Somnology 101: a primer on sleep disorders, their impact on society, and a role for dentistry.

Sleep is necessary for our existence. It is one-third of a commitment to health along with nutrition and exercise. While we spend one-third of our lives asleep, studies show one-third of the U.S. population suffers with a significant sleep disorder at some point in their lifetime. This manuscript introduces sleep and sleep disorders, focuses on those sleep disorders within the domain of dentistry, and addresses contributions the dental community can make toward specific sleep problems.