Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (osas) is a very common disorder, affecting a large percentage of the population. Often undiagnosed, it increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, arterial hypertension, diabetes and other chronic medical conditions. Dentists with expertise in sleep medicine can easily identify signs and symptoms of osa, facilitate referral, and provide effective treatments in collaboration with medical providers. This text aims to provide an overview of relevant topics to dentists who want to include sleep medicine in their clinical practice.