2024-04-24 23:05:18
(ANSA) – ROME, APR 24 – Periodontitis, especially in complex cases, could be associated with nocturnal breathing disorders, such as sleep apnea.
This is what a study published in the journal General Dentistry and directed by Andrew Dentino of the Marquette University School of Dentistry, University at Buffalo, suggests.
Not all individuals suffering from periodontal disease achieve complete resolution of symptoms after dental and periodontal treatments. Some cases, especially when risk factors are not adequately controlled (for example smoking, poor oral hygiene, diet), are faced with a disease that is more difficult to manage. In these situations, relapses are frequent despite treatment. These cases may be associated with a widespread inflammatory and infectious state that involves not only the oral cavity, but also other body areas.
In the study, the experts worked on a sample of 71 patients aged 19-75 years, of which 44 were women, included in a maintenance therapy protocol (with periodic oral hygiene sessions) for periodontitis. Participants used a sleep monitoring tool at home and filled out sleep quality questionnaires. For 33 of them, a diagnosis of suspected sleep apnea was made. For 21 of these 33 patients, periodontitis was identified which was difficult to manage and keep under control.
The results of this study suggest that uncontrolled periodontal disease could be an indicator of the risk of suffering from nocturnal breathing disorders and therefore could be a reliable tool for dentists to identify sleep apnea or similar disorders in patients with periodontal disease. not resolved. Once identified, these patients should be referred for treatment to address the sleep disorder, which in turn could have a positive impact on the management of periodontal disease, in a bidirectional positive reinforcement mechanism. (HANDLE).
2024-04-24 23:05:18