New Study Highlights Key Indicators for Dentists to Identify Sleep Apnea
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In a research review published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, Rutgers Health researchers identified dentists as an unexpected player in the battle against life-threatening sleep disorders.
A patient dozes off in a dental chair despite the anxiety of an impending procedure. A seemingly unremarkable act but — for dentists versed in the latest sleep research — this red flag hints at a life-threatening condition.
The review suggests dental professionals have unique opportunities to screen for conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder that affects millions of Americans and is linked to serious health risks, including cardiovascular disease and neurodegeneration.
It also challenges dentists to look beyond teeth and gums to the broader landscape of patient health.
Sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea affect more than half of people at some point in their lives. Many cases go undiagnosed, but dentists can play an important role in reducing those numbers.
The review outlines several key indicators that dental clinicians should look for during examinations, including enlarged jaw muscles, scalloped tongue edges, white lines on the cheeks, restricted visibility of the throat, dental wear patterns and tiny cracks on teeth.
These physical signs, combined with patient history and simple screening tools, can help dentists identify at-risk patients with up to 80 percent accuracy.
Another sign of concern, according to the review authors, is bruxism, commonly known as teeth grinding. Contrary to long-held beliefs, the studies suggest teeth griding is often a symptom of underlying sleep issues rather than a standalone problem caused by dental misalignment.
This shift in perspective could have far-reaching implications. By identifying patients at risk for sleep disorders, dentists can facilitate early intervention, potentially preventing complications such as hypertension, heart disease and stroke.
To implement these findings, scientists propose a simple protocol for dental practices: Incorporate sleep-related questions into patient history forms. Other recommendations include training dental staff to recognise physical signs of sleep disorders and using validated screening tools like the STOP-BANG (snoring, tiredness, observed apnea, blood pressure, body mass index, age, neck size, gender) questionnaire, which screens for obstructive sleep apnea and establish referral networks with sleep medicine specialists.
Scientists recommends that dentists looking to incorporate sleep screening into their practices start with education.
Reference: Thomas, D. C., Somaiya, T., Meira E. Cruz, M., Pitchumani, P. K., Ardeshna, A., Ravi, A., & Prabhakar, S. (2024). The enigma of sleep: Implications of sleep neuroscience for the dental clinician and patient. The Journal of the American Dental Association. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2024.05.007
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