Sleep apnea: A dental perspective

Abstract

Sleep apnea is an entity characterized by repetitive upper airway obstruction resulting in nocturnal hypoxia and sleep fragmentation. It is recognized as a public health problem and shows detrimental effects on health, such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and death. The prevalence rate is 19.5% among men and 7.5% among women in India. Polysomnography remains the gold standard method for diagnosis of sleep apnea and assessment of sleep apnea. Positive pressure therapy is the mainstay therapy of sleep apnea. Other treatment modalities include lifestyle modification, upper airway surgery, and use of an oral appliance. This article reviews the available data on management of sleep apnea.

Keywords

• Airway
• continuous positive airway pressure
• hypoxia
• obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
• polysomnography
• sleep apnea
• sleep-disordered breathing