Félix de Carlos

Dentistry is possibly the only field within the health sciences in which patients systematically attend routine check-ups once or twice a year.

This close contact with patients places the dentist on the “front line” for screening not only oral but also systemic pathologies. Therefore, we must be familiar with these conditions to properly screen many of these disorders.

We know that, for example, orthodontic treatment may require the involvement of various specialties or competencies (periodontology, prosthodontics, etc.). However, today it is essential to include other medical specialties in this “interprofessional contact.”

Collaborative efforts among different specialists can achieve results that were once nearly unimaginable when dealing with certain pathologies. The dentist must be able to identify signs and symptoms that, as we will see, allow for an early approach to these patients, preventing the progression to more severe forms of the disease or the emergence of other comorbidities.

In this context, sleep-related breathing disorders deserve special attention, as dentists can contribute not only to screening but also to expanding therapeutic options, significantly improving, in many cases, the quality of life of our patients.