InquirySleep disorders and oral health
Section snippets
Background
When a dental patient comes with a sleep disorder, the dentist must be prepared to work with clinicians from other disciplines and specialties to deliver the most effective treatment. Dental schools are offering more sleep courses in their curriculums and continuing education programs. Professional sleep dental medicine organizations are also offering sleep knowledge dissemination opportunities for community dental practitioners. Abnormal sleep adversely affects the quality of life, general
Oral Health Issues
The main sleep and oral health issues are obstructive sleep apnea, chronic mouth breathing, and sleep bruxism. Edentulism can also affect sleep disorders.
In obstructive sleep apnea, patients completely cease to breathe because of upper airway obstruction for various periods of time. In addition, they suffer reduced respiration and reduced airflow (respiratory event−related arousal [RERA]) that awakens them from sleep. The diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea is based on symptoms plus a sleep
Management
An interdisciplinary team is best positioned to provide care for oral health–related sleep disorders. The team usually comprises one or more sleep specialists and oral health specialists, including a dentist, orthodontist, or oral and maxillofacial surgeon. The dentist or orthodontist will screen, assess, refer to a sleep specialist, and possibly refer to an otolaryngologist if needed. Short- and long-term follow-up may also be coordinated by the dental professional. Craniofacial morphology
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Huynh NT, Emami E, Helman JI, et al: Interactions between sleep disorders and oral diseases. Oral Dis 20:236-245, 2014
Reprints available from NY Huynh, Orthodontic Clinic—Faculty of Dentistry, Université de Montréal, 3525 Queen Mary, Montreal, QC H3V 1H9, Canada; fax: +1 514 343 2237; e-mail: [email protected]