Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a stoppage or partial stoppage of air flow during sleep, has been gaining more attention as a sleep-related breathing disorder. This treatable syndrome has many associated comorbidities that can have severely detrimental effects on a person’s well-being and general health. It has been estimated that 20% or more of the population suffers from some level of OSA; many of those are undiagnosed or unaware of their issue. Though a diagnosis must be made by a medical doctor, the dental community can be a first line of defense to screen and even treat many of these people with oral appliance therapy (OAT). OAT has become a popular alternative for treating OSA for those intolerant to the traditional continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This course will give dental professionals a high-level overview of obstructive sleep apnea, consequences and treatment options including oral appliance therapy, and how clinicians can become involved in the treatment of OSA.
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