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Good morning.

Did you know sleep apnea could be aging you faster? Today, we're diving into the surprising link between OSA and cellular aging.

Plus, we'll show you how to seamlessly integrate sleep screening into your practice!

In Today’s Edition:

• How Sleep Apnea Speeds Up Aging

• Implementing Dental Sleep Medicine Screening in Your Practice

• Industry Events

5-minute read👇

Clinical Corner

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Key Takeaways🔑

How Sleep Apnea Speeds Up Aging—And What Dental Sleep Professionals Can Do About It

Introduction:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is more than just interrupted breathing during sleep—it’s a condition that accelerates cellular aging. The stress of repeated oxygen deprivation causes inflammation and oxidative damage, shortening telomeres, the protective caps on our chromosomes. This shortening speeds up aging and raises the risk of conditions like hypertension and diabetes. For dental sleep professionals, understanding this connection is key to improving patient outcomes.

How OSA Accelerates Aging

Telomeres shorten naturally with age, but OSA speeds up this process. Studies show that OSA patients, especially those with severe cases, have shorter telomeres compared to healthy individuals. This shortening, caused by hypoxia, oxidative stress, and inflammation, increases the likelihood of developing age-related diseases​(ijms-22-12536).

Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: The Culprits

In OSA patients, frequent oxygen deprivation (hypoxia) produces harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS), which damage DNA and shorten telomeres. Chronic inflammation from OSA further compounds the damage by activating proteins like NF-κB, which promotes inflammation and accelerates telomere loss​(ijms-22-12536).

Sleep Disruption and Circadian Clock Issues

Frequent sleep interruptions in OSA patients disturb the body’s circadian clock, impairing the natural repair processes needed to maintain telomere length. Disruption of this clock makes it harder for the body to heal, contributing to faster cellular aging​(ijms-22-12536).

Can Treatment Reverse Telomere Damage?

Research shows that treating OSA can slow down telomere shortening. A study found that patients using mandibular advancement devices (MAD) for three months had longer telomeres and higher levels of SIRT1, a protein linked to longevity​(ijms-22-12536). This suggests that treating OSA can not only improve sleep but also slow aging.

Key Takeaways for Dental Sleep Professionals:

1. Early Screening is Key: Identify OSA in patients, especially those with risk factors like hypertension or diabetes, to prevent long-term cellular damage.

2. Address Inflammation and Oxidative Stress: Recommend lifestyle changes and appropriate treatments to manage these factors in OSA patients.

3. Promote Effective Treatments: Emphasize the long-term health benefits of using MAD or CPAP beyond just improving sleep.

4. Monitor Cellular Health: Track biomarkers like telomere length to assess the effectiveness of OSA treatment in your patients.

Conclusion:
OSA accelerates the aging process, but early intervention and effective treatment can slow it down. As a dental sleep professional, understanding the link between OSA and aging will allow you to better serve your patients—helping them not only sleep better but also live longer healthier lives.

Business of Sleep

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Implementing Dental Sleep Medicine Screening in Your Practice: Step-by-Step Process

• Office Announcement:
  Display signage throughout the office stating that your practice is screening patients for Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders (SRBD), in line with the 2017 American Dental Association recommendation.

• Hygienist’s Role:

  • Hygienists take the lead in identifying risk factors such as:

    • Scalloped tongue

    • Mallampati score

    • Dental attrition and crowding

  • Correlate findings with the patient’s medical history, particularly noting conditions like hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

  • Briefly discuss possible connections between SRBD and oral health issues, such as:

    • Dental attrition

    • Gingival recession

    • Gumline cavitations

  • Update the doctor during the patient's exam about potential risk factors.

• Doctor’s Recommendation:

  • Recommend the patient undergo a sleep test, which a board-certified sleep physician will read.

  • If the patient is unsure about completing the test, offer a brief initial sleep consultation for a small fee to explain the importance of the test and discuss potential health implications.

• Next Steps After the Sleep Test:

  • Once the sleep test is completed and a physician has provided a diagnosis, review treatment options with the patient.

  • Guide the patient based on their preferences and the physician’s recommendations.

• Address Upper Airway Anatomy:

  • The dentist should always ask what upper airway anatomy is contributing to the SRBD.

  • Further diagnostics, such as a CBCT scan or an ENT consultation, should be recommended before making an oral airway device for treatment.

This structured approach is a start and helps ensure that your team is aligned in identifying and addressing sleep-related breathing disorders, ultimately improving patient outcomes while expanding your practice's services. There is more to learn.

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