Background: This study aimed to investigate the association between oral health-related functional and symptomatic factors andrisk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among Korean adults aged ≥40 years, with a focus on identifying oral health indicators associated with different levels of OSA risk. Methods: Data from the Eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019∼2021) were analyzed. Among 22,559 participants, 8,603 adults aged ≥40 years with complete data were included. OSA risk was assessed using a modified STOP-B28 questionnaire (Snoring, Tiredness, Observed apnea, high blood Pressure, and body mass index ＞28 kg/m 2 ).Participants were categorized into normal, low-risk, and high-risk OSA groups, enabling a risk-stratified analysis. Associations between OSA risk levels and multiple oral health-related factors reflecting oral function and symptom history were examined using complex sample cross-tabulation and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results: Male sex was associated with a higher likelihood of belonging to the low-risk (odds ratio [OR]=1.244) and high-risk(OR=1.587) OSA groups than the normal group (p＜0.05). Several oral health-related factors showed graded associations with increasing OSA risk. Individuals with masticatory discomfort had 1.349-fold and 1.595-fold higher odds of belonging to the low-risk and high-risk groups, respectively (p＜0.05). In the high-risk group, moderate speaking discomfort (OR=1.482) and a history of toothache within the past year (OR=1.487) were independently associated with an elevated OSA risk (p＜0.05). Conclusion Oral health-related functional discomfort and symptom history were significantly associated with increasing OSA risklevels among middle-aged and older adults. By adopting a risk-based, stratified approach rather than focusing on diagnosed OSA or single oral symptoms, this study revealed that oral health indicators may serve as accessible markers for identifying individuals at elevated risk of OSA, underscoring the potential role of dental and oral healthcare settings in early screening and prevention.

Background: The purpose of this study was to utilize text network analysis and topic modeling to identify interconnectedrelationships among keywords present in patent information related to oral health, and subsequently extract latent topics and visualize them. By examining key keywords and specific subjects, this study sought to comprehend the technological trends in oral health-related innovations. Furthermore, it aims to serve as foundational material, suggesting directions for technological advancement in dentistry and dental hygiene. Methods: The data utilized in this study consisted of information registered over a 20-year period until July 31st, 2023, obtainedfrom the patent information retrieval service, KIPRIS. A total of 6,865 patent titles related to keywords, such as “dentistry,” “teeth,” and “oral health,” were collected through the searches. The research tools included a custom-designed program coded specifically for the research objectives based on Python 3.10. This program was used for keyword frequency analysis, semantic network analysis, and implementation of Latent Dirichlet Allocation for topic modeling. Results: Upon analyzing the centrality of connections among the top 50 frequently occurring words, “method,” “tooth,” and “manufacturing” displayed the highest centrality, while “active ingredient” had the lowest. Regarding topic modeling outcomes, the “implant” topic constituted the largest share at 22.0%, while topics concerning “devices and materials for oral health” and “toothbrushes and oral care” exhibited the lowest proportions at 5.5% each. Conclusion Technologies concerning methods and implants are continually being researched in patents related to oral health, while there is comparatively less technological development in devices and materials for oral health. This study is expected to be a valuable resource for uncovering potential themes from a large volume of patent titles and suggesting research directions.