Dental Sleep Medicine FAQ's for Dental Students


What is dental sleep medicine?
What is the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) and what do they provide to their members?
What does it cost to join the AADSM as a student member?
Who is eligible for student membership?
What benefits will I receive as a student member?
How can I join the AADSM as a student member?
What is the role of the dentist in providing care through dental sleep medicine for patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
Why should I consider practicing dental sleep medicine?
Can any dentist practice dental sleep medicine?
How does the AADSM define a qualified dentist?  
How can I attain certification in dental sleep medicine?

Is dental sleep medicine a recognized specialty of the ADA?

Apply for Student Membership

What is dental sleep medicine?


Dental sleep medicine is an area of dental practice that focuses on providing oral appliance therapy to treat sleep-disordered breathing, including snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Dentists work together with physicians to identify the best treatment for each patient.
 
What is the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) and what do they provide to their members?

The AADSM is a professional membership society for dentists who help patients control snoring and obstructive sleep apnea through the use of oral appliance therapy. The AADSM has had 25 years of proven success providing members with first-rate educational opportunities and resources to grow their dental sleep medicine practices. 
What does it cost to join the AADSM as a student member?

Student membership is free. Join the AADSM today!
Who is eligible for student membership?

Student membership is open to students who are enrolled full-time in an accredited predoctoral program leading to one or more of the following dental or medical degrees: DDS, DMD, MD, PhD, or DO, or an accredited postdoctoral residency or fellowship, and who, upon completion of the degree program, plan to be licensed as a physician or dentist in their place of residence, active in dental sleep medicine. Student members receive subscriptions to all publications and informational mailings developed by the AADSM. Student members do not have voting rights.
 

What benefits will I receive as a student member?

Joining AADSM can give you a head start at a successful career and arm you with the resources to excel at providing oral appliance therapy. As an AADSM student member you will have access to education, research and networking opportunities that will position you to succeed in dental sleep medicine. When you transition from student to professional, the AADSM also provides practice management and insurance reimbursement resources to help establish and grow your business. Student members also receive access to the Journal of Dental Sleep Medicine (JDSM) as well as the monthly AADSM Newsflash emails. 
How can I join the AADSM as a student member?

The application for student membership can be downloaded here
What is the role of the dentist in providing care through dental sleep medicine for patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?

Dentists should screen patients for OSA using questionnaires and evaluating the airway and then refer the patient to a physician for an evaluation. Since OSA is a medical condition, it must be diagnosed by a physician. If oral appliance therapy is determined by the physician and patient to be the most appropriate treatment option, the physician will write a prescription for an oral appliance and refer the patient to a qualified dentist who will provide and monitor oral appliance therapy as part of a treatment team with the physician. The qualified dentist will manage potential side effects of oral appliance therapy and provide follow-up to ensure the optimal fit of the oral appliance. Patients should return to their physician to confirm the treatment efficacy of oral appliance. Visit our FAQ page to learn more about OSA and oral appliance therapy. 
Why should I consider practicing dental sleep medicine?

Dental sleep medicine provides the opportunity to work closely with physicians to solve patients’ sleep problems to, revitalize their health, restore their quality of life – and, ultimately, help them prevent the medical comorbidities associated with sleep apnea, such as hypertension, stroke, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes. Dental sleep medicine can serve as an additional source of revenue for a dental practice in addition to general dentistry services, which is beneficial in decreasing the burden of student loan debt. 
Can any dentist practice dental sleep medicine?

Education in dental sleep medicine is required for dentists to provide safe, quality care to patients using oral appliance therapy for sleep-disordered breathing. At minimum, dentists should meet the educational requirements defined by the AADSM to be a “Qualified Dentist" in dental sleep medicine.
How does the AADSM define a qualified dentist?  

The AADSM defines a qualified dentist as one that has at least one of the following: certification in dental sleep medicine by a non-profit organization, designation as the dental director of a dental sleep medicine facility accredited by a non-profit organization, or a minimum of 25 hours of recognized continuing education in dental sleep medicine (e.g., ADA CERP or AGD PACE) provided by a dental sleep medicine focused non-profit organization or accredited dental school in the last two years. 
How can I attain certification in dental sleep medicine?

Certification in dental sleep medicine is offered through the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (ABDSM).  Dentists have the option of applying for the ABDSM exam through two pathways - the Mastery Track or the Traditional Track.  The Mastery Track involves participating in a 65-hour educational program developed by the AADSM, while the Traditional Track requires submission of continuing education hours, letters of recommendation, observation hours at a sleep center, and case studies.  For more information, visit the ABDSM website.
 
Is dental sleep medicine a recognized specialty of the ADA?

Dental sleep medicine is not recognized as a specialty area by the American Dental Association. However, AADSM CE courses are recognized by the American Dental Association Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP), which can help dentists fulfill ongoing educational requirements.