LITMIR.BIZ

      Preface

      The importance of sleep, the disciplines of sleep medicine and more specifically dental sleep medicine as well as the management of sleep disorders, has continued to develop over the past 10 years. In like manner, the involvement and contribution of dentistry has also grown. The role of the dentist has and continues to be primarily focused on the recognition and management of sleep‐related breathing disorders (SRBDs) primarily associated with the use of oral appliance therapy (OAT). It is recognized that dental practices see a significant number of patients on a regular basis, and this positions them such that screening for a variety of health‐related concerns potentially has a significant impact on the lives of the patients they encounter. This now applies to the recognition of a sleep disorder as well, estimated to involve 50–70 million people in the United States. In 2010, the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) indicted that 65% of patients between the age of 18 and 65 visit the dentist once a year. When considering the SRBD, in particular sleep apnea, it is recognized that roughly 80% of people who are at risk for this are currently undiagnosed, let alone adequately managed.

      The role of dentistry has also been recognized and substantiated by the American Dental Association (ADA), with publication of guidelines in 2017 for screening and the use of OAT. The essence here is that every dentist should be familiar with SRBDs and how to screen for them as well as in the use of oral appliances (OAs). The second edition of this textbook is intended to meet and even exceed those objectives. This edition is intended as a basic understanding of sleep, sleep disorders, the role of the dentist, the use of oral appliances, and to also become familiar with other options for the management of the SRBD. Conceptually, this edition is intended for those seeking a basic understanding of sleep as well as the more common sleep disorders. It is applicable to anyone wishing to learn more, from the dental student to those in a postdoctoral program and for the practicing dentist or hygienist. More importantly the intent is for this edition to offer information and guidance that is clinically applicable. This involves the screening process, the clinical evaluation, and the use of OAT.

The second edition is an expanded version of the first edition. The explosion of information and evidence since the first edition was released has been important for this current edition. This edition has been broken down into five sections that will allow the reader to focus on a particular area that may be of particular interest. Additionally, this edition involved contributing authors with expertise in their respective discipline of interest to enhance that specific chapter and provide a higher level of evidence. Throughout the book and in the appendix a variety of documents for screening as well as tracking patient progress have been referenced or created to aid the practitioner with their involvement in this discipline. It is important for the reader and student to realize that even though the dentist may not be involved in the management of most of the sleep disorders reviewed, it is important to be familiar with many simply to improve patient care and one’s quality of life.

      A text such as this involves many people. The contributing authors; the staff at Wiley‐Blackwell, especially Tanya, Erica, and Krishna; and the many people who contribute to the production of this second edition. Recognition of the many people in research, education, and practice who publish the information used as a basis for the creation of each chapter have also impacted a text such as this one. Hopefully this edition will act as the catalyst for continued education and learning that involves sleep medicine resulting in improved health and quality of life for the patients we serve.

       Dennis R. Bailey, DDS, FAGD, D,ABOP, D,ABDSM

       Ronald Attanasio, DDS, MSEd, MS