Keywords
obstructive sleep apnea - restless legs syndrome - myofunctional therapy - photobiomodulation
- stomatognathic system
Introduction: Restless Mouth Syndrome (RMS), also related to the description of Burning Mouth Syndrome
(BMS), is characterized by a burning sensation and intraoral pain with no associated
medical or dental etiology. There are only 12 reported cases of burning mouth syndrome
(BMS) at least partially responsive to dopamine agonists. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
is a sensory-motor disorder whose main element is the intense and almost irresistible
need to move the legs, which ends up interrupting and impairing sleep. In recent years,
studies have suggested that Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) may not be limited to the
legs, but may involve other isolated anatomical regions of the body, with or without
symptoms in the legs.
Objective: To report the case of a 67-year-old female patient with the complaint: “I can't sleep
because of Restless Mouth Syndrome” who underwent specific orofacial myofunctional
therapy (SOMT).
Methods: Anamnesis was taken on the history of the disease, signs and symptoms, activities
of daily living, sleep and application of the following scales: RLS/RMS Severity Scale;
Snoring Analog Scale (SAS) and WHOQOL-BREF quality of life questionnaire, before and
after SOMT. She had a history of difficulty maintaining healthy sleep, tiredness and
daytime sleepiness, the need to move her mouth at any time of the day, with worsening
at night and a diagnosis of moderate obstructive sleep apnea (AHI = 21.7 e/h) and
PLMS = 0.7 movements per hour, with RLS and RMS, and underwent SOMT. The SOMT consisted
of muscle relaxation exercises and thermotherapy associated with photobiomodulation
techniques and Intravascular Laser Irradiation of Blood (ILIB), which consists of
irradiating the blood with a low-intensity laser.
Results: The SOMT consisted of 8 sessions, one per week lasting one hour. There was a reduction
in the RLS/RMS Severity Scale from severe (30 points) to moderate (20 points); an
improvement in quality of life, an improvement in SAS, a reduction in the sensation
of discomfort in the oral cavity, even going for two consecutive weeks without discomfort.
Conclusion: OMT combined with photobiomodulation and ILIB techniques reduced oral symptoms and
improved sleep quality.
