Sleep apnea is widely recognized as a serious health condition, yet many people who have it remain undiagnosed. Dentists encounter this reality frequently not because they are looking for it, but because of the nature of dental care itself.
Patients visit dental practices regularly. Over time, dentists and hygienists notice patterns: reports of chronic fatigue, morning headaches, dry mouth, or snoring mentioned in passing. They also observe oral and facial structures that are relevant to breathing during sleep.
At the same time, many dentists are understandably cautious. Sleep apnea is a medical diagnosis, and questions around scope, responsibility, and liability naturally arise. Where does the dentist’s role begin and where should it clearly end?
Dental sleep medicine exists to answer those questions with structure and clarity.
If you’re curious why this topic is showing up more often in dentistry right now, this goes deeper: Why dentists are increasingly involved in sleep apnea
What dental sleep medicine actually means
Dental sleep medicine refers to the role dentists play in the identification of sleep apnea risk and the delivery of oral appliance therapy after a medical diagnosis has been made.
It does not involve diagnosing sleep apnea. Diagnosis remains a medical responsibility, based on sleep testing and clinical interpretation by a licensed physician.
In practical terms, dental sleep medicine has two clearly defined components:
Keeping these roles distinct is what allows dentists to participate confidently without expanding beyond their professional scope.
If you want the clinical “why” behind dentistry’s relevance here without getting into diagnosis, see: Sleep apnea isn’t just a medical problem: It’s an airway problem
As dental sleep medicine becomes more visible, it often raises questions—especially around responsibility and scope. Much of the hesitation dentists feel doesn’t come from lack of interest, but from uncertainty about what participation actually implies.
Addressing a few common assumptions helps clarify where concern is warranted and where it isn’t.
Clarity around roles is what allows dentists to engage confidently without overstepping. When responsibilities are clearly defined, participation becomes less about risk and more about coordination.
Dental sleep medicine works best when each professional operates within their expertise, with clear handoffs along the way.
What dentists do
Dentists are well positioned to screen for sleep apnea risk. They regularly observe oral structures and hear symptom reports that can reasonably prompt further evaluation.
When a patient has already been diagnosed and a physician has prescribed oral appliance therapy, dentists play a central role in fabricating, fitting, and adjusting that appliance, while coordinating with the prescribing clinician as needed.
What remains medical
Sleep apnea diagnosis requires sleep testing and clinical interpretation. Determining disease severity, deciding whether treatment is required, and selecting the appropriate therapy are medical decisions.
In clinical terms, screening is not diagnosis. Screening is an early step designed to reduce missed cases and guide patients toward proper evaluation. Diagnosis and treatment decisions remain firmly within medical care.
This separation protects both patients and providers.
For a practical look at the kinds of oral and facial features that often correlate with risk (without turning observation into diagnosis), read: How dental anatomy relates to sleep apnea risk
In most cases, the pathway begins during a routine dental visit.
A dentist or hygienist notices indicators that suggest possible sleep apnea risk or hears symptoms that raise concern. Rather than diagnosing, the dentist introduces the topic and explains why further evaluation may be useful.
Structured screening tools such as brief questionnaires or AI-assisted facial screening can help standardize this conversation and provide orientation. These tools help clarify whether the patient may benefit from a closer look.
When screening suggests elevated risk, the next step is medical evaluation, not dental treatment. Patients are connected with licensed sleep clinicians through Arima Health, where sleep specialists review the screening information and determine whether a home sleep apnea test is appropriate.
If sleep apnea is confirmed through testing, the clinician discusses treatment options with the patient. Depending on the diagnosis and patient preference, this may include CPAP therapy, oral appliance therapy, or other approaches.
When oral appliance therapy is prescribed, the dentist re-enters the pathway with a clear diagnosis and prescription in place. The dentist then delivers therapy within scope and communicates progress back to the medical provider as required.
Throughout this process, Soliish functions as enabling infrastructure supporting clean handoffs between screening, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment without placing diagnostic responsibility on the dental practice.
Dental sleep medicine is not about expanding scope or redefining professional roles. It is about participating responsibly within them.
Dentists screen.
Physicians diagnose.
Treatment follows prescription.
When roles are clearly defined and supported by appropriate infrastructure, dentists can contribute meaningfully to sleep apnea care without assuming medical liability.
That clarity benefits patients, clinicians, and dental practices alike.
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