First SleepDisordersDentistry Mini-Residency a Success!
Close to a year ago, I envisioned a high level Dental Sleep Medicine program for Canada. Over the last several months, it slowly came together, the first Sleep Disorders Dentistry Mini-Residency, taught to American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) Standards, which took place this weekend at the Toronto Dental Learning Centre; it was a success beyond my personal expectations!
Dr. Barry Glassman
We were fortunate enough to have Dr. Barry Glassman as the keynote speaker to launch the session, and then he continued to tag-team the educational process with me for the first two days of the program. Barry and I were able to share close to 40 cumulative years of dental sleep medicine experience with the attendees enriching the learning experience and keeping things lively. There is never a dull moment when Barry is around. Just Sayn;)
Evening Social
On the first evening, we held a social dinner, which helped the attendees to develop relationships. Quite frankly, by the end of the course, some very solid relationships were established between clinician’s with a common interest, Sleep Disorders Dentistry.
Hands-on Experience
The attendees learned every aspect of Sleep Disorders Dentistry with a heavy emphasis on implementation. Basically, they were provided all the tools they need to successfully implement a Sleep Disorders Dentistry program in their office immediately.
Live Appliance Deliveries
We inserted Tap and Narval appliances of various designs for the attendees. They had the opportunity to experience a NOX T3 and a ApneaLink Air home sleep study, one night as a baseline study and the second night wearing their custom appliance. We discussed the outcomes and learned to make clinical decisions based on the second sleep study findings.
The Instructor Becomes the Patient!
The attendees even delivered a Somnodent Fusion appliance into my mouth. They picked a leader and as a group, delivered the appliance using all the technical and verbal skills they had learned the day before watching my deliveries of the various appliance designs.
Attendees Experience Two Home Sleep Tests, Pre and Post Oral Appliance Wear
They obtained didactic and or hands-on experience with many useful tools such as George Gauge, TAP Pro Gauge, SnapBite, MyTAP, EMA, AveoTSD, ApneaGaurd, ThermAcryl, nylon adjusting and polishing burs, and the Hilliard thermopliers and flameless torch required for enhancing retention on nylon appliances. They also took home sample appliances such as the NEW DreamTAP, AveoTSD, Somnodent, EMA and the Narval CC. In addition to this, they received sample documentation that meets the current AADSM Facility Accreditation Standards.
As I sit in my living room totally exhausted from the weekend, I am already thinking about how we can use this weekends experience and build on it to take the Mini-Residency program to even a higher level this fall. We will be announcing the fall dates very soon. If you have read this far, thanks for indulging in my proud moment.
Dream Team: Callie and Elaine
Finally, I want to express a very sincere heart felt thanks to Dr. Barry Glassman for being so generous with the sharing of his knowledge, my Dream Team Callie and Elaine without which this could simply not have happened, our photographer Matthew, and the various sponsors, Dental Services Group, ResMed, Airway Management, Somnodent, EZ Sleep, T&S Laboratories, True Function Laboratories, Great Lakes Orthodontics, AveoTSD, Carefusion, and Toronto Dental Learning Centre. I would also like to thank those sponsors that helped to spread the word, Identity NameBrands Inc, See Factor, Sinclair Dental and Henry Schein.
Thank you all for helping me realize my dream, a Sleep Disorders Dentistry Mini-Residency for the Canadian Dentist.
John Viviano DDS D ABDSM