Dental arch morphology as a predictor of sleep disordered breathing

Abstract

Objective: There is limited data available regarding dental arch morphology and its association with Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB). The objective of the study was to compare the dental arch morphology of patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea-Hypopnoea Syndrome (OSAHS) and of those without any symptoms of SDB. Patients/Methods: A total of 600 subjects were included in the study and were divided into two groups of 300 subjects each (390 men and 210 women); Group 1: Patient group; Group 2: Control group. The test and control subjects were well matched for age and gender. A comparative cross-sectional study design was employed and specifc measurements were made on dental study models with digital calipers to ensure precise and accurate measurement of anatomic distances. Results: Analyses were able to detect statistically signifcant changes (P<0.05) in maxillary and mandibular dental arch and alveolar width dimensions. The prevalence of recorded malocclusions in the OSA group in terms of molar/canine relation was also high, with most of the test subjects having an Angle's Class II malocclusion. Conclusions: Indian adults with OSA have a dental arch morphology, which is different from that of normal subjects, of similar age and gender. It is necessary to give due consideration to the evaluation of the dental arch morphology of patients with SDB before the appropriate treatment is offered.