Obstructive Sleep Apnea SyndromePart II Methods of Examination

Overview

The obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is verified by means of polysomnography– the all-night monitoring of sleep. The patient affected by OSAS is typically of male sex, mildlyor severely obese, with a large circumference of the neck, increased deposition of fat into softpalate, lateral parts of oropharynx and into the tongue, displaying a prolonged soft palate,hypoplastic mandible or maxilla (particularly in the sagital direction). Orthopantomogram orlateral cephalogramof the patient are characterized by calcified atheroma plaques in the carotidartery. Anamnesis in these patients is most frequently characterized with chronic fatiguesyndrome of uncertain etiology, period of microsleep, hypertension, snoring and diabetesmellitus of IInd type. If the dentist discerns these symptoms, suspicion of OSAS may be putforward.

Key words:
obstructive sleep apnea syndrome – methods of examination