02/12/2023
The Mallampati Score is typically used to predict the ease of endotracheal intubation, but I use it on a daily basis in dentistry as a screening tool to assess a person’s risk for sleep disordered breathing. I have patients open wide and stick their tongue out while sitting up straight.
If they are a Mallampati Score of I or II, then structurally they have a nice open airway in that area and usually at lower risk for it to collapse while they are sleeping, BUT… If they are a Mallampati III or IV when they stick their tongue out, I explain that there is not much space between the tongue and the roof of the mouth when they are awake and sometimes that space closes off even more when they fall asleep and the muscles relax often making it harder to breathe.
The small space as it collapses may translate into snoring or it may actually be that the person stops breathing while sleeping periodically. Snoring is not normal, and sleep disordered breathing is widely under diagnosed. Even children and elite athletes can be at risk… if you do not wake up feeling refreshed after a full night’s sleep, have a headache in the morning, wake up to tangled sheets, wake up often, feel anxious or depressed, (and so much more)… let’s start wondering if it could be an airway/sleep/breathing issue…
Breathing is important, but sleep is, too! If they are forced to compete, breathing will win every time and sleep will be sacrificed. Even if you are structurally at higher risk, there are things that can be done. Do you know your score?
