What do i look for in a dentist who does oral appliance therapy for apnea? my doctor recommended that i see a dentist about oral appliance therapy for my apnea, but i don't know what to look for. are there special dentist that do this, or can any dentist

A : A good place to start is by looking for a local dentist or oral and maxillofacial surgeon who is a member of the american academy of dental sleep medicine and the american academy of sleep medicine. Not practitioners that are competent in dentally managing sleep apnea belong to these two organizations so do not eliminate any dentist or oral and maxillofacial surgeon who does not belong to them, instead look at their training and ask how many patients they have successfully treated. Oral appliances should be custom made to ensure they are effective, will not cause problems with your jaw joints and will not cause shifting of teeth.

The : The bottom line is knowledge. There are dentists out there who go to lots of classes and learn little. Get references from patients that have been treated successfully by the dentist if you are concerned. Any dentist who is unwilling to allow that is hiding something. Sleep apnea devices are very effecrive, relatively easy to make, and much easier in most cases to wear than c-paps.

Sleep : Sleep apnea is a real problem about which we in the dental profession are becoming increasingly aware. Some ingenious entrepreneurs have jumped on the band wagon and are offering all sorts of classes to dentist convincing us that there is good money to be made and a service to be provided for people who suffer from this condition. It takes an experienced clinician to treat sleep apnea properly and the are solution that dentist can provide. Make sure that the doctor you choose has some good training and has had success with his treatment of other patients. Dr neil mcleod dds dentistry that lasts - quality that counts.

Experience and..: I would recommend a dentist that has plenty of experience and training in dental sleep medicine. Although not all experienced dentists are certified by the american board of dental sleep medicine it is a place to look for a dentist that has a minimal amount of experience and has been tested for his or her knowledge.