ABDSM FINAL EXAM DENTAL SLEEP MEDICINE ACTUAL
EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS | NEWEST UPDATE 2026/2027 | GRADED A+ |
100% GUARANTEED PASS.
A 48-year-old man is treated with OAT for his moderate OSA. On repeat sleep testing, his
apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) has decreased to 3 events per hour, and he reports resolution of
snoring and daytime sleepiness. What is the most reasonable dental-medical sleep medicine
follow up regimen for this patient?
A. As needed
B. Every 6 months for the first year, then annually
C. Monthly for the first 6 months, then every 6 months
D. Every other year --CORRECT ANSWER--B. Every 6 months for the first year, then
annually
Which of the following would exclude oral appliance therapy as a first treatment trial for
OSA?
A. Xerostomia
B. Edentulism
C. Micrognathia
D. Steep mandibular plane angle --CORRECT ANSWER--B. Edentulism
Reviewing your patient's diagnostic polysomnogram, you note more than a 50% epoch
consists of alpha waves. According to the current PSG scoring guidelines, the patient is in
which stage of sleep?
Page 1 of 118
,-
A. Stage I NREM
B. Stage II NREM
C. Stage III NREM
D. Stage REM --CORRECT ANSWER--A. Stage I NREM
A patient presents for an evaluation to determine their candidacy for an oral appliance to treat
their mild OSA. During your examination, you note the presence of TMD. This might include
the following:
A. Pain in the TMJ
B. Pain in the muscles of mastication
C. Anomalies in mandibular movement
D. All of the above --CORRECT ANSWER--D. All of the above
The 2015 Practice Guidelines created through cooperative effort of the AASM and AADSM
suggest a physician should seek collaboration with a qualified dentist, described as someone
who has at least:
A. Board certification
B. Facility accreditation
C. Completion of a 1 yr residency in dental sleep medicine
D. Additional training or experience in dental sleep medicine --CORRECT ANSWER--D.
Additional training or experience in dental sleep medicine
Page 2 of 118
,An understanding of loop gain is important to the clinical practice of dental sleep medicine
because:
A. It excludes the possibility of cheyne stokes breathing in patients with severe OSA
B. It is the basis of the Mallampati classification system
C. It defines the number of sequential obstructive apneas in an epoch
D. It contributes to the multifactorial nature of sleep related breathing disorders --CORRECT
ANSWER--D. It contributes to the multifactorial nature of sleep related breathing disorders
With regards to biomechanical properties of the upper airway, which statement is true?
A. Sleep apnea patients paralyzed during general anesthesia (neural drive removed)
demonstrated airway compliance similar to healthy subjects
B. Sleep apnea patients had more negative closing pressures
C. Sleep apnea patients demonstrate a more positive Pcrit
D. There is no correlation between collapsibility when awake and collapsibility when asleep -
-CORRECT ANSWER--C. Sleep apnea patients demonstrate a more positive Pcrit
Which of the following statements is true regarding a modified mallampati classification of
the oral pharynx?
A. Mallampati II allows visualization of only the hard palate
B. Malampati III allows visualization of only the hard palate
Page 3 of 118
, -
C. Malampati classifications are taken with the patient sedated and reclined
D. Mallampati classifications of IV have greater odds ratio than Mallampati classifications of
I for severe OSA --CORRECT ANSWER--D. Mallampati classifications of IV have
greater odds ratio than Mallampati classifications of I for severe OSA
What 8 item questionnaire was developed to perioperatively screen for risk of OSA?
A. ESS
B. STOP-BANG
C. MSLT
D. Berlin --CORRECT ANSWER--B. STOP-BANG
In the pathophysiology of sleep apnea, airway patency and stability is promoted by which
factor?
A. Increased lung volume
B. Shorter mandible
C. Increased parapharyngeal fat deposition
D. Negative inspiratory pressure
E. Reduced pharyngeal muscle dilator activity --CORRECT ANSWER--A. Increased lung
volume
Oral appliance therapy commonly provides successful sole therapy for which of the following
sleep-related breathing disorders?
