Anxiety Control in the Dental Patient
Oral sedation with benzodiazepines and anxiolysis with nitrous oxide are 2 effective methods to help alleviate anxiety and fear of dental procedures. Many patients would prefer to have their dentistry…
General Dentistry
Sleep Study—What the Dentist Needs to Know
The intent of this article is to familiarize dental professionals with the polysomnogram (PSG). The evaluation of patients presenting with sleep disorders is complex, requiring an investigative approach that synthesizes…
Cone Beam Computed Tomography: Craniofacial and Airway Analysis
Imaging plays a role in the anatomic assessment of the airway and adjacent structures. This article discusses the use of 3-dimensional (3D) imaging (cone beam computed tomography [CBCT]) to evaluate…
Surgical Reconstruction of the Upper Airway for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Positive airway pressure can be effective for OSA treatment but is not effectively used by many patients. Surgical reconstruction of the airway is appropriate for patients who are not otherwise…
Temporomandibular Disorder Pain and Dental Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Treatment of sleep apnea with mandibular advancement devices (MADs) may be associated with the development of symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD). This article discusses the different types of TMD and…
Use of Portable Monitoring for Sleep-Disordered Breathing Treated with an Oral Appliance
The potential use of a portable monitor to assess the outcome of treatment with an oral appliance would ideally be performed by the dentist who is managing the patient’s sleep-disordered…
Effectiveness and Outcome of Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral appliances (OAs) are a primary treatment option for snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and are implemented as a noninvasive alternative for patients with severe OSA who…
Medical Insurance for Dental Sleep Medicine
Over the last 5 to 7 years, dental teams have mastered the art and science of processing dental insurance for their patients but have major difficulties learning how to help…
Medical Disorders Impacted by Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Normal-sleeping individuals experience a lower metabolic rate and relative cardiovascular quiescent state with lower heart rate and blood pressure that naturally occurs during sleep compared with the waking state. In…
Sleep Bruxism: A Comprehensive Overview for the Dental Clinician Interested in Sleep Medicine
Sleep bruxism (SB) is a common sleep-related motor disorder characterized by tooth grinding and clenching. SB diagnosis is made on history of tooth grinding and confirmed by polysomnographic recording of…
Screening and Comprehensive Evaluation for Sleep Related Breathing Disorders
The dentist is well positioned to screen for patients at risk for a sleep disorders, most often a sleep related breathing disorder, and when adequately trained, can treat those diagnosed…
Basic Biology of Sleep
Sleep can be defined as a complex reversible state characterized by behavioral quiescence, diminished responsiveness to external stimuli, and a stereotypical species-specific posture. Both components of sleep, non–rapid eye movement…
Sleep Medicine in Dentistry
This issue of the Dental Clinics of North America is designed to enlighten the reader about the current status of various topics in sleep medicine that are of interest to…
The History of Sleep Medicine
Sleep medicine as it is known today actually started as research and scientific study, not as clinical medicine. When one considers that sleep medicine today is in its infancy, it…
Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Oral and Systemic Diseases
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells whose self-renewal, multipotency, and immunosuppressive functions have been investigated for therapeutic applications. MSCs have used for various systemic organ regenerative therapies, allowing…
Outcomes of Regenerative Endodontic Procedures
The use of regenerative endodontic techniques holds great promise for the treatment of immature teeth with necrotic pulp tissue. Several published case reports and case series have demonstrated radiographic evidence…
Regenerative Endodontics
Regenerative endodontics has encountered substantial challenges toward clinical translation. The adoption by the American Dental Association of evoked pulp bleeding in immature permanent teeth is an important step for regenerative…
Clinical Considerations for Regenerative Endodontic Procedures
The management of a tooth with incomplete root maturation and a necrotic pulp is an endodontic and a restorative challenge. Apexification procedures alone leave the tooth in a weakened state…
Regenerative Endodontics and Tissue Engineering
The work performed by researchers in regenerative endodontics and tissue engineering over the last decades has been superb; however, many questions remain to be answered. The basic biologic mechanisms must…
