Tooth loss and obstructive sleep apnea signs and symptoms in the US population

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between tooth loss and signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in a representative sample of the general US population. Methods Data were from 7305 men and women aged ≥25 years participating in the 2005–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Tooth loss, occlusal contacts, and denture use were determined by dental examination. Four cardinal OSA signs and symptoms were evaluated by questions based on American Academy of Sleep Medicine criteria. Adults with ≥2 signs/symptoms of OSA were classified at high-risk of OSA. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95 % confidence limits (CL) from log binomial regression models estimated the strength of association between tooth loss and high-risk for OSA, adjusting for demographic characteristics, body mass index, dentures, and sleep duration. Results Prevalence of high-risk for OSA increased 2 % for each additional lost tooth (PR = 1.02, 95 % CL, 1.01, 1.03) among adults aged 25 to 65 years. When tooth loss was modeled as an ordinal variable with 0–4 lost teeth as the referent category, adjusted prevalence of high-risk for OSA was as follows: 25 % greater in those missing 5–8 teeth (PR = 1.25, 95 % CL, 1.07, 1.46); 36 % greater in those missing 9–31 teeth (PR = 1.36, 95 % CL, 1.06, 1.73); and 61 % greater in the edentulous (PR = 1.61, 95 % CL, 1.11, 2.33). Conclusion Tooth loss may be an independent risk factor for OSA.

The face of Dental Sleep Medicine in the 21st century

“…As individuals age, there are several health issues that occur, such as an increase in the incidence of OSA, periodontal disease, diabetes and teeth loss. It has been proposed that when individuals are young, if there is a complete loss of teeth, this can be a promoter of OSA, while in older people, the use of dentures during sleep could positively affect the severity of OSA, serving as a treatment for some, but not all individuals 78,79 . Gerodontologists thus have an important role in the assessment of these patients, and may help screening and even treating OSA in selected cases.…”

Sleep duration and remaining teeth among older people

“…[11] It is closely linked with retraction of the tongue root [12] or resting tongue position. [13][14][15] Loss of dental occlusion is known to cause protrusion of jaw position, which leads to retraction of the tongue root, while being edentulous (having no teeth) contributes to the resting tongue position. Therefore, we hypothesised that the number of teeth, especially fewer teeth, may be associated with sleep disturbance.…”

The association between diabetes mellitus, sugar-sweetened beverages, and tooth loss in adults

“…Previous researchers have implicated missing teeth with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, all-cause mortality, 7 and metabolic syndrome. 8 Tooth loss has been associated with signs of sleep apnea, 9 swallowing difficulty in older adults, 10 and neurodegenerative symptoms. 11 Additionally, tooth loss can affect the quality of life.…”