Could dentists be the first line of defence against sleep apnea? A review says yes
Dentists may be the first line of defence against sleep apnea, according to a new study by Rutgers Health, published in the Journal of the American Dental Association.
“Dentists can be the first line of defence in identifying sleep disorders. They often see symptoms long before physicians,” said Davis Thomas, DDS, a clinical associate professor at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and senior author of the review, in a release.
The authors reviewed literature on sleep medicine, focusing on articles related to dental medicine, published between January 1990 and March 2024. They prioritized studies on neuroscience.
The review found that dentists can spot early signs of sleep disorders, such as tooth grinding, enlarged jaw muscles, tongue scalloping or patients dozing off during routine dental exams.
The study also found that dentists can identify at-risk patients with 80 per cent accuracy by using tools like the STOP-BANG questionnaire, alongside observing subtle oral and behavioural signs.
It advised dentists to refer patients to sleep medicine specialists, which can help prevent severe complications such as heart disease and stroke.
“We have a great opportunity to change lives for the better,” Thomas added.
