Events

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent and clinically complex condition, traditionally attributed to upper airway collapse, reduced neuromuscular tone, obesity and anatomical narrowing during sleep. However, growing clinical and epidemiological evidence demonstrates that craniofacial structure, growth patterns, and upper airway development play a significant role in both the presentation and progression of sleep-disordered breathing.

OSA is increasingly recognized as a multifactorial condition, influenced by genetic, epigenetic, morphologic, and neuromuscular factors. Craniofacial variation, body fat distribution, and neural control of the upper airway interact to produce a wide spectrum of clinical phenotypes, many of which are encountered daily across dental, orthodontic, medical, and allied healthcare practices.

While CPAP, surgical implants, and orthognathic procedures are often considered definitive treatment options, mandibular advancement devices (MADs) remain a common non-surgical approach within dental sleep medicine. Although effective for short- to mid-term symptom control, MADs focus on symptom mitigation rather than the underlying etiology, and have been associated with reported long-term side effects including occlusal changes and Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD) symptoms in some patients.