--- title: "Dental Sleep Medicine: The Ultimate Glossary of Terms You Should Know" description: Whether you're new to dental sleep medicine or you just want to brush up on your dental sleep knowledge, check out this roundup of dental sleep terms. image: https://info.whipmix.com/hubfs/Blog_Images/Books_blog.png --- [![whip_mix_logo.png](https://info.whipmix.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/whip_mix_logo.png?width=180&name=whip_mix_logo.png "whip_mix_logo.png")](https://whipmix.com/) [![Contact Us](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/111220/b7ad40d2-a589-4955-901d-95c009e55049.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/111220/b7ad40d2-a589-4955-901d-95c009e55049) ![background-teeth-banner-100867-edited.jpg](https://info.whipmix.com/hs-fs/hubfs/background-teeth-banner-100867-edited.jpg?width=1500&name=background-teeth-banner-100867-edited.jpg "background-teeth-banner-100867-edited.jpg") # [Dental Sleep Medicine: The Ultimate Glossary of Terms You Should Know](https://info.whipmix.com/dental-sleep-medicine-terms-you-should-know) ![Lorena Lighthart](https://info.whipmix.com/hs-fs/hub/111220/file-622988039.jpg) By [Lorena Lighthart](https://info.whipmix.com/author/lorena-lighthart) - November 03, 2016 - [**](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fdental-sleep-medicine-terms-you-should-know&t=Dental%20Sleep%20Medicine:%20The%20Ultimate%20Glossary%20of%20Terms%20You%20Should%20Know) - [**](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fdental-sleep-medicine-terms-you-should-know&text=:%20Whether%20you're%20new%20to%20dental%20sleep%20medicine%20or%20you%20just%20want%20to%20brush%20up%20on%20your%20dental%20sleep%20knowledge,%20check%20out%20this%20roundup%20of%20dental%20sleep%20terms.) - [**](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fdental-sleep-medicine-terms-you-should-know&title=Dental%20Sleep%20Medicine:%20The%20Ultimate%20Glossary%20of%20Terms%20You%20Should%20Know&summary=Whether%20you're%20new%20to%20dental%20sleep%20medicine%20or%20you%20just%20want%20to%20brush%20up%20on%20your%20dental%20sleep%20knowledge,%20check%20out%20this%20roundup%20of%20dental%20sleep%20terms.) - [**](https://plus.google.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fdental-sleep-medicine-terms-you-should-know) For many dental professionals, dental sleep medicine is still a relatively new and sometimes overwhelming topic, especially when it comes to the terminology and abbreviations. It's almost like you are speaking a different language. For those moments when you do feel overwhelmed, we've created the ultimate glossary of dental sleep medicine terms and abbreviations. Whether you're new to dental sleep medicine or you just want to brush up on your dental sleep knowledge, check out the following roundup of dental sleep terms to keep yourself in the loop.  **Apnea** – A general term used to describe a deduction or cessation of breathing while asleep **Apnea Event** – Respiratory event lasting 10 seconds or longer with a greater than 50% decrease in airflow **Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI)** – A calculated total of events including apnea, hypopnea, mixed apnea and central apnea **Bruxism Burst Index (BBI)** – The total number of EMG bursts per hour **Bruxism Episode Index (BEI)** – The total number of scored clenches, grinds, and RMMA divided by total sleep time **Central Apnea** – An event lasting greater than 10 seconds with an absence of respiratory effort **Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)** – A treatment that uses mild air pressure to keep the airways open **Cyclic Alternating Patterns (CAP)** – A long lasting periodic activity consisting of two alternate electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns usually related to level of arousal **Fee For Service** – A method of reimbursement by which the dentist establishes and expects to receive his/her full fee for the specific services performed **Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)** – A long term condition where stomach contents come back up into the esophagus, also known as acid reflux **Hypopnea Event** – A 30 to 50% decrease in airflow with a 3 or 4% oxygen desaturation lasting 10 seconds or longer **Masseter Contraction (MC)** – When the masseter muscle contracts through jaw clenching/unclenching **Mean Waking Bite Force (MWBF)** – A calibration value measured in microvolts (uV) by asking the patient to bite (clench) down as hard as they can 5 times, relaxing between clenches. These 5 EMG bursts are measured and averaged **Mixed (Grind)** – An EMG burst characterized by grinding teeth **Mixed Apnea – **Event lasting 10 seconds or longer where there is an absence of respiratory effort for greater than 3 seconds, then respiratory effort resumes and there is no airflow **Obstructive Apnea (OA)** – Temporary cessation of airflow caused by a collapse of the airway either full or partial without an accompanying cessation of respiratory effort **Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)** – Obstructive apnea while sleeping **Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI) **– The number of oxygen desaturations of 3 or 4% per hour of sleep measured by an oximeter **Phasic, Rhythmic Masticatory Muscle Activity (RMMA)** – An EMG burst characterized by muscle twitching **Polysomnography (PSG)** – A type of sleep study using a multi-parametric test used by most sleep labs **Respiratory Event Related Arousal (RERA)** – A sequence of breaths characterized by increasing respiratory effort leading to an arousal from sleep, but does not meet the criteria for apnea or hypopnea **Rhythmic Jaw Movement (RJM)** – Involuntary repetitive jaw movements **Snore Index (SNI) –** Percent of time that someone has scored a patient as snoring. The time is added up and divided by total sleep time **Tonic (Clench)** – An EMG burst characterized by teeth clenching **Underlying Snoring Criteria** – Snoring 30% above ambient room noise     [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/111220/ddccdd3e-5aee-45b5-938d-3e6c832cf884.