Abstract
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common sleep disorder among adults, as epidemiological data suggest that globally 936 million adults between 30 and 60 years have mild to severe OSA. OSA is characterized by repetitive episodes of complete or partial upper airway obstruction during sleep and is often accompanied by symptoms as poor sleep quality, poor concentration, and daytime sleepiness. These sleepy drivers can be dangerous on motorways by killing themselves and others due to severe motor vehicle accidents Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is still regarded as the gold standard therapy, but due to many side effects about 50 % of OSA patients do not tolerate the mask. Mandibular advancement devices (MADs) are a proven, effective treatment for OSA and snoring and are recommended by international scientific guidelines. They hold forward the lower jaw during sleep and maintain an open airway for healthy breathing. As such, a challenging new interdisciplinary field opens to dentists/orthodontists all over the world. It is mandatory that the dentists are well trained in dental sleep medicine before they join the multidisciplinary team and start screening, treating and managing OSA patients over years and decades. Substantially changing the quality of a person`s life with an oral appliance is a rewarding experience for dentists and orthodontists in this rapidly evolving new field.
Learning objectives
- Describe the global health burden of obstructive sleep apnea
- Explain the pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnea and snoring
- Describe the mechanism and clinical use of CPAP therapy
- Explain how oral appliances maintain airway patency
- Compare different designs of oral appliances used in OSA management
- Demonstrate the clinical steps of fitting, titration, and follow-up of oral appliance therapy
- Discuss the role of multidisciplinary collaboration between dentists/orthodontists and sleep physicians in OSA management
