Could obstructive sleep apnea and periodontal disease have a bi-directional relationship? According to a new study in the Journal of Periodontology, they might.
Researchers examined the salivary interleuken levels (IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-21, IL-33) and pentraxin-3 (PTX3) concentrations in patients with mild and severe obstructive sleep apnea. They found that:
- Obstructive sleep apnea may affect salivary IL-6 and IL-33 concentrations, regardless of severity.
- Probing depth and clinical attachment level were correlated with severity of sleep apnea.
The researchers concluded that
Further investigation is required to elucidate a potential bidirectional relationship between OSAS and periodontal disease.
