Nature and Science of Sleep (Dec 2020)
A Further Introduction to Dental Sleep Medicine
Abstract
Frank Lobbezoo,1 Nico de Vries,1– 3 Jan de Lange,4 Ghizlane Aarab1 1Department of Orofacial Pain and Dysfunction, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; 2Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis (OLVG) West, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; 3Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Multidisciplinary Sleep Disorders Centre, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium; 4Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centre and Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Amsterdam, the NetherlandsCorrespondence: Frank LobbezooDepartment of Orofacial Pain and Dysfunction, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004, Amsterdam 1081 LA, the NetherlandsTel +31-20-5980412Fax +31-20-5980333Email [email protected]: Dental sleep medicine traditionally focuses on sleep-related breathing disorders, such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. However, everyday practice shows that also other sleep disorders touch on dentistry, including sleep-related orofacial pain, xerostomia, hypersalivation, gastroesophageal reflux disease and bruxism. A new definition, which covers all the diagnostic and treatment aspects of these disorders, has therefore been formulated for dental sleep medicine. This article describes why this development started and sketches the current state of affairs regarding the discipline of dental sleep medicine. The different dental sleep disorders are also described briefly, with special focus on the more remarkable associations between them.Keywords: dentistry, sleep medicine, sleep disorders, comorbidities
