Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is a partial or complete blockage of a person’s airway, is a serious medical condition estimated to affect more than 20 million people in the United States alone. The importance of effective treatment is based on how it affects the body and overall health and quality of life. OSA not only degrades healthy restful sleep, it leads to a decrease in the oxygen on which the human body is highly dependent to thrive and survive. The role of the dentist is first and foremost to create awareness. Dentists cannot diagnose OSA—that is currently restricted to medical doctors—but they should be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of OSA, educate patients, and assist them in receiving prescribed treatment, which may include a customized mandibular advancement appliance provided by dentists. The intent of this article is to raise awareness of this issue among dentists and describe steps they can take to offer treatment within a private practice.
Login
Accessing this course requires a login. Please enter your credentials below!