Evaluation of Current Screening and Treatment Patterns for Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Among Practicing Pediatric Dentists in the United States: A Pilot Study

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide an evaluation of educational experience, screening, referral, and treatment patterns by pediatric dentists in the United States with regards to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Methods: A twenty-six question, multiple choice, electronic survey was developed using SurveyMonkey software. It was distributed to the 6,017 active American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) members, garnering a response rate of 7.0 percent. Results: A total of 41.2 percent of respondents were uncomfortable or very uncomfortable screening for OSA/SDB; 61.4 percent indicated no formal training in OSA/SDB during residency; 40.7 percent stated they routinely screened for OSA/SDB; and 93.9 percent referred to a physician in suspected cases of OSA/SDB. Conclusions: While awareness of OSA and SDB is high among pediatric dental specialists, educational opportunities are limited, routine screening is not standard, and treatment is not commonly provided.