"Characterization of Brazilian Dentistry in Dental Sleep Medicine"

This study aims to characterize dentists in Brazil who understand and practice Sleep Dentistry (SD), focusing on diagnosing and managing sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD), such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Our goal is to identify gaps in their training and emphasize the need to integrate dental sleep into the Brazilian system of education. We conducted a descriptive study with 161 Brazilian sleep dentists. Participants answered questionnaires with demographics, educational background, clinical experience, and perspectives on recognizing SD as a specialty. Our findings show that 57.8% of participants graduated from public universities. Many expressed a strong interest in receiving training on SD, highlighting difficulties in effectively managing SRBD. Additionally, they reported the importance of healthcare professionals in improving treatment outcomes for SRBD. This study highlights the need to incorporate sleep health education into dental training programs in Brazil. Aligning these educational improvements with the United Nations in promoting health and well-being, we urge policymakers to formally recognize SD as a key specialty, fostering stronger collaboration between dentists and physicians to enhance patient care and public health.