Ample evidence exists showing Sleep Related Breathing Disorders or SRBD have a negative impact on maternal and fetal outcomes.  A growing body of evidence reveals therapeutic intervention directed at SRBD creates positive health outcomes for both mother and fetus. 

A diagnosis of OSA as well as its key symptom of habitual snoring have been linked to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, insulin resistance, gestational diabetes, and poor fetal outcomes.  

Given our current level of knowledge, pregnant women who have even mild sleep apnea should be treated for their SRBD.  Questionnaires are an effective and efficient way to educate patients and screen for SRBD, treatment of which will benefit maternal and fetal outcomes while possibly serving to optimize craniofacial growth from infancy into adolescence and beyond.  

It is time to consider vigilance of maternal SRBD as the first step towards the earliest intervention to prevent SRBD along life’s journey from neonate to adult. Screening and treatment of SRBD in pregnant women requires an interdisciplinary approach.  Dentists can and do play an essential role in the multidisciplinary care of patients with certain sleep related breathing disorders and are well positioned to identify patients, including pregnant women, at greater risk of SRBD.

Dr. Steve Lamberg has been practicing all phases of general dentistry in Northport, New YorK for 40 years with a focus on comprehensive restorative dentistry.  Always passionate about sleep and wellness, he became a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine in 2011 and has served on their board review faculty.  He is the inventor of the Lamberg SleepWell Appliance, which is an FDA-cleared appliance for the treatment of OSA and holds related patents.  He lectures internationally and regularly contributes articles to peer-reviewed journals to help dentists integrate dental sleep medicine into their general dental practices.  Dr. Lamberg also founded, and serves as the director of, the Pediatric and Adult Airway Network of New York (PAANNY), to provide a local platform where dentists, physicians, orofacial myologists, and other related professionals learn and collaborate on treatment patients of all ages.  Additionally, Dr. Lamberg serves as a Scientific Advisor for Airway Management at the Kois Center in Seattle and is a core speaker for the Nierman Dental Sleep Medicine mini-residency program in Jupiter, Florida.   His recently published book, “Treat the Cause…Treat the Airway,” correlates many common medical conditions to airway and sleep and is available on Amazon.

1 CE credit available to AAPMD members