Effect Of Sleep Apnea Treatment On Temporo-Mandibular Disorders

Anna Alessandri Bonetti40 enrolled

Overview

Aims of this research are to detect if an improvement in sleep pattern in patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), produces a reduction in pain and dysfunction in the orofacial area by examining variation in temporo-mandibular disorder (TMD) signs and symptoms and if the prevalence of TMDs in OSA patients controlling this disease decreases to levels comparable to healthy subjects. 41 OSA patients will undergo a complete TMD examination prior to start any OSA treatment and after at least 18 months of therapy. Variations in TMD signs and symptoms will be recorded.

Since a bidirectional relationship has been suggested for poor sleep and pain and considering that patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been reported to present a higher prevalence of temporo-mandibular disorder (TMD) signs and symptoms compared to healthy controls; aims of this research are to detect if an improvement in sleep pattern in patients suffering from OSA, produces a reduction in pain and dysfunction in the orofacial area by examining variation in TMD signs and symptoms and if the prevalence of TMDs in OSA patients controlling this disease decreases to levels comparable to healthy subjects. 41 OSA patients will undergo a complete TMD examination prior to start any OSA treatment and after at least 18 months of therapy. Variations in TMD signs and symptoms will be recorded.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Sleep Apnea

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * patients suffering from OSA diagnosed by polysomnography not yet undergoing treatment Exclusion Criteria: * patients presenting some kind of cognitive impairment, due to difficulties in undergoing TMD examination * patients presenting dental problems * patients assuming medications that would alter pain perception * patients not signing the informed consent

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

variation in TMD prevalence according to diagnostic criteria for temporo-mandibular disorders

prevalence described as percentage of people having the disease

Time frame: change from baseline temporo-mandibular disorders at 18 months

Secondary Outcomes

change in TMD signs according to diagnostic criteria for temporo-mandibular disorder

reduction described as percentage of people resolving the disease

Time frame: change from baseline temporo-mandibular disorder signs at 18 months

change in TMD symptoms according to diagnostic criteria for temporo-mandibular disorder

reduction in pain described by patients through a numeric rating scale going from 0 to 10, were 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst immaginabile pain

Time frame: change from baseline temporo-mandibular disorder symptoms at 18 months