As with every New Year, we always want to start with our best foot forward. I know it is only November, but now is the time to get started on your preparation for 2019. If you start now, you can get the best deals on airfare (if needed) and hotels.

Here are three dental sleep medicine courses to attend in the first couple months of 2019.

January 25-26 in Jupiter, Florida. The topic is TMJ for the Dental Sleep Medicine Practice. In this lecture we will take a look at the connection between TMD and sleep apnea. With 36 states now mandating TMD coverage in health care plans, it is important to understand how to incorporate these services into your practice. A dental professional is the primary care provider for TMJ dysfunction because they are capable of significantly improving the quality of life and overall health of these patients. And in the realm of dental sleep medicine, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine practice parameters for OSA put the responsibility clearly on dentists to catch and treat TMD problems in sleep apnea patient follow-up exams. Sign up for this course to gain step-by-step guidance on identifying, diagnosing and implementing TMD treatment.

February 8-9 in Atlanta, Georgia. If you have not already attending the first three sessions, this might not be for you. However, it is a great sleep and pain mini residency. Session 4 is the last of this mini-residency 2. The program is designed to give dental practices the knowledge and guidance to fully incorporate obstructive sleep apnea treatment into their practice. It also aims to help dentists overcome obstacles in order to grow and flourish in dental sleep medicine.

March 8-9 in Atlanta, Georgia. This is the third installment of the Sleep and Pain Mini Residency. If you weren’t able to sign up for the previous sessions, now is the time to sign up for session one! This is a 4-part, 64 CE credit program led by Dr. Mayoor Patel and Dr. Terry Bennett. By attending this mini-residency series you will learn about dental sleep medicine with an emphasis on hands-on and practical learning. Dentists will gain the skills and confidence they need to incorporate sleep apnea treatment into their practice successfully.

To learn more about upcoming lectures, please visit https://mpateldds.com/upcoming-lecture/. I look forward to seeing you an an upcoming lecture or mini-residency!