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Published on: December 6, 2016
Sleep and airway assessment: A review for dentists
Ahmed I Masoud1,2,3, Gregory W Jackson2, David W Carley4
1a Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry , King Abdulaziz University , Jeddah , Saudi Arabia.
Introduction:
Dentists can be the first professionals to recognize a patient's potential sleep problem since they typically have more frequent contact with their patients than do physicians. It is important that dentists have a reasonable understanding of sleep disorders and how to assess their patients if they suspect such a problem so that a timely referral can be made or treatment can be provided as appropriate.
Objective:
To review the key literature relevant to sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) characteristics and diagnosis, including history, examination, and investigation with an emphasis on radiographic airway analyses.
Conclusion:
The authors present a concise explanation of SDB conditions and an outline for thorough patient examination and evaluation, including radiographic airway analyses. Limited two-dimensional and three-dimensional norms exist for adult patients with no SDB and even less so for children. Much more research is needed, particularly in the pediatric population.
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