Sleep Medicine Courses for Dentists

Sleep medicine is a medical subspecialty that’s focused on the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders and other sleep-related conditions. Good health is not only dependent on the amount of sleep an individual gets; it also depends on the quality of sleep. People who experience difficulty sleeping, are consistently tired during the day or have frequent nightmares that interrupt their sleep possibly suffer from a sleep disorder. 

The job of a sleep medicine specialist is to diagnose these disorders and suggest the appropriate treatment for these conditions. Sleep disorders are very common, and if not treated early, they could lead to serious long-term consequences such as stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, impotence, obesity, and heart diseases.

What is the Role of a Dentist in Sleep Medicine?

Dental sleep medicine is an area of special interest within dentistry. In this field, certified sleep dentists are specially trained in the use of oral appliance therapy to treat certain sleep disorders or sleep-related breathing disorders such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Dentists who practice sleep medicine must participate in dental sleep medicine courses and training that qualifies them to practice in this field. 

Typically, sleep disorders are first diagnosed by a board-certified sleep specialist; then, the patients are referred to a sleep medicine dentist depending on the severity of the condition. Sleep medicine dentists make use of an oral appliance or OSA, which is a medical device that’s worn in the mouth while sleeping. This device is used to create additional room for the tongue at the back of the throat and loosens soft tissue, which sometimes blocks the airway stopping the patient from breathing properly. 

Dentists who are interested in integrating dental sleep therapies in their practice must first educate themselves on the different up-to-date particulars and practices in dental sleep medicine. They can educate themselves by attending different online dental sleep medicine courses and training. Certifications from non-profit organizations like the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) or the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (ABDSM) are also necessary to practice in this field. 

How Dental Sleep Medicine Works

Dentists collaborate with different sleep physicians and other health care professionals in the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea. The patient is first diagnosed by the sleep medicine specialist and then asked to see a sleep medicine dentist to get fitted for an oral appliance. Oral appliance therapy is the first-line treatment for these sleep conditions, but some physicians recommend a CPAP machine. The issue with that is many patients find it difficult to adjust to CPAP machines and find it uncomfortable. Oral appliances, however, are easier to use; it’s just like retainer or mouth guard to bed, which is why it’s the preferred line of treatment by most patients. 

 It is important to note that the job of a sleep medicine dentist is to treat these sleep-related conditions and not diagnose them. Diagnosis is made by a board-certified sleep physician; he/she then refers such patient to a dentist for the appropriate line of treatment. The first step of the dentist is to review the patient’s file from the sleep physician and discuss the benefits of oral appliance therapy. The dentist then thoroughly examines the architecture of the patient’s mouth, jaw, and airway to create a mold or digital impression that fits the patient’s mouth. 

There are different sleep medicine courses for dentists interested in incorporating sleep medicine or oral appliance therapy in their practice. 

Difference between Sleep Medicine and Neurology

A neurologist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect the normal function of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and musculoskeletal system. They treat conditions that affect the part of the nervous system that affects normal bodily function like digestion, breathing, and blood circulation. Neurologists treat a wide range of disorders, including brain and spinal tumors, headaches, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and other disorders that affect the brain. 

Some neurologists also specialize in the treatment of sleep disorders. Some neurologists but not all are sleep medicine specialists. For a neurologist to become board-certified sleep specialist, they must first partake in a one-year fellowship in sleep medicine after the completion of their neurology residency.