The University of Mississippi Medical Center is training dental students and providers to screen patients for sleep apnea by identifying signs within the oral cavity, a practice that can be life-changing for patients with the disorder. Dental providers can notice symptoms that correlate with sleep apnea because they are positioned to examine the oral cavity.
Dentists Assess Sleep Apnea Signs
Dental providers assess for signs like a scalloped tongue on the sides and an abnormal shape of the palate, according to Dr. William Boteler, an associate professor at the UMC School of Dentistry. Other signs include teeth worn down, broken or with chips in the enamel caused by clenching, gritting or grinding during sleep, and acid reflux damage on teeth from when a patient struggles to breathe.
By law, dental students and providers can screen for sleep apnea, but they cannot diagnose it. If they see enough signs, they refer patients to a board-certified sleep physician. Boteler estimates that about 25 percent of patients at the School of Dentistry have sleep apnea.
Treatments Include Nerve Device
The screening is part of a multidisciplinary care approach at UMC. Dr. Andrea Lewis said that Boteler not only gives his patients information, but makes them feel excited about getting treatment, and that it makes his trainees excited about it.
Treatments for sleep apnea include a surgically implanted device that stimulates the hypoglossal nerve and a retainer-like appliance that fits over the upper and lower teeth to keep the jaw from dropping back and creating a blocked airway. Boteler and the School of Dentistry are also beginning to teach dental hygiene students to screen, as they are often the first to see a patient.
Earlier coverage: Sleep Apnea: Symptoms, Risks, and Treatments Explained
