WHOLE YOU
Dr. Chase: In dentistry, we
fix teeth - the margins of
restorations are sealed, the
occlusion is good. Then, it’s
fixed. It’s done. In dental sleep
medicine issues are often
multifactorial, and we really
have to look at the whole
patient. I had to change my
mindset from looking at the oral
cavity, to looking at the entire
pharynx, to looking at the whole
human being.
Q2: That sounds
invigorating, but I
hear quite a bit about
challenges inherent to
Dental Sleep Medicine.
What unique challenges
have you encountered
and how did you
overcome them?
Dr. Sall: I think the biggest
challenge is transitioning from
general dentistry to doing dental
sleep medicine. It can be difficult
doing a crown prep in one op
and walking into the next room
and talking to a sleep or facial
pain patient because it really
requires a different skill set,
different scheduling, and time
commitments.
It’s very challenging for
somebody to go from general
dentistry practice to doing this
unless they really start to believe
and want to do it. And if the
dentist who really is the captain
of the team isn’t all in, it’s hard
for them to get the staff to buy
in. Dentists that do this will be
successful. with physicians is the mindset
shift, it has to happen.
Dr. Chase: The mindset has
to shift from fixing cars to
growing trees - from treating
the problem mechanically to
taking care of the whole of the
patient which includes their
comorbidities, their quality of
life, and their general wellbeing
as it relates to sleep. Dr. Wilson: You mentioned
physician collaboration, Lesia.
That can be tough. It requires
banging on doors, building
relationships, and getting in
front of them as often as you
possibly can. It’s up to us to
help them understand that as a
clinician you take this seriously.
I had to remove my dental
hat, put on a medical hat, and
change my vision. It’s the best,
most rewarding thing I’ve done
in my career. You aren’t just dabbling. You
aren’t just trying to make a buck.
Earn the physician’s respect, and
they will provide patients with a
strong referral to your practice.
“The mindset has to shift
from fixing cars to growing
trees."
Lesia: I own a DSM practice,
and I’ve also trained thousands
of dental sleep practitioners.
The main difference between
dentists that fail to launch in
sleep and those on this panel
is that these dentists take a
holistic, human-centric mindset.
They focus on being much more
than just a dentist or just a DME
supplier. More difficult than
medical billing, or managing
side-effects, or collaborating
“It’s up to us to help
them understand that as
a clinician you take this
serriously.”
I’m really proud of what we’ve
accomplished on this front. And
with that sense of pride comes
great responsibility.
I have to take things seriously
and I have to do my best for
everyone because that’s what
I’ve said I’m going to do and
therefore I will do it.