Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has frequently been linked to sleep bruxism and a high clench index. A new report from researchers at OSI Araba University Hospital in Vitoria, Spain, demonstrates a strong correlation between OSA and complications with previously implanted oral prosthetics.
In the study, researchers examined how OSA impacts implant-borne prostheses. The frequency with which a complication occurred and the type of complication experienced 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, 16 experienced complications, 13 of whom had OSA. Complications consisted of porcelain fracture, fracture of the screw or implant, loosening of the screw, and decementation.
The study showed 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 investigators noted an increased awareness among dental practitioners of the reciprocal relationship between OSA and dental diseases, and concluded that additional exploration of this correlation is necessary to further understand the risk factors and frequencies of implant complications in these patients.