Dental Sleep Medicine Insider March 2016 | Page 21

questions the patient posed. When she called our office, she said, “Your receptionist knew just what to say and seemed very happy to help me get started with oral appliance therapy.” Success in treating sleep patients has no short cuts or easy answers. One class or one appliance is not going to get you far. Over the last few years, I have attended many more Dental Sleep Solutions seminars, trainings and AADSM study group meetings, as well as utilizing DS3 to help us effectively communicate with our medical colleagues, our patients and medical insurance companies. I also bring my team to these meetings. Dr. Blattner: Recognizing orthodontic conditions that structurally predispose adult patients to SDB such as narrow arches or Class II Division II patients help guide your care for SDB patients. Often, adult orthodontics is the answer. Primary snorers who get alignment expansion often notice their snoring disappears during their straightening. Early childhood functional orthopedic therapy can help some patients expand their palate and advance their mandible to open up their airway and diminish SDB issuesnow and in the future. Brandie: What 4 things are must-haves to treat DSM patients? INTERVIEWED BY Brandie Havell Senior Account Manager [email protected] 877.95.SNORE Reaching out to our medical colleagues in a professional knowledgeable and helpful manner is a must to grow your “sleep” practice beyond your building’s four walls. I’ve visited sleep dentists’ offices to see how they care for their patients. In 2015, I completed a mini-residency in sleep-related breathing disorders and craniofacial pain at the University of Tennessee given by Dr. Olmos, which gave a broad and in-depth perspective. I’ve seen how valuable this treatment is. My team has, too. This belief and passion is palpable when we speak with patients about the subject. Brandie: What is the relationship between TMD & OSA & how do you approach this in your practice? Dr. Blattner: Certainly advancing the mandible with oral appliances can have an effect on patients’ TMJ and create side effects that must be identified and addressed to have a comprehensive and positive result. A structured approach to a comprehensive diagnosis, which DS3 facilitates and helps document, can lead to a happier, healthier patient who sleeps well and enjoys an improved quality of life. Brandie: You’ve been pretty deeply immersed in ortho for years. What role does that play in how you approach SDB treatment? 21 Dr. Blattner: Our team believes in: 1. Screening every patient 2. Testing with our MedBytes or referring for a PSG when appropriate 3. Treating with an oral appliance when appropriate and coordinating co-therapy CPAP/OAT when needed. We also support CPAP alone when successful or MMA surgery as needed 4. Billing for and receiving a fair fee for our services Those are the four pillars of dental sleep care. With the right team, our future dental sleep practice has no limits. These systems, a belief in your mission will propel your practice forward. In 2016, we have already done more appliances and helped more patients than all of last year.