Maxillomandibular Advancement for Sleep Apnea Recognized as a New Health Technology

Professor Yang Byeongeun of Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital Applied
"Safety and Effectiveness Officially Proven for Patients Who Have Failed CPAP Therapy"

Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital announced on the 10th that the “maxillomandibular advancement (double-jaw advancement) for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea,” applied for by Professor Yang Byeongeun of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, has been approved as a new health technology by the National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency.

Yang Byeongeun, Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital. Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital

Maxillomandibular advancement is a surgical procedure that simultaneously advances the maxilla and mandible to physically widen the anatomical structures that block the airway during sleep. As the jawbone is moved, the tongue base and surrounding soft tissues are shifted forward, fundamentally improving airway obstruction. Unlike conventional soft-tissue surgeries that remove the uvula or palate, this procedure directly addresses the structural cause.

According to clinical studies conducted in Korea and abroad, maxillomandibular advancement has been reported to show the highest treatment outcomes among surgical options for obstructive sleep apnea. It restores the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) to the normal range in more than 90% of cases, and is therefore regarded as a procedure that goes beyond simple symptom relief and approaches a fundamental cure. Depending on the patient’s condition, modified maxillomandibular advancement or genioglossus advancement can be performed in combination.

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which repeated cessation of breathing during sleep lowers blood oxygen levels. It increases the risk of cardiocerebrovascular diseases such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, and stroke, and leads to chronic fatigue and cognitive decline.

This newly approved health technology is primarily intended for patients who have failed continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy or for whom CPAP is difficult to apply, for moderate to severe patients who have not responded to other surgical treatments, and for patients with a narrowed airway due to jawbone structural abnormalities.

Professor Yang said, “Unlike conventional double-jaw surgery performed for cosmetic improvement, maxillomandibular advancement is a functional surgery that treats sleep apnea by improving the airway structure,” adding, “Its recognition as a new health technology means that its safety and effectiveness have been officially verified within the institutional framework.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.