Frequency of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients Presenting with Tooth Fractures: A Prospective Controlled Study.

This prospective controlled study investigated the frequency of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients presenting with tooth fractures. Conducted between 2018 and 2020 in a private dental clinic in Spain, the study included 59 patients, comparing 29 with tooth fractures (case group) to 30 without (control group). Results showed a significantly higher prevalence of OSA—defined by an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of ≥5 events per hour—in the case group (72.4%) compared to controls (40%), with higher AHI values observed in fractured-tooth patients. Although age was identified as a confounding factor influencing tooth fracture, a significant association between OSA and tooth fracture remained in patients aged 40 years and older. The study suggests that OSA may be more frequent among patients with tooth fractures, potentially due to increased occlusal loads related to OSA pathophysiology.