Should the dentist independently assess and treat sleep-disordered breathing?

Abstract

Sleep-disordered breathing is a chronic problem of the inappropriate mechanical collapse of the upper airway. Symptoms range from mild occasional snoring to severe obstructive sleep apnea. The standard of care for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep-disordered breathing by sleep medicine has been the use of the polysomnogram and continuous positive airway pressure. This approach is burdensome, costly, and ineffective due to lack of compliance with or rejection of treatment. Oral appliances are highly effective in managing the mild snorer to the moderate sleep apneic and are approaching the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure with the severe apneic. The dentist can and should manage these patients. However, the dental practitioner must acquire sufficient training and knowledge to appropriately treat these patients.