It has been estimated that 20 million Americans suffer from moderate to severe OSA, and at least one patient in five has mild OSA. The primary treatment prescribed by sleep physicians is CPAP, but patient compliance with this therapy is unacceptably low, between 25% and 50%. There is a significant opportunity for dentists to provide a viable alternative therapy—oral appliance therapy (OAT). OAT results in much better adherence to therapy than CPAP, and while OAT is not as efficacious as CPAP, this increased compliance results in comparable therapeutic results. Currently, a board-certified sleep physician is the only medical professional qualified to diagnose OSA and other sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs), so dentists must coordinate with a sleep physician to provide OAT. This book is the how-to guide, a gateway to a successful dental sleep medicine practice. Written by two experts in the field, it clearly delineates the dentist's role in the treatment of SRBDs and gives practical advice for how to incorporate dental sleep medicine into an existing dental practice, not to mention how to work with sleep physicians to best support patient care. In addition to step-by-step instructions for examination, appliance selection, and follow-up care, complications of OAT, legal issues, and medical insurance and Medicare considerations are included to fully prepare the dentist for the journey into dental sleep medicine.
Contents
Chapter 01. Clinical Guide for the Practice of Dental Sleep Medicine
Chapter 02. An Overview of Sleep & Sleep Disorders
Chapter 03. Dental Sleep Medicine Protocol and Practice
Chapter 04. Integrating Dental Sleep Medicine into Your Practice
Chapter 05. Treatment Decisions and Appliance Selection
Chapter 06. Delivery of a Custom MAD
Chapter 07. Complications of Oral Appliance Therapy
Chapter 08. Evaluating Therapy and Ongoing Care
Chapter 09. The New Reality
Chapter 10. Legal Issues Related to the Practice of Dental Sleep Medicine
Chapter 11. Medical Insurance and Medicare
Chapter 12. Pediatric Airway Problems
