Abstract
Purpose : We investigated actual treatments for obstructive sleep apnea （OSA） in hospital dentistry to help propose a model for integrating dentistry and medicine intermediated by hospital dentistry.
Method : A questionnaire survey of treatments for OSA was mailed to 35 members of the Ibaraki Association of Hospital Dentistry. Replies to the questionnaire were returned by facsimile, e-mail attachment, or post.
Results : Responses were obtained from 27 institutes （recovery rate 77.1%）. There were 19 institutes （70.4%） performing treatment using an oral appliance （OA）. Regarding the annual number of OA made, 14 institutes （73.7%） made 1-9, 3 institutes made 10-49, and 2 institutes made 50-99. Regarding cooperation, 9 institutes （47.4%） cooperated with other departments in the same hospital, 4 institutes cooperated with departments in other hospitals in addition to within the same hospital, 2 institutes cooperated with other special facilities for OSA besides within the same hospital, 2 institutes cooperated with all medical facilities including within the same hospital, and 2 institutes cooperated with other medical facilities only. Sixteen institutes （84.2%） used a one-piece type, 1 institute used a two-piece type only, and 2 institutes used both types. The number of institutes performing orthognathic surgery for OSA was 2 （7.4%）, which coached oral surgeons serving full-time.
Conclusion : This study showed that treatments for OSA tended to be performed more in hospital dentistry than in dental clinics. Most of the patients in hospital dentistry were treated with oral appliances （OA）, while few patients underwent surgical operation. These results may be helpful for assigning the roles of hospital dentistry in the team approach between dentistry and medicine.
