Kent Smith DDS, D-ABDSM

With nearly 30 million Americans suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and an estimated 80% of cases remaining undiagnosed, the sleep disorder is a force to be reckoned with. Fortunately, the medical and dental communities and the general public are making progress in recognizing the necessity of diagnosis and treatment; however, one problem is that OSA is still predominately seen as a men's health condition. Although it is true that the condition affects more men than women, diagnosis… Show more

With nearly 30 million Americans suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and an estimated 80% of cases remaining undiagnosed, the sleep disorder is a force to be reckoned with. Fortunately, the medical and dental communities and the general public are making progress in recognizing the necessity of diagnosis and treatment; however, one problem is that OSA is still predominately seen as a men's health condition. Although it is true that the condition affects more men than women, diagnosis rates demonstrate a gender bias, and women (even those displaying the telltale signs of OSA, such as snoring and daytime sleepiness) are more likely to be underdiagnosed and, therefore, undertreated. Show less

About 30 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), yet 80% of cases remain undiagnosed.1 That means an astounding number of people are not only sleep-deprived but also possess a greater risk of experiencing car crashes and on-the-job accidents as well as developing serious medical conditions, including obesity, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Furthermore, during the next 40 years, the subset of Americans aged 65 and older-an age group that is at high… Show more

About 30 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), yet 80% of cases remain undiagnosed.1 That means an astounding number of people are not only sleep-deprived but also possess a greater risk of experiencing car crashes and on-the-job accidents as well as developing serious medical conditions, including obesity, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Furthermore, during the next 40 years, the subset of Americans aged 65 and older-an age group that is at high risk for developing OSA-is projected to exceed 98 million.2 The sheer volume of this problem is massive, and we have a great deal of work to do to address practitioner and patient awareness of the growing OSA epidemic. But there is good news. Dentists have an opportunity to be a part of the solution-an opportunity that is not only good for patients and public health but also good for business. Show less

The prevalence of SRBDs is increasing, and the seriousness of the comorbidities associated with these conditions makes them a cause for concern for all healthcare professionals. In addition to age and obesity, which play substantial and complementary roles in the development of SRBDs, there are also craniofacial anatomic risk factors, including neck circumference, lack of cricomental space, a small or recessed chin, an overbite, reduced pharyngeal space, enlarged tonsils, decreased intermolar… Show more

The prevalence of SRBDs is increasing, and the seriousness of the comorbidities associated with these conditions makes them a cause for concern for all healthcare professionals. In addition to age and obesity, which play substantial and complementary roles in the development of SRBDs, there are also craniofacial anatomic risk factors, including neck circumference, lack of cricomental space, a small or recessed chin, an overbite, reduced pharyngeal space, enlarged tonsils, decreased intermolar distance, and a high-vaulted palate. This article examines the prevalence of SRBDs in the general population and identifies common craniofacial anatomic risk factors for SRBDs that can be easily distinguished by general dentists during routine examinations and discussed with patients to proactively screen for the presence of sleep-disordered breathing. Show less

The prevalence and under-treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the general population is alarming. For those who have been diagnosed with the condition, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the accepted gold standard for treatment, but low adherence rates mean many patients remain ineffectively treated, at risk for a host of associated comorbidities, and in need of an alternative option. The convergence of these realities provides dentists a golden opportunity to help address… Show more

The prevalence and under-treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the general population is alarming. For those who have been diagnosed with the condition, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the accepted gold standard for treatment, but low adherence rates mean many patients remain ineffectively treated, at risk for a host of associated comorbidities, and in need of an alternative option. The convergence of these realities provides dentists a golden opportunity to help address this public health epidemic by incorporating dental sleep medicine (DSM) and the administration of oral appliance therapy (OAT) into their dental practices. Show less

Hygienists are the first contact for potential apneic patients in a busy practice. They need to be educated in what to look for and what questions to ask.