TARGET AUDIENCE
This course is intended for dentists and dental professionals with an interest in, or currently treating, snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients through the utilization of oral appliance therapy (OAT).
The introduction to Dental Sleep Medicine course is a logical way to incorporate OAT into your practice. The course includes a review of sleep related breathing disorders, such as snoring and OSA, and the impact of sleep disorders on society. A comprehensive evaluation is described that includes upper airway examination and imaging with a focus on areas of pathophysiology in OSA. Several sessions address the range of OAT and upper airway surgery for OSA. The course addresses practice issues such as developing a team approach, medicolegal issues and reimbursement. A final portion of the course is case-based and provides clinical examples of the evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders in a dental practice.
Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:
• describe the dental and medical terminology associated with sleep medicine and OSA.
• understand the pathophysiology, demographics and sequelae of OSA.
• evaluate, analyze and comprehend polysomnogram reports and understand the necessity of medical evaluation and importance of a multidisciplinary team approach to treating snoring and OSA.
• identify and describe the various treatment options available, focusing on the various types of oral appliances available.
• describe the mechanisms of action of various types of oral appliances as well as the indications, contraindications, complications and side effects associated with their use.
• evaluate various case presentations that demonstrate a range of patients and treatment
Situations representative of the practice of dental sleep medicine to include fabrication concepts, interpretation of bite registrations and adherence to recommended treatment protocol and standards of practice.
TEACHING METHODS
The sessions at this course will be comprised of lectures followed by discussion.
The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. The formal educational programs of the AADSM are also accepted by the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) for Fellowship/Mastership credit. This course has been approved for 13.00 CE credits.
