I think it would be interesting to set up a booth at a carnival to try and guess people’s sleep—not age, not weight, but sleep. “Step right up! Let your dentist look in your mouth, ask three questions, and guess how you sleep! Win a prize every time!”
Sure, it’s a silly idea, but it’s not as ridiculous as it may seem. There are signs in a person’s mouth that can be indicators of sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs). In fact, the American Dental Association has said that all dentists should screen their patients for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and other SRBDs.
Why would they recommend that? Dentists certainly don’t diagnose sleep apnea. But many people see their dentist more often than their physician. And when you do see a doctor, are they looking in your mouth for a scalloped tongue or excessive tooth wear? Of course not, because that’s not their area of expertise. But your dentist is looking in your mouth every six months, if not more often. What a great opportunity to look for any potential signs of OSA and discuss what they could mean.
Why Does It Matter?
You are probably familiar with OSA. It likely makes you think of an overweight, older man with a CPAP. Screening tools for OSA even ask if you are male, overweight, and over a certain age. However, OSA is commonly undiagnosed in two important groups: women and children. That’s because weight and age are not the only contributing factors, and it’s simply not being looked for in people who don’t “look the part.”
What’s the big deal? OSA basically creates a panic response in your body when you should be resting. You are suddenly not breathing, and your body has to react. This creates a cascade of internal effects and physically disrupts your sleep. OSA can affect healing, memory, cognition, blood pressure, hormonal balance, stroke risk—you name it. It has been linked to many issues that go far beyond just driving your spouse crazy with your snoring.
There are also links between OSA and bruxism (clenching and grinding) because the body is trying to open up the airway in order to breathe. Children who grind their teeth may have an airway issue, which has been linked to behavioral issues like ADHD and bedwetting. Many adults who clench or grind will try a nightguard, only to find it on the floor when they wake up. That’s because a nightguard can make OSA worse, and your body got rid of it to try to survive.
How Does the Dentist Help?
By screening every patient for SRBDs, a dentist can help detect a potential problem and then make the appropriate referral. It could be to a sleep physician, primary care physician, or pediatrician. If the issue is OSA, the treatment could include weight management, tonsil removal, an implanted device, a CPAP, or an oral appliance. It’s not just about helping patients sleep better; it’s about helping them live longer.
