Effects of edentulism in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of edentulism in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study patients' were selected from the Gaziantep University Sleep Clinic and Orthodontic Department archives between the years of 2009 and 2011. Study groups were determined according to age and edentulism, and the overall study population consisted of 42 (21 male, 21 female) OSAS patients. Data from 14 edentulous (Group I), 14 older dentate (Group II), and 14 middle-aged dentate OSAS patients (Group III) were compared in this study. Polysomnographic parameters, which were measured and analyzed included: Sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep stage 1, sleep stage 2, sleep stage 3, percentage of rapid eye movement sleep, apnea-hypopnea index, oxygen saturation and arousal index. The Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U statistical tests were used for comparing the differences between the three groups and subgroups. RESULTS: Sleep time parameters showed significant differences between the groups (P<0.05). Differences occurred between Group I and Group III in the sleep time parameter (P<0.05), while the edentulous subjects showed lower mean sleep time values when compared to the older and middle-aged dentate groups. CONCLUSION: According to our results, edentulism may not impact polysomnography parameters, with the exception of the sleep time parameter. Important attention should be given to edentulous individuals during sleep with their dentures to prevent OSAS complications. The use of dentures may prevent or protect patients from the predisposing factors of OSAS.

Multiple tooth anomalies in a nonsyndromic patient with class II division 2 malocclusions: A case report and a literature review.

Reports in the literature about the craniofacial characteristics of patients with class II division 2 malocclusions show a lot of different patterns accompanied by palatally displaced upper incisors, congenital missing teeth, polydiastema, fusion, germination, tooth impaction, peg-shaped lateral incisors, persistent teeth, hypodontia, persistent deciduous teeth, transpositions, and supernumerary teeth. The following case report focuses on the description of the clinical characteristics observed on a patient with a very unusual conjunction of dental and skeletal anomalies mentioned above, as well as a literature review on the related issues. Extra-intra-oral examinations, radiographic evaluations, orthodontic consultation, and reviewing the literature concluded that this nonsyndromic patient that refused to receive all dental treatment approaches is special with its uniqueness.

The effect of orthodontic extraoral appliances on depression and the anxiety levels of patients and parents.

BACKGROUND: Psychosocial consequences and post-operative anxiety in patients after fixed orthodontic treatment are important parameters that must be evaluated by clinicians not to effect patient and their parent's psychosocial mood negatively. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in depression and anxiety levels of orthodontic patients and their parents before the extraoral appliance therapy, and at a 1-year follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients and one of their parents responded to a series of questionnaires and evaluation scales in order to assess depression and anxiety levels. Two groups of patients and their parents were surveyed; one group that had not yet embarked on the treatment and another that had commenced extra-oral appliance therapy 1 year prior to the study. RESULTS: The 1-year-treatment group scored significantly higher than the pre-treatment group on the depression scale and the trait-anxiety scale. State-trait anxiety inventory scores did not differ significantly between the groups. The parents of the 1-year-treatment group also scored significantly higher on the Beck depression inventory than those of the pre-treatment group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study emphasize the need for due consideration of psychological parameters before and during treatment with extra-oral appliances, particularly with regard to depression and anxiety.