No time for Airway Screening? Think again. How about implementing a “2 -Second Airway Exam?”
Dental professionals already screen for oral cancer. The “airway exam” is the same exam!
Put your “airway goggles” on and check for these 5 Clues for Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB).
N – Examine the hard palate. Look for narrow arches, high vault, and pronounced rugae. Occlusal photos/scanning the palate make it easy for patients to visualize lack of tongue space, contributing to SDB.
E & S – When patient is asked to stick out tongue during the OCS, you can also evaluate tonsils and soft palate.
T – When evaluating the floor of the mouth check for ankyloglossia (tongue tie). Check range of motion when asking patient to lift tongue to roof of mouth.
S – When examining the lateral borders of the tongue, check for scalloped tongue.
Here’s another time saving tip: Add “NEST” to your OCS template to easily record your findings.
This pearl is brought to you by Airway Health Solutions. Their 2-Day Mini-Residency with Dr. Ben Miraglia teaches dental professionals how to implement craniofacial growth and development. They also provide full team coaching/doctor mentoring.