Sleep disorders and oral devices.
Many patients with upper airway sleep disorders can be successfully treated with oral appliance therapy. It is necessary for dentists to recognize these patients and refer them to a physician for further evaluation. Dentists must not become the primary care providers for these patients or attempt to treat a medical problem with an oral appliance without a proper diagnosis, which usually requires a sleep study and can only be diagnosed by a physician. Dentists must also be able to treat the patients referred by physicians and to follow accepted procedures when fabricating, inserting, titrating, and providing follow-up care for oral appliance therapy. In addition, the dental community needs to continue to heighten the awareness in their local medical community and in their patient population as to the possible contribution of oral appliance therapy to the management of snoring and some of the sleep-related breathing disorders.
Ivanhoe
J R
JR
Department of Oral Rehabilitation, School of Dentistry, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia, USA. jivanhoe@mail.mcg.edu
Attanasio
R
R
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D000403:Airway Resistance; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D006801:Humans; D019186:Mandibular Advancement / Q000295:instrumentation; D009055:Mouth / Q000473:pathology; D017090:Occlusal Splints; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010614:Pharynx / Q000473:pathology; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012913:Snoring / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014059:Tongue