AIM: To determine the attitudes and awareness of dental and medical practitioners in Scotland to the provision of oral appliances for the management of snoring and sleep apnoea. SETTING: The questionnaire was completed by general dental practitioners randomly selected from across Scotland and by doctors specialising in sleep medicine within Scotland. METHOD: A questionnaire was devised and sent to 17 specialists in sleep medicine and 210 general dental practitioners, community dental service practitioners and hospital-based dental practitioners. A reply-paid envelope was included with each questionnaire. RESULTS: There were 14 replies (82%) from specialists and 105 (50%) from dentists. All the specialists felt that dentists had a role in the management of these patients. Of the replies from dentists, 60 (57%) stated that they provided appliances but their screening for sleep apnoea and discussion of the side-effects of appliances varied widely. Seventy-eight dentists (74%) expressed an interest in attending a course on the management of sleep apnoea and snoring. CONCLUSIONS: The current practice of specialists and dentists in the management of obstructive sleep apnoea and socially disruptive snoring with oral appliances in Scotland is varied. Many dentists expressed a wish for further training in this area.
AIM: To determine the attitudes and awareness of dental and medical practitioners in Scotland to the provision of oral appliances for the management of snoring and sleep apnoea. SETTING: The questionnaire was completed by general dental practitioners randomly selected from across Scotland and by doctors specialising in sleep medicine within Scotland. METHOD: A questionnaire was devised and sent to 17 specialists in sleep medicine and 210 general dental practitioners, community dental service practitioners and hospital-based dental practitioners. A reply-paid envelope was included with each questionnaire. RESULTS: There were 14 replies (82%) from specialists and 105 (50%) from dentists. All the specialists felt that dentists had a role in the management of these patients. Of the replies from dentists, 60 (57%) stated that they provided appliances but their screening for sleep apnoea and discussion of the side-effects of appliances varied widely. Seventy-eight dentists (74%) expressed an interest in attending a course on the management of sleep apnoea and snoring. CONCLUSIONS: The current practice of specialists and dentists in the management of obstructive sleep apnoea and socially disruptive snoring with oral appliances in Scotland is varied. Many dentists expressed a wish for further training in this area.