Sleep Apnea is a medical condition, which means it is important to include a medical professional in the treatment process for dental sleep medicine services. While dentists can treat obstructive sleep apnea, we cannot diagnose it ourselves. What we can do is ask questions and pay attention to symptoms.
Beyond that we need a sleep physician to help us in the diagnosis process through a sleep study. Through a working relationship with a sleep physician, you can send patients for diagnosis while also receiving patients for treatment with oral appliance therapy if they become CPAP intolerant.
The solution is you
At the end of the day, there is an easier solution: You, the dentist. By completing continuing education to advance your services to include sleep apnea care, you can save patients time and money spent on figuring out what might be the problem. Most patients are treated with oral appliance therapy as the leading form of treatment for sleep apnea due to their convenience and ease of use. As a dentist, you can offer your patients oral appliances to ensure accuracy and provide the best results.
Take charge of your practice and help your patients get a better night’s sleep while also improving their overall health and well-being by screening for sleep apnea. At the end of the day, if you’re not saving your patient’s life through sleep apnea screening, then who is?
The future of dental sleep medicine is bright. With numerous opportunities to provide value through improved patient care, your options are endless, so take charge as soon as possible and start screening your patients for sleep apnea.
