Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that involves frequent interruptions in breathing throughout the night. This pattern can repeat itself many times throughout the night significantly disrupting sleep. The most prevalent is Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) wherein muscles in the back of throat fail to keep airway open, despite efforts to breathe. If OSA is not treated, it can lead to serious heart problems, blood pressure, diabetes and stroke.
While physicians are primarily involved in diagnosis and management of sleep apnea, dentists can help in early detection of OSA during routine dental checkups.
Here are some oral findings dentists can come across during routine dental checkups
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Wear pattern on opposing incisors can suggest that patients position the mandible in a forward direction to open the airway.
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Scalloped tongue borders suggest that the patient is depressing the tongue forward against the mandibular teeth to open airway.
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Anterior or lateral open bite relationship can occur due to tongue posturing.
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Development of orofacial pain, TMJ dysfunction symptoms, masticatory muscle fatigue noticed on awakening, or morning headache can be due to positioning of mandible to open airway.
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Prominent tonsils, large uvula and a narrow or tongue obstructed airway may be seen.
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Mouth breathing while sleeping can manifest as drying of the surface of the gingiva.
Dentists do not diagnose OSA independently. A definitive diagnosis requires Polysomnography and medical evaluation by a sleep physician.
However dentists can help in timely identification and referral of the patient. This can significantly reduce morbidity associated with undiagnosed OSA.