Dental clinics of North America
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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 is obvious that there is much more to learn. ⋯ However, the most significant developments that moved sleep forward into the practice of medicine, and eventually dentistry, occurred from the 1950s on. This article explores the highlights of the history of sleep and sleep medicine.
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Dent. Clin. North Am. · Apr 2012
ReviewSleep 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 electromyographic (EMG) episodes in the masseter and temporalis muscles. ⋯ The authors observed that most RMMA episodes occur in association with sleep arousal and are preceded by physiologic activation of the central nervous and sympathetic cardiac systems. This article provides a comprehensive review of the cause, pathophysiology, assessment, and management of SB.
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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 are unwilling or unable to tolerate continuous positive airway pressure for the management of their disease. Studies have demonstrated the ability of OAs to eliminate or significantly reduce the symptoms of OSA and produce a measurable influence on the long-term health effects of the disease. Most studies have evaluated one type of OAs, the mandibular advancement splints. This article describes the effectiveness and outcomes of mandibular advancement splints.