In any dental office, routine check-ups often reveal more than just the health of your teeth. New research from Rutgers Health, published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, highlights an important role that dentists play in identifying life-threatening sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). With their unique access to patients’ oral and facial structures, dentists are in a prime position to detect early signs of these medical conditions. In fact, dentists may be the first line of defense against health risks such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and even heart failure.