Spear has released a new curriculum introducing viewers to airway prosthodontics and essential terms, concepts and techniques involved with sleep dentistry. This curriculum includes three courses: "Creating an Airway Vocabulary," "Inspiratory Flow Limitation: Stepping Beyond Apnea" and "Upper Airway Resistance: TMD By Any Other Name."

airway prosthodontics apnea

Airway Prosthodontics is the study of aberrant breathing — when awake and asleep — and its impact on the development and health of the stomatognathic system. This specialty moves beyond sleep appliances and their impact on the airway during sleep. "Introduction to Airway Prosthodontics" is designed to introduce a shift in perspective to the clinician- encouraging them to consider how airway dysfunction can contribute to everyday conditions they see in the practice, and how effective screening can assist with the prevention of obstructive sleep apnea and related complications.

After going through this curriculum, viewers will be able to:

  • Understand the terminology of a traditional sleep study, the causes of sleep obstruction, and the health impact of a dysfunctional airway
  • See how understanding inspiratory flow limited breathing can be applied to preventing sleep apnea, and the damaging health effects of apnea-related inflammation and stress
  • Discover the interrelated nature of TMD and Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome, and how to properly screen for UARS

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Comments

Commenter's Profile Image Mark V.
August 16th, 2017
These courses are amazing!! Looking forward to more. Thank-you. I'm always looking for ways to implement predictable, research supported and structured treatment modalities like this into my practice that will help patients. I'm not sure if Dr. Rouse will see this or not, or whether he would have any advice, but I'm a Canadian dentist in a small town. I do not have easy access to an ENT for my patients. Also, I would have to send my patient to their family doctor in the hopes of getting a sleep study done. If the patient does not appear to have sleep apnea, the doctor may refuse. Nonetheless, from these courses, I believe I could still help patients with these problems. Besides doing the best I can with the resources at my disposal, I wonder if Dr. Rouse has any other advise to offer? Thanks Mark Venditti
Commenter's Profile Image Jeff R.
August 16th, 2017
Mark: Thanks for the note. I have already done 4 more videos so keep watching for new content. I will also have 2 Study Club modules this year. Your question is not uncommon but is unique because the Canadian Health System places challenges that I do not have to deal with. I believe each Province has unique rules and I do not know if the coverage recognizes testing done in the US. Some areas are more difficult to access ENTs, especially pediatric ENTs. Halifax had a 2 year waiting list for PSGs. They were distributing home monitors to resolve that issue. Unfortunately, there is not a proven pediatric version. Finally, most physicians worldwide are still finding and focusing on the fat, old man with huge apnea and snoring not the patient suffering from chronic stress and inflammation. Now the good news! There is a ton that we can do as dentists. You need to recognize the dental signs and symptoms that these patients will present with and treat those issues. Your bonus will be an improvement in breathing. Today, my classic myofascial pain patient reported her pain relieved with techniques that made her breathe better when she was sleeping. Changes that occur after orthodontics is another example of benefiting from altering the anatomy to the betterment of the patient's airway. Adding airway questions to your new patient examination, purchasing screening equipment, and learning more about the airway's impact on the stomatognathic system can benefit all of your patients without having to fight the medical community Continue to follow Spear Online for more information and/or I would love to see you in Scottsdale for the Airway Prosthodontics Seminar and Workshop where we could really focus on the topic
Commenter's Profile Image Mark V.
August 17th, 2017
Dr Rouse, Thanks for the helpful and exciting information. I will definitely review your online lectures. It seems to me that if I'm going to be serious about effectively incorporating airway prosthodontids into my practice I will have to attend your workshop soon ... It looks great! Mark