Page 4 of 118
EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS | NEWEST UPDATE 2026/2027 | GRADED A+ |
100% GUARANTEED PASS.
A 48-year-old man is treated with OAT for his moderate OSA. On repeat sleep testing, his
apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) has decreased to 3 events per hour, and he reports resolution of
snoring and daytime sleepiness. What is the most reasonable dental-medical sleep medicine
follow up regimen for this patient?
A. As needed
B. Every 6 months for the first year, then annually
C. Monthly for the first 6 months, then every 6 months
D. Every other year --CORRECT ANSWER--B. Every 6 months for the first year, then
annually
Which of the following would exclude oral appliance therapy as a first treatment trial for
OSA?
A. Xerostomia
B. Edentulism
C. Micrognathia
D. Steep mandibular plane angle --CORRECT ANSWER--B. Edentulism
Reviewing your patient's diagnostic polysomnogram, you note more than a 50% epoch
consists of alpha waves. According to the current PSG scoring guidelines, the patient is in
which stage of sleep?
Page 1 of 118
,-
A. Stage I NREM
B. Stage II NREM
C. Stage III NREM
D. Stage REM --CORRECT ANSWER--A. Stage I NREM
A patient presents for an evaluation to determine their candidacy for an oral appliance to treat
their mild OSA. During your examination, you note the presence of TMD. This might include
the following:
A. Pain in the TMJ
B. Pain in the muscles of mastication
C. Anomalies in mandibular movement
D. All of the above --CORRECT ANSWER--D. All of the above
The 2015 Practice Guidelines created through cooperative effort of the AASM and AADSM
suggest a physician should seek collaboration with a qualified dentist, described as someone
who has at least:
A. Board certification
B. Facility accreditation
C. Completion of a 1 yr residency in dental sleep medicine
D. Additional training or experience in dental sleep medicine --CORRECT ANSWER--D.
Additional training or experience in dental sleep medicine
Page 2 of 118
,An understanding of loop gain is important to the clinical practice of dental sleep medicine
because:
A. It excludes the possibility of cheyne stokes breathing in patients with severe OSA
B. It is the basis of the Mallampati classification system
C. It defines the number of sequential obstructive apneas in an epoch
D. It contributes to the multifactorial nature of sleep related breathing disorders --CORRECT
ANSWER--D. It contributes to the multifactorial nature of sleep related breathing disorders
With regards to biomechanical properties of the upper airway, which statement is true?
A. Sleep apnea patients paralyzed during general anesthesia (neural drive removed)
demonstrated airway compliance similar to healthy subjects
B. Sleep apnea patients had more negative closing pressures
C. Sleep apnea patients demonstrate a more positive Pcrit
D. There is no correlation between collapsibility when awake and collapsibility when asleep -
-CORRECT ANSWER--C. Sleep apnea patients demonstrate a more positive Pcrit
Which of the following statements is true regarding a modified mallampati classification of
the oral pharynx?
A. Mallampati II allows visualization of only the hard palate
B. Malampati III allows visualization of only the hard palate
Page 3 of 118
, -
C. Malampati classifications are taken with the patient sedated and reclined
D. Mallampati classifications of IV have greater odds ratio than Mallampati classifications of
I for severe OSA --CORRECT ANSWER--D. Mallampati classifications of IV have
greater odds ratio than Mallampati classifications of I for severe OSA
What 8 item questionnaire was developed to perioperatively screen for risk of OSA?
A. ESS
B. STOP-BANG
C. MSLT
D. Berlin --CORRECT ANSWER--B. STOP-BANG
In the pathophysiology of sleep apnea, airway patency and stability is promoted by which
factor?
A. Increased lung volume
B. Shorter mandible
C. Increased parapharyngeal fat deposition
D. Negative inspiratory pressure
E. Reduced pharyngeal muscle dilator activity --CORRECT ANSWER--A. Increased lung
volume
Oral appliance therapy commonly provides successful sole therapy for which of the following
sleep-related breathing disorders?
Page 4 of 118
