ABDSM key terms

The average number of apneas plus hypopneas per hour of sleep, used to classify sleep apnea severity and to judge treatment response.

A partial reduction in airflow during sleep that lasts at least 10 seconds and is scored when it meets defined amplitude and desaturation or arousal criteria.

The number of times per hour of sleep that blood oxygen saturation drops by a specified amount, commonly 3% or 4%, from baseline.

An attended overnight recording of brain waves, eye movements, muscle tone, breathing, oxygen saturation, and heart rhythm used to diagnose sleep disorders.

A portable, typically unattended recording of breathing and oxygenation during sleep, used to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea in selected patients with a high pretest probability.

An arousal from sleep caused by increasing breathing effort that does not meet the criteria for an apnea or hypopnea.

A condition with excessive daytime sleepiness and increasing breathing effort during sleep, but without traditional apnea or hypopnea scoring criteria being met.

A sleep-related breathing disorder in which pauses in breathing occur because the brain temporarily fails to signal the muscles that control breathing.

A disorder in which the upper airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, causing reduced or absent airflow despite continued breathing effort.

A validated eight-item questionnaire on which patients rate their likelihood of dozing in common situations, producing a score that estimates daytime sleepiness.

A screening tool that scores snoring, tiredness, observed apnea, blood pressure, body mass index, age, neck circumference, and gender to estimate sleep apnea risk.

An inability to stay awake and alert during the major waking episodes of the day, often resulting in unintended lapses into sleep.

A visual scoring system that grades how much of the back of the throat is visible when the mouth is open and the tongue is protruded, used to estimate airway space.

Measurement of bony and soft-tissue landmarks on a standardized lateral head radiograph to assess jaw position and airway dimensions.

A procedure in which sedation is used to mimic sleep while a flexible scope visualizes the upper airway to identify sites and patterns of collapse.

An oral appliance that holds the lower jaw forward during sleep to enlarge the upper airway and reduce obstruction in obstructive sleep apnea.

An oral appliance that uses suction or a bulb to hold the tongue forward during sleep, intended to reduce airway blockage behind the tongue.

The process of gradually adjusting an oral appliance, usually by advancing the mandible, to achieve the best balance of breathing improvement and patient comfort.

The degree to which a patient uses an oral appliance as prescribed, including nightly wear time and consistency over the long term.

A scheduled appointment after appliance delivery to check symptoms, comfort, oral tissue health, appliance fit, and the need for further adjustment.

A shift in the contact relationship between upper and lower teeth that can occur with long-term oral appliance use and requires monitoring.

The condition of the gums and supporting structures of the teeth, which must be assessed and maintained because appliances can affect hygiene and tissue pressure.

The likelihood that a patient will develop tooth decay, which may increase with appliance use if oral hygiene and saliva flow are reduced.

A subjective feeling of oral dryness that can be caused by medications or mouth breathing and may raise the risk of decay and appliance discomfort.

A group of conditions affecting the jaw joint and chewing muscles, which can cause pain and must be considered before and during oral appliance therapy.

A negative replica of the teeth and surrounding tissues made with a material such as alginate or silicone, used to create a precise model for appliance fabrication.

An electronic capture of the teeth and oral tissues using an intraoral scanner, producing a file that can be used to design and fabricate an appliance.

A record of how the upper and lower teeth meet, used to set the jaw position when designing or adjusting an oral appliance.

Working cooperatively with physicians, sleep specialists, and other providers to coordinate diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care for patients with sleep disorders.

The process of sending a patient to another provider for evaluation or treatment, such as a sleep physician for diagnosis or a dentist for appliance therapy.

Alterations in sleep or breathing caused by medications, such as sedatives that relax airway muscles or drugs that affect sleep architecture.

A patient's voluntary agreement to treatment after understanding its benefits, risks, alternatives, and the expected responsibilities of both patient and provider.

A treatment that delivers pressurized air through a mask to keep the upper airway open during sleep, often used as the standard against which oral appliances are compared.

Habits and environmental practices that support good sleep, such as keeping a regular schedule and limiting caffeine and screens before bedtime.

A measure calculated from height and weight that is used as one factor in assessing risk and severity of sleep apnea.

A measurement around the neck that correlates with risk of obstructive sleep apnea, with larger values indicating greater risk.