Sleep bruxism (SB) may be not associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): A comprehensive assessment employing a systematic review and meta-analysis

Associations between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sleep bruxism (SB) are the subject of discussion but have not been confirmed definitively. Therefore, the objective of this meta-analysis was to examine the relationship between OSA and SB. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were screened up to February 2024. The risk of bias was assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute tool. 2260 records were identified, but only 14 studies were included. The odds of SB presence in OSA did not differ from the control group (OR: 1.23, 95 % CI: 0.47–3.20). The chance of SB compared to controls also did not differ in mild OSA (OR: 1.56, 95 % CI: 0.76–3.18), in moderate OSA (OR: 1.51, 95 % CI: 0.77–2.94) and in severe OSA (OR: 1.50, 95 % CI: 0.68–3.29). Additionally, the odds of SB were not increased in moderate OSA in comparison to mild OSA (OR: 1.14, 95 % CI: 0.63–2.94), in severe OSA compared to moderate OSA (OR: 1.31, 95 % CI: 0.61–2.79) or in severe OSA compared to mild OSA (OR = 1.42, 95 % CI: 0.69–2.93). The presence of SB in OSA did not differ between genders (OR: 2.14, 95 % CI: 0.65–7.05). The quality of the major studies included is low; therefore, the noted lack of correlation between OSA and SB may require further research. The relationship between OSA and SB seems to be multi-faceted. Presented results should not exempt clinicians from exact diagnosis of concomitant sleep conditions in OSA subjects.