CDA Essentials 2018 • Volume 5 • Issue 4

33 Issue 4 | 2018 | S upporting Y our P ractice 1. For patients with mild OSA who are overweight or obese, lifestyle interventions are recommended. For patients with mild OSA who are not overweight or obese, active treatment is not recommended. 2. For patients with moderate or severe OSA, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)—considered the gold standard for OSA treatment—is recommended. For patients with moderate or severe OSA for whom CPAP is unacceptable, oral appliances such as mandibular advancement devices are recommended. 3. Surgical maxillomandibular advancement (MMA), a surgical procedure that permanently pulls the lower jaw forward to create more space and prevent airway collapse, is not recommended in patients with OSA, unless other interventions have failed or are unacceptable to the patient. OSA is estimated to affect up to one in four adults in Canada. The dangers associated with untreated OSA are serious: a greater risk of motor vehicle accidents, cardiovascular disease, stroke, hypertension and diabetes. Although the severity of sleep apnea can range from mild to extreme, the relationship between symptoms and severity are unclear. Dentists can make an important contribution to overall patient health by identifying patients at risk for OSA, recommending medical evaluation, and educating patients about available treatment options, says Dr. Aaron Burry, CDA associate director of clinical and scientific affairs. “Through conversations with our patients, we are in a position to help those we suspect may have undiagnosed OSA by guiding them towards better health.” a An expert panel evaluated OSA treatments for clinical- and cost-effectiveness, safety and patient experiences, and made the following recommendations: With so many options available for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), it can be difficult for clinicians and patients to know what treatment is best. A health technolog y assessment (HTA) report by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) looked at available treatment options for OSA and provides guidance on appropriate interventions based on OSA severity and other considerations. (see p. 32) Treatment Options for Obstructive Sleep Apnea To read the full report, visit cadth.ca/interventions- obstructive-sleep-apnea Dentists can make an important contribution to overall patient health by identifying patients at risk for OSA, recommending medical evaluation, and educating patients about available treatment options . Infographic reprinted with permission of CADTH. Available at: cadth.ca/sites/default/files/pdf/CADTH_OSA_Infographic-e.pdf