Obstructive sleep apnea and orthodontics - A Review

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person's breathing is interrupted during sleep. There are basically two types of Sleep apnea (central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea) where obstructive sleep apnea is the more common one. OSA is associated with interrupted breathing during sleep due to any obstruction due to repeated collapse of airway. This disorder can be life threatening as the oxygen supply to various parts of the body is substantially reduced. This review article sheds light on the various diagnostic methods and the management of OSA which includes the specific and non-specific treatment modalities. The various surgerical methods and oral appliances are also looked upon for the management of OSA.