Orofacial Sensory Complaints in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Objectives: The presence of orofacial sensory symptoms has been suggested as an important clinical issue when considering the use of oral appliance (OA) for patients with OSA. This study aimed to investigate subjective orofacial sensory complaints in patients with mild and moderate/severe levels of OSA.

Methods: Five hundred and twenty one consecutive patients (F:67;M:454, mean age: 49±12.7 y.o.) suspected of having OSA were enrolled for one-night cardiorespiratory evaluation after other sleep disorders were excluded upon clinical interview. Before recording, patients filled out a questionnaire which included questions about morning oral dryness, a change in taste sensation, tooth grinding and clenching during sleep, pain of jaw muscle and/or joint, and difficulty in jaw opening during the last month. Of the 521 patients enrolled, 470 patients were diagnosed as having OSA. They were divided into two groups according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI); mild group (5<AHI≤20, n=183) and moderate/severe group (AHI>20, n=287). Frequencies of the patients with sensory symptoms were compared between the two groups by chi-square tests.

Results: Most frequent symptom was morning oral dryness (41.5%). Other symptoms were less frequently reported (pain: 7.6%; taste change: 9.8%; tooth grinding: 4.5%; tooth clenching: 2.1%; difficulty of jaw opening: 7.9%). Oral dryness was more frequently reported in the moderate/severe group (47.7%) than in the mild group (33.9%) (p<0.01). Other variables did not differ between the two groups.

Conclusions: In OSA patients, morning oral dryness is frequently reported and can be associated with the frequent occurrence of OSA events. Less frequent complaints such as pain are not likely associated with the frequency of OSA events. Presence of these complaints should be taken into consideration for the better management of OSA with OA.