Orthodontists' Awareness and Screening Practices for Sleep-Disordered Breathing: A National Survey in Australia

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to survey awareness, attitudes, and clinical practices regarding the screening of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) among orthodontists in Australia. METHODS: A pilot-tested electronic survey was distributed to 485 full members of the Australian Society of Orthodontists. Questions were related to demographics, screening methods, perceived barriers, and attitudes toward education and interdisciplinary collaboration. Results were summarised using item-specific denominators, with multiple-response percentages based on the number of respondents answering each item. RESULTS: The analysable response rate was 31.8% (154/485). Most participants (139/154, 90.3%) practiced primarily in private settings and in urban or suburban areas (138/154, 89.6%). Only a small proportion (25.2%) reported routine SDB screening, while 45.0% screened only in selected cases. Among respondents answering the screening-method questions, informal questions (83/104, 79.8%) and clinical examination (64/104, 61.5%) were most common. The Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire and STOP-Bang Questionnaire were used by 25/104 (24.0%) and 22/104 (21.2%), respectively. The main barriers to routine screening were insufficient training, lack of standardized screening protocols, and limited collaboration with medical professionals. Most respondents supported continuing professional development training (102/146, 69.9%) and inclusion of SDB teaching in the Doctor of Clinical Dentistry curriculum (127/146, 87.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Among Australian orthodontists, routine SDB screening was limited and predominantly informal. In the Australian setting, professional bodies and orthodontic training programs should prioritise validated screening protocols, education, and clear interdisciplinary referral pathways.