Impact of Oral Maxillofacial Morphological Changes on Snoring: An Empirical Comparative Study

Abstract

Abstract

Introduction: Snoring is a prevalent condition that greatly affects public health. Snoring refers to the noise generated when a person breathes while asleep, caused by the airflow disruption through a partially blocked airway. It is seen as a prevalent clinical indicator of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Abnormalities in the facial skeleton may play a role in the development of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), impacting both hard and soft tissues. Numerous studies have examined how inter-dental width and palatal shape influence the onset of OSA in developing patients. Previous research agrees that children with a narrow or high-arched hard palate are more likely to develop OSA. Significant deviation of the septum (SD) can result in substantial nasal obstruction, which may lead to sleep apnea. Aim: This study aims to assess the association between the shape of the maxillary arch, deep palatal vault, and nasal septal deviation in snoring patients. Methodology: A total of 40 patients (20 snoring, 20 non-snoring) are included in the study. Maxillary arch shape, depth of palatal vault and nasal septal deviation are evaluated in all patients and are compared between snoring and non-snoring groups. Results and Conclusion: A V-shaped palate is exclusively found in snoring patients (100%), whereas a U-shaped palate is more common in non-snoring patients (57.1%) with statistical significant difference. Mean depth of palate and nasal septal deviation shows no statistically significant difference between snoring and non-snoring groups.

Keywords: Oral Maxillofacial Morphological Changes, Snoring, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Dental Crowding, Malocclusion Nasal Septal Deviation