Sleep and airway assessment: A review for dentists.

Author: Masoud AI, Jackson GW, Carley DW.

Source: CRANIO

Year: 2017

Comment:

Abstract / Excerpt:

Introduction: Dentists can be the first professionals to recognize a patient’s potential sleep problem since they typically have more frequent contact with their patients than do physicians. It is important that dentists have a reasonable understanding of sleep disorders and how to assess their patients if they suspect such a problem so that a timely referral can be made or treatment can be provided as appropriate.

Objective: To review the key literature relevant to sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) characteristics and diagnosis, including history, examination, and investigation with an emphasis on radiographic airway analyses.

Conclusion: The authors present a concise explanation of SDB conditions and an outline for thorough patient examination and evaluation, including radiographic airway analyses. Limited two-dimensional and three-dimensional norms exist for adult patients with no SDB and even less so for children. Much more research is needed, particularly in the pediatric population.

Citation: Masoud AI, Jackson GW, Carley DW. Sleep and airway assessment: A review for dentists. CRANIO®. 2017;35(4):206-22.