The Role of Orthodontic Treatment in the Management of Sleep Apnea and Other Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders

Abstract

Sleep-disordered breathing encompasses conditions ranging from primary snoring to the more serious obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), caused by upper airway obstructions during sleep. OSA disrupts sleep patterns, leading to health issues like hypertension and cardiovascular problems. Although adults with sleep-disordered breathing typically face issues with upper airway instability or complete pharyngeal obstruction, the root cause often lies in structural blockages in the nasal passage. The gold standard for OSA treatment is continuous positive air pressure. However, orthodontic treatments also play a crucial role, though they are often overlooked. Orthodontics is not limited to tooth alignment; when integrated with medical approaches, it provides alternative OSA treatments. While orthodontics typically focuses on tooth positioning, collaboration with oral and maxillofacial surgeons is frequent, especially for orthognathic surgery. For pediatric patients, growth modification treatments are also viable. Some treatments, especially for adolescents, have shown significant promise in managing OSA.