Abstract

BLUM, Davi Francisco Casa  and  BONA, Álvaro Della. Relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and sleep bruxism: literature review. RFO UPF [online]. 2015, vol.20, n.3, pp. 400-407. ISSN 1413-4012.

Objective: To analyze the literature on Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Sleep Bruxism (SB), and define a possible relationship between them. Literature review: OSA and SB are common pathologies in medical and dental practices, and their etiologies are under constant investigation. OSA is characterized by repetitive upper airway obstructive episodes, which occur during sleep and are usually related to the reduction of blood oxygen saturation. Bruxism is a repetitive activity of masticatory muscles, characterized by clenching, grinding and/or bracing or thrusting the mandible. Scientific literature has been trying to relate SB with other sleep disorders to facilitate the diagnostic process. Final considerations: A relationship between OSA and SB is considered in physiological, anatomical, and etiological terms. An association between SB events and awakenings, and a possible function of maintaining patency in airways inspires a relationship between SB events and OSA airway obstruction events. There are still unanswered questions that instigate further investigation on this topic.

Keywords : Bruxism; Sleep Bruxism; Sleep Apnea.