conclusion:Children with OSA can improve the dentition irregularity by muscle function training combined with occlusal inducer after operation, and the effect is better than that of muscle function training alone.
Humans ; Child ; China ; Malocclusion ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/diagnosis* ; Treatment Outcome ; Muscles