Efecto de los dispositivos oclusales sobre la vía aérea en pacientes con bruxismo

Objective

The use of the superior rigid occlusal splint (SROS) has been used to management temporomandibular disorders and sleep bruxism for many years. These SROS could change the mandibular position leading to a more posterior position of the tongue and hyoids bone, and compromising the upper airway flow permeability and make sleep-breathing disorders worse. The aim of this study is to evaluate the linear and area changes of lumen in patients with sleep bruxism who are using a SROS, measured by lateral teleradiograph.

Methodology

The study included 20 patients, of both sexes, from the Hospital de Carabineros, Chile, who were diagnosed with probable sleep bruxism due to using and SROS. The cephalometric analysis was performed of the area and pharyngeal depth in order to measure the pharyngeal space, by obtaining a lateral teleradiograph without SROS and a second teleradiograph using SROS, at the same time, to avoid dimensional variation due to possible craniocervical positional changes.

Results

A statistical significance was found for oropharynx reduction (mean: 41.2 mm², P = .035), for the gonion linear depth (mean: 0.38 mm, P = .019), and at uvula level (mean: 1.83 mm, P = .009). No correlations were found between the increasing vertical dimensions using SROS and pharyngeal spaces.

Conclusion

The using of a superior occlusal splint (SROS) could reduce the oropharyngeal depth and space.