OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to confirm the relevance of knowledge a dentist has regarding obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), considering the fact that based on specific risk factors a dentist may be the first clinician to identify patients who are at risk of being affected by this serious condition. METHODS: The cohort consisted of 53 subjects who underwent a routine dental examination. Anthropometric data and data on tongue size (Mallampati classification), tonsil size (Friedman classification), daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) and systemic risk factors were recorded in a record sheet. On the basis of the monitored parameters, selected subjects underwent polysomnography in order to objectivise the parameters observed. RESULTS: Polysomnography confirmed a 96% success rate in our identifying subjects as being at high risk of developing OSA. This indicates that the parameters monitored during a routine dental examination were properly selected to identify patients with this condition in advance. CONCLUSION: The relevance of information dentists have about the early identification of patients with OSA may be crucial in the management of further therapy to be provided to these patients.
- MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Cohort Studies MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Sleep Apnea, Obstructive * diagnosis MeSH
- Polysomnography * MeSH
- Risk Factors MeSH
- Dentists * statistics & numerical data MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
