Obstructive Sleep Apnea

" Sleep apnea means "cessation of breath."People with sleep apnea literally stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, often for a minute or longer and as many as hundreds of times during a single night. A dentist/orthodontist may be the first health care provider to identify a person with Obstructive sleep apnea Syndrome because its salient signs and symptoms often are recognizable in the dental office. This points out how critical the role of orthodontist can be in diagnosing and treating Obstructive sleep apnea. The gold standard for an accurate diagnosis of Obstructive sleep apnea is a polysomnographic evaluation performed in a sleep disorders. The use of Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure is effective for OSA patients.Orthodontic Mandibular advancement Appliance therapy is clinically effective in mild to moderate Obstructive sleep apnea. MaxillomandibuIar advancement is a proven, effective treatment for patients who have obstruction at the base of the tongue.