2024 Courses and Events

Course #: 3160
Date: 12/01/2024
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Course Info: Half Day
Speaker(s):
Michelle Cantwell, D.M.D.

Room: 1E13
Topic: Sleep Apnea
Tuition: $185.00
Credits: 2
Recommended For:
Dentists, Hygienists, Assistants, Administrative Staff, Nurse, Doctor

Description:

General dentists, elevate your practice and improve patient well-being with this comprehensive 2-hour lecture on Dental Sleep Medicine! This program dives into the essential topics you need to understand, including workflow, device selection, and practical implementation. Walk away equipped with the knowledge and skills to confidently introduce Dental Sleep Medicine into your practice and start helping patients achieve better sleep and overall health.

Learn:

• an overview of the fundamentals of dental sleep medicine, including its role in managing sleep-related breathing disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
• the diagnostic tools and screening methods used in dental sleep medicine within the context of a general dental practice
• the interdisciplinary approach to managing sleep-related breathing disorders, emphasizing collaboration between dentists, physicians, and sleep specialists
• the potential impact of dental sleep medicine on patient health and quality of life

Support for this program is provided by 

Course #: 3310
Date: 12/01/2024
Time: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Course Info: Half Day
Speaker(s):
Larry Lieberman

Room: 1D03/04
Topic: Laser Dentistry
Tuition: $305.00
Credits: 3

Description:

This course explores the diverse applications of laser therapy in dentistry, extending far beyond traditional procedures. Discover how lasers can address sleep-disordered breathing through screening and treatment, including laser-induced tightening of the soft palate and uvula to improve airway patency without surgery. We’ll delve into the connection between tethered oral tissues (TOTs), sleep issues, and laser therapies for both. The course also explores the use of lasers for non-surgical enhancement of athletic performance and nasal breathing and even ventures into facial aesthetics within the scope of dental practice. This includes techniques for facial rejuvenation, wrinkle reduction, and lip enhancement, all achieved through laser stimulation of collagen production.

Learn:

• about sleep-disordered breathing (including screening) whereby the soft palate and uvula are bathed with laser energy, which tightens the collagen and opens up the airway without cutting or surgery
• screening for TOTs (tethered oral tissues) and the relationship to sleep disorders
• laser therapies for TOTs and Sleep Disordered Breathing (snoring, sleep apnea, and more)
• non-surgical laser applications in improving sports performance and nasal breathing 

Support for this program is provided by

Course #: 4070
Date: 12/02/2024
Time: 8:30am - 11:00am
Course Info: Half Day
Speaker(s):
Jamison Spencer, D.M.D., M.S.

Room: 1E06
Topic: Sleep Apnea
Tuition: $305.00
Credits: 3
Recommended For:
Dentists, Hygienists, Assistants, Students, Administrative Staff, Lab Technicians, Spouse, Educator, Nurse, Doctor

Description:

In this presentation, the clinician reviews the basics of normal sleep and sleep-related breathing disorders in adults and children. Be warned that halfway through this presentation, you’ll likely think you and everyone you know have sleep apnea. But do not fear; Dr. Spencer will also explain how to get a proper diagnosis and how dentists can participate in treating sleep apnea through oral appliance therapy. He will also discuss avoiding the side effects commonly associated with oral appliance therapy.

Learn:

• the basics of normal sleep and sleep-related breathing disorders
• to understand the pathway and protocols for diagnosis of sleep apnea  
• about oral appliance therapy, appliance selection and how to avoid treatment-related side effects

Course #: 4050
Date: 12/02/2024
Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Course Info: Half Day
Speaker(s):
Kevin Postol, D.D.S.

Room: 1E11
Topic: Sleep Apnea
Tuition: $185.00
Credits: 2
Recommended For:
Dentists, Hygienists, Assistants, Students, Administrative Staff, Lab Technicians, Spouse, Educator, Nurse, Doctor

Description:

You screen patients every day for oral cancer, but you haven’t started screening for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Did you know there are 1,000x’s more patients with obstructive sleep apnea compared to annual new cases of oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer. With an estimated 54 million patients with OSA and 80% undiagnosed, dentists are in a perfect position to help save lives by screening and encouraging patients to get diagnosed and treated. This session will present easy tools and workflows to implement into your practice to screen patients for OSA and tips to get your staff on board.

Learn to:

• describe the benefits of screening for sleep apnea in your practice
• implement simple protocols to incorporate screening patients for sleep apnea into patient examinations
• identify patients suspected of having obstructive sleep apnea

Support for these programs are provided by

Course #: 4060
Date: 12/02/2024
Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Course Info: Half Day
Speaker(s):
Mitchell Levine, D.M.D., M.S.

Room: 1E11
Topic: Sleep Apnea
Tuition: $125.00
Credits: 3
Recommended For:
Dentists, Hygienists, Assistants, Educator, Doctor

Description:

This program will review findings from the consensus conference on the use of novel therapies in dental sleep medicine. Emphasis is placed on pediatric therapeutics, including maxillary expansion and mandibular functional appliances. Additionally, we will look at considerations of  tooth extraction in both children and adults as a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea. Lastly, a review of tethered tissues and the role of lasers in OSA management are considered.

Learn:

• the role of expansion in the management of obstructive sleep apnea
• the current thinking behind functional devices in the management of pediatric sleep apnea
• to better understand how extractions affect airway dimensions

Support for this program is provided by

Course #: 4080
Date: 12/02/2024
Time: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Course Info: Half Day
Speaker(s):
Jamison Spencer, D.M.D., M.S.

Room: Exhibit Floor - Booth #409
Topic: Sleep Apnea
Tuition: $390.00
Credits: 3
Recommended For:
Dentists

Description:

Attendance in the seminar “The Dentist’s Role in the Sleep Apnea Team” is strongly encouraged as this hands-on course will build on what is taught in that seminar.

In this hands-on workshop, the clinician will go through all the steps to take a patient from initial examination through final follow-up. The attendee will be able to handle and evaluate each style of an oral appliance, learn to take a proper bite registration and make a chairside device to help patients avoid bite changes. 

Learn to:

• understand each step to take a patient from initial evaluation to final follow-up
• work with the local medical community to get a proper diagnosis
• choose an appliance that the patient is most likely to use
• avoid oral appliance therapy-related side effects, such as tooth movement, bite changes, and jaw pain