Orofacial myofunctional signs and symptoms in adults with sleep breathing disorder: is there a correlation?

Purpose: to verify whether orofacial myofunctional symptoms are related to findings from orofacial myofunctional clinical assessment in adults sleeping breathing disorders (SBD).

Methods: observational study; 15 adults, with a mean age of 43 years and diagnosed with primary snoring or OSA by polysomnography; evaluated using the Orofacial Myofunctional Assessment Protocol MBGR, including the Clinical History Protocol to assess symptoms, and the Clinical Examination Protocol to identify signs, considering tests of mobility of lips, tongue, soft palate and jaw; tone of lips, tongue, cheeks and chin; respiratory mode; chewing; and swallowing solids and liquids. For the correlation between signs and symptoms, Spearman's Correlation Coefficient, considering p<0.05 statistically significant, was used.

Results: The main orofacial myofunctional complaints were related to chewing (use of only one side during chewing and the need to drink liquids during meals), and swallowing (choking and residue after swallowing). In the orofacial myofunctional assessment, there was a greater frequency of alterations in tongue tone; lip mobility; unilateral chewing pattern with increased speed and chewing inefficiency; swallowing with excessive contraction of the perioral muscles, associated head movement and presence of residue in the oral cavity. The correlation between the scores of orofacial myofunctional signs and symptoms showed significance only between the aspects related to the chewing function (p=0.034), being moderate and inversely proportional (r=-0.548).

Conclusion: a moderate negative correlation was found between masticatory signs and symptoms in adults with SBD, and no correlation was observed for breathing and swallowing functions.