Undergraduate dental education on oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea at The University of British Columbia

The updated practice parameters from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in 2006 have concluded that oral appliances are indicated for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and for patients who want an alternative to nasal continuous positive airway pressure. However, the involvement of dentists in OSA treatment using oral appliances still appears unsatisfactory in Japan, in part due to the lack of formal lectures on OSA in dental institutions. The authors introduce oral appliance therapy as an educational activity at The University of British Columbia Faculty of Dentistry in this report. The report offers a clinical protocol for oral appliances and information available for establishing dental-medical co-operation in OSA treatment. It may also provide the key to developing a curriculum for undergraduate dental students in Japan.