Sleep apnoea from a dentist's point of view.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to confirm the relevance of knowledge a dentist has regarding obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), considering the fact that based on specific risk factors a dentist may be the first clinician to identify patients who are at risk of being affected by this serious condition.

METHODS

The cohort consisted of 53 subjects who underwent a routine dental examination. Anthropometric data and data on tongue size (Mallampati classification), tonsil size (Friedman classification), daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) and systemic risk factors were recorded in a record sheet. On the basis of the monitored parameters, selected subjects underwent polysomnography in order to objectivise the parameters observed.

RESULTS

Polysomnography confirmed a 96% success rate in our identifying subjects as being at high risk of developing OSA. This indicates that the parameters monitored during a routine dental examination were properly selected to identify patients with this condition in advance.

CONCLUSION

The relevance of information dentists have about the early identification of patients with OSA may be crucial in the management of further therapy to be provided to these patients.