The Lamberg Questionnaire

A Valuable Tool Simplifying Complex Sleep Health Conversations in the Dental Practice

by Brittny Murphy, RDH, BS, COM^®, QOM^®

In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the interrelationship between oral health, sleep health, and overall health, particularly the role dental professionals can play in identifying and managing sleep-related breathing disorders. Dentists and registered dental hygienists are uniquely positioned to screen for and identify signs and symptoms of sleep related breathing disorders (SRBD).

Dr. Steven Lamberg, DDS, DABDSM, created The Lamberg Questionnaire along with the Lamberg Questionnaire for Pediatric Airway and Sleep (LQ-PAS), both screening tools designed to help dental and medical professionals identify patients who may be at risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or other sleep related breathing disorders. These questionnaires serve as a practical, user-friendly tool enabling dental professionals to bridge the gap between sleep health and overall health, while also highlighting oral health indications. This article explores the usefulness of the Lamberg Questionnaires, their practical value in a dental setting, and how they aid in simplifying the communication of a complex subject like sleep related breathing disorders to patients. Dr. Lamberg provides the questionnaires free of charge at www.drlamberg.com.

The Practical Value of the Lamberg Questionnaires

Sleep disorders, especially obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), are often underdiagnosed, yet they carry life threatening health risks. Through the Lamberg Questionnaires, you can uncover a patient’s risk for sleep disordered breathing before looking inside their oral cavity, through their medical history and direct questioning. Sleep related breathing disorders can be linked to medical conditions including heart disease, obesity, kidney disease, dementia, diabetes, acid reflux, anxiety, stress, autoimmune disorders, and more.

The Lamberg Questionnaire and the Lamberg Questionnaire for Pediatric Airway and Sleep (LQ-PAS) create a streamlined process in the identification of potential sleep related breathing concerns. Rather than relying on a complex set of diagnostic tools, dental professionals can quickly administer these straightforward questionnaires. These questionnaires include traditional sleep screening questions related to sleep quality, snoring and sleep habits, daytime sleepiness, and morning symptoms, along with questions regarding overall health.

The Lamberg Questionnaire is broken down into the categories shown in Table 1.

The Lamberg Questionnaire for Pediatric Airway and Sleep (LQ-PAS) asks relevant questions about symptoms and behavior when a child is sleeping, upon awakening, and throughout the day. There is also a signs and symptoms checklist for airway red flags included for the healthcare professional to fill out.

Incorporating these questionnaires into a routine dental visit is not only an easy task but increases the likelihood of early detection of sleep related breathing disorders, often even before the patient or family is aware. Sleep disordered breathing is a spectrum disorder so early detection can help halt any further progression and potentially alleviate future health issues.

Working collaboratively with other healthcare disciplines ensures timely intervention. The Lamberg Questionnaires only further emphasize the importance of this approach to patient care. Dental offices can begin facilitating communication with sleep specialists and other pertinent healthcare providers ensuring whole body health and comprehensive care. Having such data documented can help streamline the referral process and mitigate unnecessary delays in seeking further treatment.

Simplifying Communication of Complex Sleep Health Concepts to Patients

One of the key challenges in dental practice is explaining the connection between oral health, sleep health, and overall health to patients. Patients are often confused as to why their dentist or dental hygienist is asking about their sleep habits and snoring history. The Lamberg Questionnaires are valuable tools in this regard, as they help break down complex concepts into digestible verbiage. The questionnaires were curated with the patient in mind using clear and direct language. Avoiding medical jargon allows the patients to understand, or at least begin to comprehend, the relevance of the questions being asked and their answers to their sleep health and overall health. When patients begin to check off multiple ‘yes’ answers, curiosity is sparked, and they are more likely to begin engaging in conversation with the provider regarding the results of the questionnaire. At the very least, these questionnaires are building patient awareness. A patient will leave that dental visit with more education than they walked in with and may lead them to evaluate their sleep health and overall health more deeply, returning their next visit ready to take that next step whether it is a sleep study or referral to another clinician. This increased awareness empowers and motivates patients to seek treatment and make changes within their own lives.

The Lamberg Questionnaires provide clinicians with the opportunity to begin discussing potential treatment options whether it is further diagnostic testing, oral appliance therapy, lifestyle changes, or a referral to an airway dentist for further evaluation of the craniofacial respiratory complex.

Additional Recommended Resources to Solidify Patient Understanding

Dr. Lamberg’s book Treat the Cause…Treat the Airway can be instrumental in helping patients understand the connection between their sleep, airway health, and overall health. Treat the Cause…Treat the Airway delves into the link between sleep related breathing disorders and a range of health problems, clarifying airway’s impact on sleep. Advocating for root cause treatment, the book focuses on underlying causes of airway problems rather than just symptoms. Treat the Cause…Treat the Airway provides a comprehensive understanding of how airway health is deeply intertwined with sleep and general well-being, offering both knowledge and practical strategies for improvement.

Integrating the Lamberg Sleep Questionnaires

To successfully integrate the Lamberg Questionnaires into your dental practice, it is necessary to ensure that your dental team is trained in how to properly administer the questionnaires and interpret the results. If not already done, this may first include office training and education on understanding and identifying the signs and symptoms of sleep related breathing disorders.

When administering the questionnaire, be sure to explain its purpose. At each dental visit, educate your patients about the link between oral health, sleep health, and overall health. Encourage your patients to ask questions if they do not understand the reason this questionnaire is being incorporated. Be sure to have a referral network of sleep specialists and other airway professionals for those who are ready to take the next step. Establishing this network beforehand will provide continuity of care. Be consistent in providing routine screenings for all patients. This will increase early detection and provide continued monitoring and follow up for those at-risk patients.

Dr. Lamberg kindly provides the questionnaires free of charge, click here for access.

Conclusion

The Lamberg Questionnaire and The Lamberg Questionnaire for Pediatric Airway and Sleep are valuable assets in a dental practice, offering both a practical screening for sleep related breathing disorders and a simplified way to communicate a complex health concept to patients. By integrating this tool into routine care, dental professionals can enhance their role in the broader healthcare system, ensuring that their patients receive comprehensive care that addresses both oral and overall health. The ease of use and effectiveness of the Lamberg Questionnaires make them an essential component of modern dental practice, helping to bridge the gap between oral health, sleep health, and overall health.