TX
THERE’S NO
WITHOUT
D
entists are in a prime
position to screen and treat
patients with obstructive sleep
apnea.
Consider the recent ADA
Statement: “Dentists are the
only healthcare provider with
knowledge and expertise to
deliver oral appliance therapy.
Dentists are encouraged to
screen patients for sleep-related
breathing disorders as part
of a comprehensive medical
and dental exam to recognize
such symptoms as sleepiness,
choking, snoring or witnessed
apneas and an elevation of
risk factors such as obesity,
retrognathia, or hypertension.”
The dentist can be an integral
piece of the apneic patient’s
journey. However, a dentist
must have a diagnosis of
Obstructive Sleep Apnea before
providing oral appliance
therapy (OAT).
Following are three options for
obtaining a diagnosis prior to
treatment:
1. Align with a local sleep
physician
This is a phenomenal option
if you have access to a sleep
physician who embraces OAT
and reciprocates referrals. If
RYAN JAVANBAKHT
DX
you have this option, go for it!
Align with a local sleep physician
to refer patients for diagnosis.
2. Buy a home sleep test
device
The big benefit here is simply
hand-delivering the home
sleep test to your patient
- immediately upon their
commitment to testing.
Carefully weigh this benefit
with the facts that you may
need multiple devices, you’ll
need to systematically track the
devices, and you’ll need to pay
for disposables and pay for the
diagnoses by a Board-Certified
Sleep Physician. Be sure to
check with your State Dental
Board to confirm that this is a
diagnostic option for you.
3. Partner with a 3rd party
home sleep test (HST)
provider
This option is simple and
effective when you partner with
the right organization.
Here are some questions to ask
when you are interviewing a
home sleep test provider.
• How do I submit Rx’s and
receive HST results?
• Are you HIPAA compliant?
• What is your turnaround
time?
RYAN JAVANBAKHT
Ryan Javanbakht is a Co-
Founder of SleepTest.com,
a national home sleep test
service that allows patients
to be tested in the comfort
of their own beds and equips
clinicians with a trusted
source for obstructive sleep
apnea diagnostics.
• Which HST device do you
use, and does it monitor
obstructive vs. central
apneas?
• What are your charge
amounts to PPO plans?
• What is the cost to my
patient?
• What is your HST device’s
failure rate?
• Do you have Board Certified
Sleep Physicians that are
licensed in my state and
who physically “read AND
interpret” my patient’s raw
data?
• Can I order a sleep test
directly through my dental
sleep medicine software?
Once you’ve chosen your
diagnostic path, BE the positive
impact in the overall health
and wellness of your patients.
Obtaining the diagnosis
efficiently and properly will
allow you to effectively and
ethically treat your patients.