More Than Straightening Teeth: The Orthodontist's Role in Sleep Dentistry

In 2023, the ever-evolving field of orthodontics continues to provide clinicians opportunities to positively impact their patients' oral health and overall well-being. Clear aligners have sustained their upward trend of being utilized more frequently than ever and delivering outstanding results in cases that were previously deemed to be "impossible" to treat with aligners. Technology has advanced and new companies that rely heavily on intraoral scans combined with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) have continued to demonstrate their impact on decreasing treatment time and increasing predictability. However, certain critical topics remain controversial. Airway constrictions, sleep apnea, and extraction of premolars and its effect on a patient's facial profile are all highly polarizing and debatable subjects among orthodontists, their referring general dentists, and their patients themselves. In this article, the authors will attempt to demystify and clarify the facts behind obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the role of the dental professional.