Oral Appliance Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Impact on Oral Health Quality of Life and its Relationship to Sleep-Related Quality of Life

Abstract

Study Objectives: To understand how oral appliance treatment for persons with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) impacts their oral health quality of life and the relationship between sleep-related quality of life and oral health quality of life. Methods: An observational study was performed. Study participants were persons diagnosed with OSA who were undergoing oral appliance treatment at the University of Minnesota Physicians Dental Clinic. Participants were treated with a mandibular advancement device. Oral Health Impact Profile 5-Item (OHIP5) survey and Sleep-Related Quality of Life (SRQL) survey were used. Results: 61 participants met the inclusion criteria of assessment, splint insert and at least one follow-up survey. A significant difference between splint insert and follow-up appointments for SRQL survey questions had a p-value of <.0001. OHIP5 survey questions had a p-value of 0.1281, indicating no statistical significance between splint insert and follow-up appointments. Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed a weak correlation between oral health problems and sleep disturbance, sleep related impairment and sleepiness issues with an average mean score below 0.4. Conclusion: As expected, patients experienced self-reported improvement with sleep disturbance, sleep related impairment and sleepiness issues while using an oral appliance. SRQL was improved for patients when using a mandibular advancement device for OSA. Dental professionals can educate and inform OSA patients that oral appliances such as mandibular advancement devices used in this study, while improving sleep-related quality of life, do not impact oral health quality of life. There was also a weak correlation found between oral health problems and sleep disturbance, sleep related impairment and sleepiness issues.