Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) represents one of the most prevalent yet under-recognised chronic health conditions worldwide. With an estimated hundreds of millions affected globally and a substantial proportion remaining undiagnosed, it imposes significant morbidity, including cardiovascular risk, metabolic dysfunction, and impaired quality of life. In this context, the role of the orthodontist must evolve beyond traditional occlusal correction to encompass airway-focused screening and management within multidisciplinary care. This lecture will challenge the orthodontic community to reconsider professional boundaries and embrace a frontline role in identifying patients at risk of sleep-disordered breathing. I will outline pragmatic, evidence-based screening protocols that can be implemented in routine practice, including symptom inventories and validated questionnaires. Early recognition and appropriate referral not only improve patient outcomes but also expand the orthodontist’s contribution to systemic health. Building on screening foundations, I will then focus on mandibular advancement devices (MADs) as a clinically viable management option for mild to severe OSA and snorers. Supported by contemporary guideline inclusion and clinical evidence demonstrating their effectiveness in reducing apnoea–hypopnoea indices and improving patient-reported outcomes, mandibular advancement appliances offer a minimally invasive, patient-centred alternative or adjunct to continuous positive airway pressure therapy. Practical insights into patient selection, customisation, therapeutic titration, and follow-up will be shared to help clinicians confidently integrate MADs into their care pathways. This session is designed to equip orthodontists with the skills, frameworks, and conviction to act decisively in the screening and management of sleep apnoea -no longer as passive observers but as active advocates for airway health.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn how to correctly screen patients and assess their risk of Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)
- Learn how to follow evidence based protocols to diagnose prescribe and manage OSA patients
- Learn clinical and practical applications of mandibular advancement devices