Functional Disorders of the Temporomandibular Joints as a Factor Responsible for Sleep Apnoea.

INTRODUCTION Functional disorders of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) in the contemporary population are considered by World Health Organization to be the third most frequent dental disease after caries and periodontitis. It is thought to affect 84% of the adult population. In patients aged 65 years and older these disorders become more severe and may affect up to 100% of this age group. MATERIAL AND METHOD We examined 150 patients aged 35-70 years (mean age 46.5 years). All patients were diagnosed in 2006-2010 at the Department of Dental Prosthetics of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin due to suspected more or less advanced functional disorders of the stomatognathic system, particularly TMJ. The severity of the disorders was identified using the Helkimo index. RESULTS Functional disorders of the TMJ and mild sleep apnoea were diagnosed in 112 patients. Findings from the study indicated that the severity of sleep apnoea was positively correlated with the duration and severity of TMD. CONCLUSION Most patients did not link the symptoms of sleep apnoea with dysfunctions of the stomatognathic system.