Association of Sleep Apnea with Occlusal Pattern, Dental Age, and Parafunctional Habits in Pediatric Patients.

INTRODUCTION

Sleep apnea in pediatric patients is recognized as a multifactorial condition influenced by craniofacial growth. This research was done to measure the relationship of sleep apnea with occlusal pattern, dental age, and parafunctional habits amongst kids in the age range of 6-14 years.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A cross-sectional observational research was done on 98 pediatric patients. Sleep apnea risk was screened using the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire and confirmed, where feasible, with polysomnography, the gold-standard diagnostic method. Occlusal parameters were recorded clinically. Dental age was assessed using Demirjian's method. The obtained data were statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

Overall, 38.8% of children were identified as high-risk for sleep apnea. Considerable relations were found between sleep apnea and increased overjet. Children at high risk also demonstrated advanced dental age compared to unaffected peers (P < 0.05). Parafunctional habits such as bruxism, mouth breathing, and tongue thrusting were significantly more prevalent in the high-risk group (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Sleep apnea in children shows significant correlation with unfavourable occlusal traits, advanced dental maturation, and parafunctional habits. These findings underscore the importance of multidisciplinary pediatric screening. Larger multicentric studies with radiographic airway assessment are recommended to strengthen causal inference.