Statement of Ethics

AADSM members are expected to abide by the code of ethics set forth in the below statement:

Dental sleep medicine encompasses the clinical treatment of patients with sleep-related breathing disorders through utilization of oral appliance therapy, the promotion of long-term management of patients with sleep-related breathing disorders, and the scientific investigation of topics related to dental sleep medicine.

Members of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine are called upon to follow the highest of ethical standards for their practice, with the safety and well-being of the patient as the paramount goal. A primary tenet of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine’s mission is that dental sleep medicine professionals should possess not only knowledge, skill and technical competence but also honesty, integrity, compassion, fairness, kindness and charity. These professional and personal qualities should define members of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.

Broadly, members of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine are encouraged to adhere to these basic principles:

1. Members do that which is right and fair for their patients with respect to their treatment and care for sleep-related breathing disorders. In this regard, members are encouraged to disclose therapeutic options available and a course of treatment. Members are also encouraged to maintain comprehensive patient records that remain confidential.
2. Members follow peer-reviewed standards of practice and published treatment protocol for oral appliance therapy.
3. Members keep current with regard to their knowledge of and expertise in dental sleep medicine, oral appliance therapy, and sleep-related breathing disorders.
4. Members deliver care to patients in a manner that demonstrates competence and is within the clinical expertise of the dentist. Once therapy is initiated, members should not discontinue treatment of the patient without ample and proper notification.
5. Members shall not advertise or market their services utilizing untruthful tactics or misleading claims.

The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine’s Statement of Ethics is a dynamic document. As dental sleep medicine and its context evolves, changes to the Statement of Ethics will be necessary to assist members with their delivery of care to patients. The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine encourages all members to also adhere to the principles outlined in the American Dental Association’s Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct.