It has been estimated that over 30 million people have undiagnosed obstructive sleep disorders, including sleep apnea. These disorders are associated with some serious co-morbidities, including stroke, heart attack, and diabetes. Furthermore, many who have been properly diagnosed are unable to use the most commonly prescribed treatment, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Dentists and hygienists can play an integral part in screening for sleep disorders, especially obstructive sleep apnea and snoring and providing an effective alternative treatment modality.

The dentist providing such services must not only understand the basics of sleep medicine, but also the team approach to managing a dental sleep medicine patient, from diagnosis to triage for appropriate therapy which can include Oral Appliances and the management of untoward side effects and long term care.

• • Stats on Prevalence and Incidence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in General Population and General Dental Practice.
• • Medical & Psychiatric complications and Social and Economic impact of untreated OSA.
• • Pathophysiology of OSA. Screening and Diagnosis of OSA.
• • Different Treatment Options of OSA.
• • Comparison of CPAP vs. Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) – Stats on Compliance and Efficacy.
• • Benefits of OAT (providing life saving care, improving patients quality of life, professional satisfaction, economic benefit to the practice).
• • Barriers of Entry for Dentists (go over the top 5 reasons) and Solutions. Why Dentists Should be Treating OSA.
• • Best Practice Guidelines and State Of The Art Clinical Protocols for Consistent and Predictable Implementation of Dental Sleep Medicine and Oral Appliance Therapy in your practice, including referral for Sleep Studies and Medical Billing.