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/111220/ddccdd3e-5aee-45b5-938d-3e6c832cf884) ## Leave a comment ![Lorena Lighthart](https://info.whipmix.com/hs-fs/hub/111220/file-622988039.jpg) Written by [Lorena Lighthart](https://info.whipmix.com/author/lorena-lighthart) Lorena Lighthart is the Product Manager for the Clinical products division at Whip Mix. She has worked in the dental industry for over 30 years. Lorena works with a myriad of experts in the field to bring new products to market that support functional occlusion, esthetics, and healthy sleep. She can be reached at llighthart@whipmix.com. [**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorena-lighthart-54baa03/) [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/111220/678b9dbf-1b39-49b9-a0e8-da1ed100067b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/111220/678b9dbf-1b39-49b9-a0e8-da1ed100067b) [![get-free-consultation](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/111220/b1cd8f92-2725-4e85-9e80-b09ccc6a27ca.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/111220/b1cd8f92-2725-4e85-9e80-b09ccc6a27ca) #### Related posts [![Cost and Inconvenience are Often Reasons Patients Don’t Get Healthcare](https://info.whipmix.com/hubfs/Product_Images/Bruxism-Airway/Nonin.jpg) ](https://info.whipmix.com/cost-and-inconvenience-are-often-reasons-patients-dont-get-healthcare) ##### [Cost and Inconvenience are Often Reasons Patients Don’t Get Healthcare](https://info.whipmix.com/cost-and-inconvenience-are-often-reasons-patients-dont-get-healthcare) ![Shirlene O'Russa](https://info.whipmix.com/hubfs/Shirlene%20O'Russa.jpg) By [ Shirlene O'Russa](https://info.whipmix.com/cost-and-inconvenience-are-often-reasons-patients-dont-get-healthcare/author/shirlene-orussa) - January 23, 2020 [**](https://info.whipmix.com/cost-and-inconvenience-are-often-reasons-patients-dont-get-healthcare) [**](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fcost-and-inconvenience-are-often-reasons-patients-dont-get-healthcare&t=Cost%20and%20Inconvenience%20are%20Often%20Reasons%20Patients%20Don’t%20Get%20Healthcare) [**](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fcost-and-inconvenience-are-often-reasons-patients-dont-get-healthcare&text=:%20) [**](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fcost-and-inconvenience-are-often-reasons-patients-dont-get-healthcare&title=Cost%20and%20Inconvenience%20are%20Often%20Reasons%20Patients%20Don’t%20Get%20Healthcare&summary=) [**](https://plus.google.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fcost-and-inconvenience-are-often-reasons-patients-dont-get-healthcare) [![The 3 Step Model to Growing a Dental Sleep Medicine Practice: A Webinar](https://info.whipmix.com/hubfs/Blog_Images/Tired%20woman%20sleeping%20over%20a%20laptop%20computer%20while%20working.jpeg) ](https://info.whipmix.com/the-3-step-model-to-growing-a-dental-sleep-medicine-practice-a-webinar) ##### [The 3 Step Model to Growing a Dental Sleep Medicine Practice: A Webinar](https://info.whipmix.com/the-3-step-model-to-growing-a-dental-sleep-medicine-practice-a-webinar) ![Bernie Jaroslow](https://info.whipmix.com/hs-fs/hub/111220/file-576249531.jpg) By [ Bernie Jaroslow](https://info.whipmix.com/the-3-step-model-to-growing-a-dental-sleep-medicine-practice-a-webinar/author/bernie-jaroslow) - December 5, 2019 [**](https://info.whipmix.com/the-3-step-model-to-growing-a-dental-sleep-medicine-practice-a-webinar) [**](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fthe-3-step-model-to-growing-a-dental-sleep-medicine-practice-a-webinar&t=The%203%20Step%20Model%20to%20Growing%20a%20Dental%20Sleep%20Medicine%20Practice:%20A%20Webinar) [**](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fthe-3-step-model-to-growing-a-dental-sleep-medicine-practice-a-webinar&text=:%20) [**](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fthe-3-step-model-to-growing-a-dental-sleep-medicine-practice-a-webinar&title=The%203%20Step%20Model%20to%20Growing%20a%20Dental%20Sleep%20Medicine%20Practice:%20A%20Webinar&summary=) [**](https://plus.google.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fthe-3-step-model-to-growing-a-dental-sleep-medicine-practice-a-webinar) [![Don’t Hibernate!  Learn about the  Impact that Sleep Related Disorders have on Dentistry.](https://info.whipmix.com/hubfs/Blog_Images/Male%20sleeping%20with%20students%20sitting%20in%20the%20college%20lecture%20hall.jpeg) ](https://info.whipmix.com/dont-hibernate-learn-about-the-impact-that-sleep-related-disorders-have-on-dentistry) ##### [Don’t Hibernate!  Learn about the  Impact that Sleep Related Disorders have on Dentistry.](https://info.whipmix.com/dont-hibernate-learn-about-the-impact-that-sleep-related-disorders-have-on-dentistry) ![Shirlene O'Russa](https://info.whipmix.com/hubfs/Shirlene%20O'Russa.jpg) By [ Shirlene O'Russa](https://info.whipmix.com/dont-hibernate-learn-about-the-impact-that-sleep-related-disorders-have-on-dentistry/author/shirlene-orussa) - October 31, 2019 [**](https://info.whipmix.com/dont-hibernate-learn-about-the-impact-that-sleep-related-disorders-have-on-dentistry) [**](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.whipmix.com%2Fdont-hibernate-learn-about-the-impact-that-sleep-related-disorders-have-on-dentistry&t=Don’t%20Hibernate! %20Learn%20about%20the %20Impact%20that%20Sleep%20Related%20Disorders%20have%20on%20Dentistry.) 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