Mesaros Symposium
August 22, 2025
Erickson Alumni Center
Morgantown, WV
*This form is for WVU SOD Affiliated Dentists and Dental Teams, and Non-WVU affiliated registrants. D3 and D4 Dental and Dental Hygiene Student registration will be handled separately.
Changing Lives: The Roles of Dentists in Healthy Sleep
Matthew P. Patterson, DMD
Imagine being choked for ten or more seconds a minimum of five times every hour while sleeping. Theoretically, it could happen 276 times per hour! That is Obstructive Sleep Apnea, (OSA), one of a number of types of Sleep Related Breathing Disorders, (SRBDs). With OSA, blood oxygen saturation dips precipitously, and in the long term, these drops can cause or contribute to numerous morbidities, including excessive daytime sleepiness, ADHD, bruxism, diabetes, hypertension, heart dysrhythmias, stroke, etc. Yet OSA remains a largely undiagnosed epidemic. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine estimates that 54 million U.S. adults suffer from this dangerous condition. Moreover, OSA is by far the most common pediatric sleep disorder, affecting 1-3% of pre-school and school aged children, and 80% of the group remain undiagnosed. As dentists, we are in a unique and critical position to turn this tide. In 2019, the ADA recommended that all dentists screen their patients for SRBDs. This course will provide basic knowledge of SRBDs, particularly OSA, as well as how to screen for and treat these conditions. Once diagnosed, dentists have the means to provide proven, effective therapy for OSA sufferers. This training can greatly enhance the quality of, and perhaps even save, your patients' lives. Oral Appliances are recognized as first-line treatments, and we are the ones who can develop the knowledge and expertise to fabricate and maintain these devices. All it takes is proper training, diagnostic, and therapeutic skills. Understand the nuances of oral appliance types and master the selection process to ensure maximal patient health, and more importantly, know when to avoid them to prevent harm. By attending this course, you will receive a foundation in the most current accepted knowledge of SRBDs, OSA screening, diagnosis and treatment, how to further develop your skills, and how to incorporate this vital aspect of health care into your practice.