Tip Tuesday: Dental Clues in Adults

All new patients are to be given a Sleep and Breathing Questionnaire, along with the other new-patient paperwork they are asked to complete.

• Patients age 18 and up: Complete the Adult Sleep and Breathing Questionnaire
• Patients age 17 and under: Parent/guardian will complete the Child Sleep and Breathing Questionnaire

All existing patients are to be given a Sleep and Breathing Questionnaire as part of their health history update when they are in the practice for their recare or other appointments (if this is the patient’s first visit since implementing Vivos into the practice).

• Patients age 18 and up: Complete the Adult Sleep and Breathing Questionnaire
• Patients age 17 and under: Parent/guardian will complete the Child Sleep and Breathing Questionnaire

Most patients will not question being asked to complete a form as part of the new-patient paperwork or when they are completing a health history update form. Simply present it with your other paperwork. If a patient does ask why they are being asked to complete a Sleep, Breathing, and Habit Questionnaire when they are coming to see the dentist, here are suggestions on how to reply:

“Our doctors are not just concerned with your teeth: They are concerned with your overall health and wellness!”

“There is extensive research that shows that development of the upper and lower jaw, along with the formation of the upper palate is directly related to sleep disorders, mouth breathing, airway issues, and other medical concerns. A dentist is the perfect person to evaluate these conditions, along with your sleep and breathing issues, and to provide optimum treatment!”

Screening Patients during the Hygiene Appointment or the Doctor’s Exam (depending on how your practice brings new patients into the office): When the patient is taken to the treatment room, the Sleep and Breathing Screening Questionnaire will be taken to the room as well. The hygienist or doctor who is examining the adult/child should review the questionnaire and ask questions of the patient/parent, as needed.

For Adults: If the patient marked “yes” on any question on the front page of the Adult Sleep and Breathing Questionnaire or scored higher than a 10 on the Epworth Sleepiness Test, the patient may be a candidate for treatment with The Vivos Method. If a patient marks all “no” on page one, the doctor should still be looking for signs and symptoms associated with an underdeveloped mandible, maxilla, mouth breathing, and airway issues. A patient may not be aware that they are having issues—this is normal for them, and they may not know anything else. 

• Dry chapped lips
• Low tongue posture 
• Head-forward posture 
• Inflamed and irritated gums 
• Facial decay on anterior teeth 
• Observing the patient mouth breathing 
• Long-face syndrome 
• Deep bite
• Narrow V-shaped arches 
• Vaulted palate 
• Swollen tonsils 
• Recessed mandible 
• Very small and narrow chin 
• Melting-face syndrome (no clear jaw line, face and neck melt together with no definition)
• Crowded and crooked teeth 
• Very small lower third of face 
• Venus pooling under eyes (purplish/blue smudges under eyes)