Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Its Potential Impact on Restorative Dentistry: A 14-Year Case Study.

Understanding the effects sleep-disordered breathing can have on dentitions may be critical to the long-term success of restorative treatment. In the current case, a patient presented with a large diastema that was successfully closed using porcelain veneers only to have an unexpected unesthetic consequence occur years later. The case demonstrates that if the clinical focus is solely on reparatory modalities or clinical management, without recognition of possible airway issues, unintended restorative consequences may surface in the future. Studying and understanding the origin of the signs and symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing can be crucial for the prevention of future problems and optimization of a patient's overall health.