Palatal morphology in adult obstructive sleep apnea : dental study models evaluation

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) poses significant impairments to overall health and quality of life in adults. To date, the role of palatal morphology in the etiology of OSA in adults remains unclear. Maxillary expansion has recently been proposed as treatment for adult OSA, albeit with limited evidence. A fundamental understanding of palatal morphology in adults with OSA is necessary to evaluate the risks and benefits of maxillary expansion in adults with OSA. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of palatal morphology using dental study models of adult patients with OSA. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 112 adult patients with OSA and/or snoring seeking mandibular advancement oral appliance therapy at a private practice clinic consecutively between May 2019 and April 2023. Medical and dental records, including baseline sleep apnea evaluation studies, and digital dental study models were collected. Conventional and geometric morphometrics were employed to characterize palatal morphology and to investigate the relationship between palatal morphology and the severity of OSA in adults. Results: The characterization of palatal morphology in our sample of adults with OSA showed similar maxillary inter-tooth widths as published norms for untreated ‘healthy’ adults. Conventional morphometrics, and the analysis of palatal shape through geometric morphometrics revealed no significant correlation with severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults. Conclusion: Palatal morphology and transverse maxillary arch dimensions are not correlated to severity of OSA in adults.