American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine

The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) is an organization dedicated to helping people deal with snoring and sleep apnea. The AADSM offers educational materials and guidance for patients and professionals.

Read about sleep apnea associations.

While many people automatically associate dental sleep medicine with sedation dentistry, the AADSM is concerned with sleep science as it relates to obstructive sleep apnea and snoring problems. The organization offers resources for patients and professionals who want to learn more about oral devices used to prevent breathing problems during sleep.

Many dentists opt to become members of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine for a number of reasons. They have access to many resources as well as countless benefits outlined on the organization's website. Benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Certification in dental sleep medicine is an important benefit that lets patients know that the dentist has expertise in breathing disorders related to sleep
• Awards for dentists who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and professionalism in the field
• Education programs help dentists to continue their studies related to sleep-related breathing problems
• Guidance for practicing dental sleep medicine in the office
• Patient education pamphlets and other printed resources
• Annual meeting to bring dentists together
• Listing in the AADSM List of Dentists upon certification
• Subscription to Dialogue, a quarterly publication that contains the newest developments in various areas of dental sleep medicine:
  • Technology
  • Research
  • Events
  • Government issues
  • Medical issues
  • Dental issues
  • Feature articles of interest to the field

A dentist who is passionate about helping people to overcome breathing problems related to sleep disorders can benefit from exploring the educational opportunity that continues to help and guide professionals. The organization is an excellent resource for patients as well.

People who have breathing-related sleep disorders can benefit from exploring the AADSM as a resource. The organization offers a lot of information about mouthpieces for snoring, as well as oral devices for sleep apnea.

The appliances are not appropriate for everyone, and they are best suited for people who have mild or moderate sleep apnea. However, some patients with severe sleep apnea have experienced relief from their symptoms using this approach. The organization suggests that a sleep study can help patients determine how severe their conditions are.

Patients who find that they want to try oral appliances to treat breathing problems during sleep have a great opportunity to explore these options on the AADSM website. Topics include:

• Information about snoring and sleep apnea
• Questions and answers about oral devices
  • Snoring
  • Sleep Apnea
• How to determine if sleep apnea is mild, moderate or severe
• Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI)
• Oral devices versus CPAP machines
• Pricing and insurance coverage

Few things are as empowering as knowledge, and the AADSM has created four excellent brochures filled with helpful information. Patients have the benefit of learning about their sleep related breathing problems, and the options available for treatment.

1. Treatment of Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a great resource that defines snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. The brochure contains information about the most popular treatment options: surgery, CPAP machines and oral devices. The publication contains images to illustrate the processes.
2. Oral Appliance Therapy for Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea explains how oral devices can help patients with sleep-related breathing disorders.
3. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea explores both surgical and non-surgical treatments for obstructive sleep apnea.
4. Dental Sleep Medicine and Insurance Reimbursement helps patients find coverage for their oral devices for treating the sleep disorders.

The brochures are available on the AADSM website at no cost.

Those who are not sure whether they have a sleep disorder can benefit from taking the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, a measurement of daytime sleepiness that may be an indicator of a disorder. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has the self-test on its website for visitors to use.

The AADSM is a great resource for people who have sleep related breathing disorders as well as the dentists dedicated to helping them.

• Sleep Requirements by Age
• Sleep Apnea Full Face Masks
• Foods Containing L-Tryptophan
• Why Is Sleep Important

• Pure Sleep
• Melatonin Forums
• How to Put Someone to Sleep
• Stop Snoring Mouthpiece
• How Long Can You Live Without Sleep