In this issue:
By the Numbers: Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Dental Sleep Medicine
According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, approximately 22 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and an estimated 80 percent of OSA cases are undiagnosed.1 Dentists have the opportunity to help address this problem by screening for sleep-disordered breathing and providing treatment with oral appliances in the dental practice.
24%
Approximate percentage of adult women who are habitual snorers
40%
Approximate percentage of adult men who are habitual snorers
Source: Sleep Education: Resource provided by AASM [internet]. Darien (IL): American Academy of Sleep Medicine; c2018. Snoring - Overview and Facts [cited 2019 Feb 4]. Available from: https://sleepeducation.org/essentials-in-sleep/snoring/overview-and-facts.
$3.4 billion
Additional medical costs in the U.S. that may be caused by undiagnosed moderate to severe sleep apnea in middle-aged adults
936 million
Estimated number of people with sleep apnea worldwide
Source: Sleep Review: The journal for sleep specialists [internet]. Leawood (KS): Anthem Systems; c2019. Nearly 1 Billion People Worldwide Have Sleep Apnea, International Sleep Experts Estimate. 2018 May 22 [cited 2019 Feb 4]. Available from: https://www.sleepreviewmag.com/2018/05/nearly-1-billion-people-worldwide-sleep-apnea-international-sleep-experts-estimate/.
50–75%
Percentage increase in upper airway capacity that can be created with the use of mandibular advancement devices
Source: ResMed: Changing lives with every breath [internet]. San Diego: ResMed Corp; c2000-2019. Sleep Apnea Facts and Figures; 2013 [cited 2019 Feb 4]; [2 p.]. Available from: https://www.resmed.com/us/dam/documents/products/dental/Narval-CC/facts-and-figures/1015527r3_narval-cc-mrd_facts-and-figures_amer_eng.pdf.
References
- Sleep apnea information for clinicians [internet]. Washington, D.C.: American Sleep Apnea Association; c2017 [cited 2019 Feb 4]. Available from: https://www.sleepapnea.org/learn/sleep-apnea-information-clinicians/.
- American Dental Association: America’s leading advocate for oral health [internet]. Chicago: American Dental Association; c2019. Workforce [cited 2019 Feb 4]. Available from: https://www.ada.org/en/science-research/health-policy-institute/dental-statistics/workforce.
- American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine [internet]. Lisle (IL): American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine; c2019. About [cited 2019 Feb 4]. Available from: https://www.aadsm.org/about.php.
