Initial diagnosis of Sleep Apnoea must be made by an appropriate medical practitioner. If a dental appliance is required, it should be managed by a dentist.
2.1 Both initial diagnosis and prescriptions for Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) therapy, as well as monitoring of therapy effectiveness require careful assessment by the patient’s medical practitioner.
2.2 Dentists are the only dental practitioners who are qualified to manage oral appliance therapy for
SDB. Oral appliances can be a first-line therapeutic option for adults with snoring and mild to moderate forms of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA).
2.3 Oral appliances may also be indicated for people with severe OSA who are not compatible with
continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.
2.4 Where there is long-term use of oral appliances, monitoring of the patient’s temporomandibular joint function and orthodontic movement of teeth is essential.
2.5 Medical and dental expertise are both required to manage patients who are candidates for oral appliance therapy for SDB. Medical expertise is needed to determine whether it is indicated and to ensure that, once prescribed, the therapy is and remains effective. Dental expertise is needed to assess suitability of the treatment from the dental viewpoint, to supervise its implementation, and to ensure that oro-facial complications are prevented and/or promptly recognised and managed. A team approach is essential.
3.1 Dental Sleep Medicine is not a recognised dental specialty.
3.2 Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) has the potential to seriously interfere with quality of life and general health. It has been associated with hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke and premature death.
3.3 Anatomical airway collapse, poor muscle responsiveness, low arousal threshold, and altered
respiratory-control mechanisms cause SDB.
3.4 Obesity is associated with an increased incidence of SDB.
3.5 Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) has been associated in children as well as adults.
3.6 There are a number of therapeutic options to treat SDB. One of these is the use of oral appliances, which may lead to a reduction of snoring or the harmful effects of OSA.
3.7 Appropriate treatment strategies for the use of oral appliances in therapy for SDB require a multi-disciplinary and collaborative setting using evidence-based guidance.
4.1 DENTAL PRACTITIONER is a person registered by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency via the Board to provide dental care.
4.2 DENTIST is an appropriately qualified dental practitioner, registered by the Board to practise all areas of dentistry.
4.3 MEDICAL PRACTITIONER is a person registered by the Medical Board of Australia to be able to use the title Medical Practitioner and be recognised to receive Medicare and other benefits.
4.4 OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNOEA (OSA) is a form of SDB that involves snoring but is caused by a more significant upper airway obstruction with consequent sleep fragmentation, hypoxaemia or both.
4.5 SLEEP-DISORDERED BREATHING (SDB) is a group of disorders characterised by abnormalities of breathing or respiratory pattern or the quantity of ventilation during sleep.
4.6 SPECIALIST DENTIST or SPECIALIST is one who practises a recognised specialty, possesses a higher qualification relevant to this area of dentistry and has been so registered.
June 2025
June 2030
