ABDSM FINAL EXAM PAPER 2026
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
⩥ 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. Answer: A. Increased
lung volume
⩥ Oral appliance therapy commonly provides successful sole therapy for
which of the following sleep-related breathing disorders?
A. Primary central sleep apnea
B. Cheyne-Stoke periodic breathing
C. Obesity hypoventilation
D. Overlap syndrome (OSA and COPD)
E. None of the above. Answer: E. None of the above
,⩥ Which of the following is true about OSA and HTN?
A. Ambulatory BP is increased in OSA patients primarily due to
increased salt intake associated with elevated ghrelin levels
B. Ambulatory BP normally increases in the early AM before awakening
- this increase is blunted in OSA
C. Untreated OSA is associated with a similar risk of HTN at all severity
levels
D. The risk of HTN in untreated OSA is due to intermittent hypoxia,
sympathetic overactivation, inflammation, and other complex factors.
Answer: D. The risk of HTN in untreated OSA is due to intermittent
hypoxia, sympathetic overactivation, inflammation, and other complex
factors
⩥ Across a general population, what is the most common sleep disorder?
A. RLS
B. Narcolepsy
C. Delayed sleep phase syndrome
D. Insomnia
E. Obstructive sleep apnea. Answer: D. Insomnia
,⩥ Measurement has shown that patients with sleep apnea have smaller
upper airways than those without sleep apnea but manage to keep an
open airway during wakefulness by:
A. Mouth Breathing
B. Increased muscle tone on inspiration
C. Increased blood flow to the soft tissue
D. Frequent bruxing. Answer: B. Increased muscle tone on inspiration
⩥ Key features of sleep apnea as recorded during an in-lab sleep study
include marked reduction or absence of air flow, arousals from sleep,
slowing of heart rate and:
A. Choking or gasping for air
B. Oxygen desaturation
C. Flattening of the nasal pressure signal
D. Flailing of the arms and legs
E. Sawtooth waves in the EEG. Answer: B. Oxygen Desaturation
⩥ Who publishes the CPT codebook?
A. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
B. The American Medical Association
, C. The Office of the Inspector General
D. The Durable Medical Equipment Service
E. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Answer: B. The
American Medical Association
⩥ 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. 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. Answer: B. Edentulism
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
⩥ 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. Answer: A. Increased
lung volume
⩥ Oral appliance therapy commonly provides successful sole therapy for
which of the following sleep-related breathing disorders?
A. Primary central sleep apnea
B. Cheyne-Stoke periodic breathing
C. Obesity hypoventilation
D. Overlap syndrome (OSA and COPD)
E. None of the above. Answer: E. None of the above
,⩥ Which of the following is true about OSA and HTN?
A. Ambulatory BP is increased in OSA patients primarily due to
increased salt intake associated with elevated ghrelin levels
B. Ambulatory BP normally increases in the early AM before awakening
- this increase is blunted in OSA
C. Untreated OSA is associated with a similar risk of HTN at all severity
levels
D. The risk of HTN in untreated OSA is due to intermittent hypoxia,
sympathetic overactivation, inflammation, and other complex factors.
Answer: D. The risk of HTN in untreated OSA is due to intermittent
hypoxia, sympathetic overactivation, inflammation, and other complex
factors
⩥ Across a general population, what is the most common sleep disorder?
A. RLS
B. Narcolepsy
C. Delayed sleep phase syndrome
D. Insomnia
E. Obstructive sleep apnea. Answer: D. Insomnia
,⩥ Measurement has shown that patients with sleep apnea have smaller
upper airways than those without sleep apnea but manage to keep an
open airway during wakefulness by:
A. Mouth Breathing
B. Increased muscle tone on inspiration
C. Increased blood flow to the soft tissue
D. Frequent bruxing. Answer: B. Increased muscle tone on inspiration
⩥ Key features of sleep apnea as recorded during an in-lab sleep study
include marked reduction or absence of air flow, arousals from sleep,
slowing of heart rate and:
A. Choking or gasping for air
B. Oxygen desaturation
C. Flattening of the nasal pressure signal
D. Flailing of the arms and legs
E. Sawtooth waves in the EEG. Answer: B. Oxygen Desaturation
⩥ Who publishes the CPT codebook?
A. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
B. The American Medical Association
, C. The Office of the Inspector General
D. The Durable Medical Equipment Service
E. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Answer: B. The
American Medical Association
⩥ 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. 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. Answer: B. Edentulism
