The attitudes of general dental practitioners and medical specialists to the provision of intra-oral appliances for the management of snoring and sleep apnoea.

AIM: To determine the attitudes and awareness of dental and medical practitioners in Scotland to the provision of oral appliances for the management of snoring and sleep apnoea.

SETTING

The questionnaire was completed by general dental practitioners randomly selected from across Scotland and by doctors specialising in sleep medicine within Scotland.

METHOD: A questionnaire was devised and sent to 17 specialists in sleep medicine and 210 general dental practitioners, community dental service practitioners and hospital-based dental practitioners. A reply-paid envelope was included with each questionnaire.

RESULTS

There were 14 replies (82%) from specialists and 105 (50%) from dentists. All the specialists felt that dentists had a role in the management of these patients. Of the replies from dentists, 60 (57%) stated that they provided appliances but their screening for sleep apnoea and discussion of the side-effects of appliances varied widely. Seventy-eight dentists (74%) expressed an interest in attending a course on the management of sleep apnoea and snoring.

CONCLUSIONS

The current practice of specialists and dentists in the management of obstructive sleep apnoea and socially disruptive snoring with oral appliances in Scotland is varied. Many dentists expressed a wish for further training in this area.