Course Objectives
This introductory 2 day sleep apnea course will discuss the diagnosis and treatment of patients with sleep disorders, including snoring and sleep apnea. The dentist can be one of the primary care providers for mild to moderate cases of obstructive sleep apnea. The course includes an extensive sleep apnea course manual to educate dentists in this area and prepare them to achieve their certification in the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM).
Dentists who have knowledge of airways, functional appliances and TM dysfunction are ideally suited to provide oral appliance therapy. Hopefully, you will share my vision for the future and enroll in a course that will increase the size of your practice and assist you with providing an important health service for your patients young and old.
- Sleep Apnea Symptoms and Causes
- Sleep Examinations and Forms
- Hospital Sleep Studies (Polysomnogram)
- Home Sleep Study
- Different Sleep Cycles
- Summary of Sleep Disorders
- Comparison of Different Oral Appliances
- References and Articles
- Marketing Your Sleep Practice
- Sample Reports to Sleep Specialists, MD’s Dentists, and ENT’s
- How to Bill Insurance Companies
- CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure)
- Surgical Solutions for Sleep Apnea
Info on Sleep Apnea
In the January 2006 medical journal “Sleep”, it was announced by the polysomnologists (sleep center specialists) that oral appliances are now recommended as the treatment of choice for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea is not just a social nuisance, it is a serious health risk. Cardiovascular disease is the number two cause of death in North America, and patients who suffer from Sleep Apnea have a higher incidence of heart attacks and strokes due to high blood pressure, caused by lack of oxygen. It has been estimated that 90 million people in North America have sleep disorders that include insomnia, snoring and Sleep Apnea.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea may cause chronic daytime sleepiness, heartburn, earaches, gasping and choking at night, irritable personality change, frequent awakenings, acid reflux, bruxism, depression, morning headaches, impotence, lack of energy and loss of memory.
Previously, the gold standard has been the Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) which consists of an air compressor that forces air up the nose in order to open the airway while the CPAP is the ideal treatment for severe cases of Sleep Apnea, the problem is that 80% of the patients are not compliant after the first year. Patients prefer instead to wear oral appliances which move the lower jaw and tongue forward to open up the airway. Patient compliance is much higher with oral appliances and could be over 90%.
Many spouses agree with the fact that their partner’s snoring is damaging to their relationship. I advise my patients that oral appliances are cheaper than a divorce and in the long run, much better for one’s overall health.
Benefits
The Importance of This Sleep Apnea Course
Dentists must be knowledgeable in the area of sleep dentistry regarding the three ways to treat including the CPAP device, oral appliances and surgery. Also, they must be knowledgeable in understanding the different types of apnea, different stages of sleep, how to interpret sleep studies, how to conduct a thorough examination of the patient, and how to send appropriate reports to the sleep specialist.
This course will cover all of these topics. When you meet with the sleep specialist, you will be more knowledgeable in this area so that the sleep specialist will be encouraged to work with you.
This course will emphasize how to establish relationships with medical professionals (sleep specialists) in the sleep clinics who work with the dentist to help prevent snoring and sleep apnea.
Increased Profitability of Practice
At the present time, our practice treats approximately 15 patients per month. (Fee is approximately $3,000 per patient including records.)
Course Fees & CE
Continuing Education Credits
14 hours of CE lecture
Course Fees
Doctors: $1,295
Staff: $495
Includes extensive course manual for doctors registration
Includes a downloadable file of relevant articles
