Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has frequently been linked to sleep bruxism, a condition where a person clenches and tightens the jaw creating excessive grinding of the teeth during sleep. Both conditions are linked to several health issues; now, a study links OSA to prosthetic complications. New data demonstrate a strong correlation between OSA and complications with previously implanted oral prosthetics.
Researchers from OSI Araba University Hospital in Victoria, Spain, published a study in the Journal of Oral Implantology that investigated how OSA affects implant-borne prostheses. The frequency with which a complication occurred and the type of complication were studied in 67 patients. Contradictory to their initial hypothesis, the researchers found a high instance of complications related to OSA.
Of the 67 patients included in the study, the researchers found that 16 experienced complications; 13 of which had OSA. Among these 16 patients with complications, there were 22 prostheses with a total of 30 issues. The researchers found these complications consisted of porcelain fracture, fracture of the screw/implant, loosening of the screw, and decementation. The average time for a complication to occur was 73 months post-implantation.
During the study, the researchers also noted a strong relation between individuals who suffer from OSA and those who suffer from bruxism. Past studies revealed that those afflicted with bruxism had a higher instance (6/10) of complications with implant prostheses than those without bruxism (13/75). This shows that people suffering from OSA and/or bruxism have a more difficult time with successful prosthetic implantation.
The researchers note that, “Among dental practitioners, there has been increasing awareness of the reciprocal relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and dental diseases. One new aspect of interest would be the occurrence of technical complication in fixed prosthodontics.”
This study shows that 81% of patients with OSA experienced complications with their prostheses. Given that the success rate of implants is reported to be between 92% and 97%, there is a strong correlation between OSA and prosthetic complications. The researchers believe that additional exploration on the correlation between OSA and implant complications is necessary to further understand the risk factors and frequencies of these occurrences.
This is very serious news. I plan to get implants. I was told that I snore when sleeping. I was told I may have sleep apnea. I don’t know that I have ever tightened the grip of my jaw while in my dentures while sleeping. How would I know? I sleep alone. How would you know this information?
Can you answer?
Tanya. Thanks.
Tayna, you need to find a Sleep Physician and have him refer you to an overnight Sleep Lab to be tested for Sleep Apnea; Sleep Apnea can lead to many serious medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, stroke, chronic headaches.
Tanya,
In addition to being tested for Sleep Apnea which is a medical condition, you need to be tested for Sleep Bruxism which is a dental condition. In a person having Obstructive Sleep Apnea, often times their is a mechanism that causes the brain to signal the oral cavity to grind their teeth as they grasp for breath. This deleterious nocturnal grinding or Sleep Bruxism can damage implants and their prosthetic components. Your AHI (for Sleep Apnea) and BEI (for Bruxism) are quantative numbers that your physician and dentist will evaluate for your proper diagnosis and treatment. Often times both of these numbers can be obtained by a Home Sleep Test that must be interpreted by a Sleep Physician. Therefore have yourself tested for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Bruxism by the proper health care practitioners.
Good luck,
Dr Nick M Mobilia
I recently received two fillings of upper molars. A few weeks after receiving the fillings I started to get a bump on my gums just above the two teeth. After seeing two dentist and two different doctors the bump has only gotten worse. One doctor lanced it but eventually it comes back again full of infection. I am pretty sure I grind my teeth and I use a CPAP machine and I have apnea. I really don’t know how to resolve this problem but I really appreciate this article. It is a start.
I just started cpap and am scheduled for an upper implant. It occurred to me that maybe I shouldn’t wear the cpap while implant heals. I surely don’t want any complications. Please reply thank you
That is what the sleep study will determine! I recommend a night guard in any event!