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Open Access Journal of Dental and Oral Surgery
[ ISSN : 2833-0994 ]


Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS): The Key Role of the Dentist in the Management of a Potentially Lifethreatening Condition

Mini Review
Volume 4 - Issue 3 | Article DOI : 10.54026/OAJDOS/1063


Francesca Zangari1 and Claudio Cesari2*

1Sleep Dentist and Forensic Odontologist, Ravenna, Italy
2Department of Periodontology, University Vita e Salute San Raffaele, Milano, Italy

Corresponding Authors

Claudio Cesari, Department of Periodontology, University Vita e Salute San Raffaele, Milano, Italy

Keywords

Obstructive sleep apnea; Road traffic accidents; Driving licence; Work accidents; Dental sleep medicine

Received : June 21, 2023
Published : June 28, 2023

Abstract

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is a chronic nocturnal respiratory disorder associated to excessive daytime sleepiness. It’s a potentially life-threatening condition. If left untreated it’s at high risk for comorbidities, such as cardiometabolic complications and neurocognitive sequelae, as well as road and workplace accidents. For this reason, OSAS has an adverse impact on economic systems: direct costs, which are the health costs necessary for diagnosis and treatment of the disorder and its correlated medical consequences and for recourse to hospital admissions, and indirect, or social, costs due to a decrease in work productivity and an increase of permanent disabilities resulting from road and workplace accidents. These patients can obtain a better quality of life only from an adequate management of the disorder and, consequently, the whole society will enjoy the benefits. This article focuses on the most relevant social and medicallegal issues correlated to OSAS and highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach wherein the dentist can play a significant prevention, diagnostic and treatment role.