Obstructive Sleep Apnea, TMD, and sleep bruxism can co-exist and sometimes influence each other, though the relationship is complex and each condition requires its own evaluation. A dentist with training in sleep medicine can recognise potential signs of sleep-disordered breathing, including loud snoring, witnessed breathing pauses, or unrefreshing sleep reported by patients, and make appropriate referrals for medical assessment. In selected patients who have already received a formal sleep diagnosis, dental sleep medicine approaches such as mandibular advancement devices may form part of the collaborative management plan. My Fellowship training in Orofacial Pain and Sleep Medicine from the USA specifically prepares me to navigate this overlap carefully.
Written by Dr. Deepa Jayashankar, MDS (Prosthodontics and Implantology), Fellowship in Temporomandibular Disorders, Orofacial Pain and Sleep Medicine (USA), Founder and Chief Dentist, Tooth Firm Dental Care and Implant Center, 1669/A, 14th Main Road, 7th Sector, HSR Layout, Bengaluru 560102. Phone: +91 8088058704.
