American Dental Association Adopts Policy on Dentistry’s Role in Sleep-Disordered Breathing

In October 2017, the American Dental Association (ADA) adopted a policy on dentistry’s role in treating sleep-breathing disorders including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Sleep-breathing disorders are “recognized as potentially serious medical conditions caused by anatomical airway collapse and altered respiratory control mechanisms,” the ADA said in a written statement to Sleep Review. “As experts in the oral cavity, dentists are able to question patients about pertinent symptoms during routine dental evaluations, and refer patients to physicians for diagnosis. The policy was adopted to address dentistry’s growing role in the multidisciplinary care of patients with [sleep-breathing disorders].”

In a news release from October, the ADA lists key takeaways that describe the role dentists should play:

  • assess patient risk for sleep-breathing disorders as part of a comprehensive medical and dental history and refer affected patients to appropriate physicians
  • evaluate the use of oral appliance therapy and provide it for mild and moderate OSA when CPAP fails
  • identify and address the side effects of oral appliance therapy
  • communicate patients’ treatment progress with referring physician and other healthcare providers.

Another point made in the policy is dentists treating sleep-related breathing disorders should stay up-to-date on the disorders and training in dental sleep medicine with continuing education. When asked what education the ADA will be providing dentists about how to screen for sleep-breathing disorders, the ADA advised that is currently under consideration.

The evidence brief that inspired the policy shows there is a large portion of people could have undiagnosed sleep-breathing disorders that could potentially be identified and treated by dentists who abide by these policy guidelines. It states that the prevalence of OSA is “estimated to be 3% to 7% in men and 2% to 5% in women. Prevalence is higher (greater than 50%) in patients with cardiac or metabolic disorders, relative to the general population.”

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