[A contribution to the differential diagnosis of sleep apnoea coexisting with functional disorders of the stomatognathic system].

Functional disorders of the stomatognathic system (temporomandibular joint syndrome – TMJ -syndrome) represent a growing diagnostic and therapeutic problem. One of the coexisting symptoms, especially in advanced stages of temporomandibular joint disorders, is sleep apnoea. The aim of this paper is to present two simple diagnostic methods that can help differentiate the causes of sleep apnoea. The 􀏐irst method relates to veri􀏐ication of the breathing pattern. The second one is the measurement of neck circumference. The presented methods are straightforward and minimally invasive. They can be supportive of the differential diagnosis of causes of sleep apnoea in the course of functional disorders of TMJ- -syndrome.