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Improving Sleep Quality During Pregnancy Using an Oral Appliance

Oral Appliance Therapy for Improving Sleep Quality During Pregnancy: A Controlled Clinical Trial

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03646214
Acronym
PREGNCCT
Enrollment
20
Registered
2018-08-24
Start date
2018-02-01
Completion date
2026-07-30
Last updated
2025-10-07

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Sleep Fragmentation, Snoring

Brief summary

Many pregnant women suffer from poor sleep quality and snoring. Evidence shows an increasing association between (1) sleep disordered breathing and (2) maternal cardiovascular disease and in-hospital death. Snoring is a variant of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and OSA during pregnancy is associated with higher risks for cesarean delivery, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and preterm delivery. It may also impact fetal outcomes negatively. The purpose of this study is to determine whether sleep quality can be improved in pregnant women who snore by means of an oral appliance that opens the airway. Sleep quality is evaluated objectively using an un-intrusive home sleep test system.

Detailed description

As many as 20 percent of women suffer from snoring and poor sleep quality while pregnant. The purpose of this study is to determine whether sleep can be improved in pregnant women who snore by means of a midline traction oral appliance (OA) that opens the airway. This is an interventional study to objectively evaluate OA therapy on breathing during sleep as well as its effect on sleep quality. Pregnant women from all trimesters will be recruited. Each subject is expected to participate in the study for at least five (5) consecutive weeks. Home sleep recordings will be collected at three time points: T0 - Baseline prior to OA use for two consecutive nights; T1- first two consecutive nights wearing the OA; T2 - for two consecutive nights after 4 weeks of appliance use. In addition to the sleep studies performed at each of these time points, subjects will also complete several brief surveys. All participants will be given the opportunity to use their OAs after the 4 week period, and have their sleep recorded at 8 week intervals through the remainder of their pregnancies. Participants will get to keep and use their OAs after the study. Pregnant women who snore (or otherwise have poor sleep), may qualify to participate in this study. Those who do not want to wear an oral appliance, but are interested in learning about sleep quality while pregnant, may also qualify to participate as a control subject.

Interventions

DEVICEMidline traction oral appliance

Device positions the mandible forward to open airway; device can be titrated to gradually advance the mandible.

Sponsors

Texas A&M University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Outcomes assessor reading the sleep studies will have the treatment arm masked.

Intervention model description

Controlled clinical trial

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Pregnant adults who snore * At least 8 teeth per arch * Mallampati score from I to II * Palatine tonsils grade 0,1 or 2 * Capable of giving verbal and written informed consent * Able to apply the sleep recorder and the oral appliance.

Exclusion criteria

* Pregnant \> 32 weeks * Uncontrolled serious health issues * Cardiovascular or cardiac rhythm disorders * Pharmacological dependency * Concomitant use of hypnotic agents or other sleep aids, nicotine or alcohol * Ongoing temporomandibular joint disorders * Loose teeth or periodontal disease * History of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Ratio of stable to unstable sleep from CPCTwo nights of sleep recordings at each of 3 time point over 5 weeks.Ratio of stable to unstable sleep based on cardiopulmonary coupling analysis.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of snores per hour of sleepAt each of 3 time points over 5 weeksNumber of snores and snore index (#snores/hour of sleep)
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)At baseline and after 5 weeksSelf reported measures concerning sleep over a 1-month period; overall score ranging from 0 to 21; Scores \>7 suggests poor sleep quality.
Insomnia Sleep Questionnaire (ISQ)At baseline and after 5 weeksA screening tool used to guide in the clinical evaluation of insomnia; Scores 3, 4 or 5 to two or more items suggests significant daytime impairment and further evaluation of insomnia.
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)At baseline and after 5 weeksUsed to provide an indication of depression, and as a guide to evaluate recovery; Higher scores = depression severity. Score \>20 suggests depression severity.
Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS)At baseline and after 5 weeks9-item scale which measures the severity of fatigue and its effect on a person's activities; and lifestyle. Higher scores = greater fatigue severity. Minimum score = 9; Maximum score = 63.

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactZohre German, MS
german@tamhsc.edu214-828-8291

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026