Orthodontic perspectives in the management of obstructive sleep apnea: A comprehensive review

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep-related breathing disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of upper airway obstruction, leading to fragmented sleep and significant systemic health consequences. While continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) remains the gold standard treatment, adherence issues highlight the need for alternative and adjunctive approaches. Orthodontics plays a pivotal role in the multidisciplinary management of OSA, offering diagnostic insights and therapeutic modalities that address craniofacial and dental contributions to airway obstruction. This review provides a comprehensive overview of orthodontic perspectives in OSA management, including the role of craniofacial morphology in pathophysiology, the effectiveness of oral appliance therapy, maxillomandibular advancement surgery, rapid maxillary expansion, and emerging technologies such as digital airway assessment and customized device fabrication. Current evidence, clinical outcomes, limitations, and future directions are critically appraised to guide practitioners in integrating orthodontic strategies within personalized, interdisciplinary care for OSA patients.