Subscribe 

Good morning!

Did you know 34% of intellectually disabled adults have sleep disorders?

This startling statistic from the latest BJPsych Bulletin highlights a critical gap in care.

Today's Clinical Corner breaks down what this means for your dental sleep practice and how to spot key warning signs during routine visits.

In Today’s Edition:

• Sleep and Intellectual Disabilities

• CE Opportunities / Events

5-minute read👇

Clinical Corner

🥼Use the clinical corner as your secret weapon to impress your colleagues and patients!

Key Takeaways🔑

Sleep and Intellectual Disabilities: What Dental Sleep Professionals Should Know

As a dental sleep practitioner, I've found the latest BJPsych Bulletin study fascinating. It reports that 34% of adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience significant sleep disorders - a statistic that should grab our attention.

Why This Matters to Us

Think about your practice. How many ID patients do you screen for sleep disorders? The study highlights that 72% of older adults with ID report sleep difficulties. That's nearly three out of four patients we might be missing.

Key Findings That Impact Our Work

The study's insights on Down's syndrome particularly caught my eye. The combination of hypotonia, obesity, and craniofacial features aligns perfectly with what we look for during airway assessments. It's like having a roadmap for targeted screening.

What This Means for Your Practice

First, don't assume standard screenings will work. The study shows we need modified approaches for ID patients - something I've seen firsthand. Consider these aspects:

• Longer observation periods yield better data

• Caregiver input is crucial

• Traditional questionnaires may need adaptation

The Big Picture

While reading this study, I kept thinking about our unique position in healthcare. We often see these patients regularly for dental care, putting us on the front lines of sleep disorder detection. That's both a responsibility and an opportunity.

Moving Forward

Let's use this research to enhance our screening protocols, especially for patients with Down's syndrome. But remember - our role is to identify and refer appropriately while working within our scope of practice.

After all, good sleep medicine, like good dentistry, is about collaboration.

Reference: BJPsych Bulletin, Volume 47, Issue 3, June 2023

Something Sweet

🍭Stuff so sweet you might get a cavity..

CE Opportunities / Events

Have an event you would like to post? (free) [ click here ]