The relationship between obstructive sleep apnoea and dentistry: 2. Management.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a potentially life-threatening breathing disorder characterized by repeated collapse of the upper airway during sleep, with cessation for breathing. Patients with OSA are at risk of severe cardiovascular and respiratory complications secondary to recurrent hypoxia and hypercapnia in addition to an overall reduced quality of life for sufferers and their families. An overview of the aetiology including pathophysiology, clinical signs and symptoms and diagnosis was presented in the first article in this series. In this article the management of OSA is presented, with particular emphasis on the role of dentistry in contemporary management.