Dental considerations in upper airway sleep disorders: A review of the literature

Statement of problem. Upper airway sleep disorders are becoming recognized as common medical concerns. Multiple treatment options have been advocated, including the use of dental devices. Dental practitioners are being asked by the medical profession to become a part of the treatment team. This may be a challenging task because of the large number of dental devices availab le, rapid advancement in the understanding of this disease, and numerous pu blications. Purpose. This article reviews the anatomic features and etiologic factors o f upper airway sleep disorders and medical and dental treatment options. Methods. The literature review was conducted with an accepted literature re search tool, PubMed, developed by the National Library of Medicine. Key wor ds searched included "obstructive sleep apnea," "sleep apnea," "sleep disor ders," and "snoring." Conclusion. Dental devices are indicated in snoring and mild-to-moderate ob structive sleep apnea patients after medical evaluation and referral.