Dental Sleep Medicine - The need for a new specialty in dentistry
Dentistry has several specialty classifications : oral surgery, orthodontics, prosthodontics (crown and bridge) and endodontics (root canal). These specialties were developed in response to the need for specialized additional education in these areas of dentistry.
Today, with dentistry's increasing role in the recognition and treatment of sleep-breathing disorders, there is a need for a new specialty - that of dental sleep medicine. While basic training in dentistry is required, a comprehensive knowledge of sleep medicine would benefit those entering this field and make interaction with physician colleagues more productive. Dental sleep medicine is as unlike general, restorative dentistry as is the specialty of oral surgery and requires as much medical background.
The amount of knowledge required to practice dental sleep medicine is growing at an exponential rate that is difficult to fit into a standard dental school curriculum. For now, self-directed study with continuing education courses is probably sufficient but as the sheer volume of patients with sleep apnea expands, as we learn more about the medical ramifications of this disorder and as home sleep studies become more accurate, specially trained sleep-breathing dental specialists will be asked to assume more of the diagnostic and therapeutic roles.
Choosing a dentist for oral appliance therapy, for now, is in the hands of the individual.
The dentist you choose to treat your problem with sleep disordered breathing must be properly educated and with adequate experience. Legally, any dentist can treat snoring and/or sleep apnea with an oral appliance, however, that does not mean that every dentist has the necessary experience and training to provide proper therapy. Because no special qualifications are required it is your responsibility to choose your dentist wisely.
Today, with dentistry's increasing role in the recognition and treatment of sleep-breathing disorders, there is a need for a new specialty - that of dental sleep medicine. While basic training in dentistry is required, a comprehensive knowledge of sleep medicine would benefit those entering this field and make interaction with physician colleagues more productive. Dental sleep medicine is as unlike general, restorative dentistry as is the specialty of oral surgery and requires as much medical background.
The amount of knowledge required to practice dental sleep medicine is growing at an exponential rate that is difficult to fit into a standard dental school curriculum. For now, self-directed study with continuing education courses is probably sufficient but as the sheer volume of patients with sleep apnea expands, as we learn more about the medical ramifications of this disorder and as home sleep studies become more accurate, specially trained sleep-breathing dental specialists will be asked to assume more of the diagnostic and therapeutic roles.
Choosing a dentist for oral appliance therapy, for now, is in the hands of the individual.
The dentist you choose to treat your problem with sleep disordered breathing must be properly educated and with adequate experience. Legally, any dentist can treat snoring and/or sleep apnea with an oral appliance, however, that does not mean that every dentist has the necessary experience and training to provide proper therapy. Because no special qualifications are required it is your responsibility to choose your dentist wisely.
A qualified sleep-disorders dentist should have:
- Appropriate knowledge of sleep medicine
- Adequate training in oral appliance therapy
- Years of experience with many different appliance types
- Solid relationships with local sleep labs and sleep physicians
- Current knowledge of emerging trends
- Ability to derive maximum insurance benefits for you
- A team approach with other professionals
- A proven follow-up system to ensure healthy results long-term
- In-depth knowledge of oral appliance research
posted by Dr. Larry Barsh at
7:06 AM
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