FROM DIAGNOSIS TO TREATMENT DENTISTRY PRACTICES AND THE ROLE OF DENTIST IN OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA AND SNORING

Abstract

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a chronic and widespread disease that generally requires a lifelong treatment. Therefore, a continuous oral appliance (OA) along with behavioral modifications as an alternative symptomatic treatment is required for this chronic disease. Patients of this chronic disease should have a regular and continuous follow-up to monitor adherence to therapy, side effects, development of medical systemic complications and constant resolution of symptoms. When considered from this point of view, OA is widely used. In other words, nowadays, patients can tolerate OAs and prefer using them thanks to improvements in OAs. OAs are designed to prevent any kind of obstruction in upper airway by advancing mandibular and thus holding open respiratory tract during sleep. There are increasing evidence that an active OA helps improve daytime sleepiness and apnea/hypopnea severity (sleep disordered breathing data) when compared to an inactive OA (control group). It approaches through mechanical ventilation method (non-invasive, conservative). There are many researches that prove OA to be even more effective. It is declared many times that symptomatic response difference is in favor of OA.