- Learn how to use non-AHI outcome measures in assessing OSA after therapy.
- Understand symptoms that do not correlate with the severity of OSA as defined by AHI.
- Understand Sleep Architecture and the four stages of sleep.
- Discuss the importance to the patient of overall quality of life vs AHI.
Advanced Courses Curriculum
Click on any of the course images below to learn more.
Beyond AHI Course
1 CE Credit
Instructor: John Tucker, DMD
Duration: 53:50
Course Objectives
Full Course Description
The Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) is the gold standard that sleep physicians use to diagnose Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Aside from AHI, what other factors should be considered when treating the OSA patient with oral appliance therapy? This course is an overview of all the factors, in addition to AHI, to be understood when providing oral appliance therapy to your patient.
Medication Effects on Sleep Course
1 CE Credit
Instructor: John Tucker, DMD
Duration: 56:40
Course Objectives
- Learn about the best way to obtain a list of medications and dosages for each patient
- Understand how medications can induce insomnia.
- Learn about drugs used to treat insomnia and the effects on sleep stages.
- Understand the how the chronic use of alcohol to induce sleep can result diminished sleep efficiency and quality.
Full Course Description
According to the Mayo Clinic, 7 out of 10 Americans are taking at least one prescription drug or more. Join Dr. Tucker as he discusses the effects of medication on sleep. He discusses all drug groups and patterns of drug prescribing, and both the negative and positive effects on sleep. This knowledge can play an important role in the management of your OSA Oral Appliance patients.
Oxidative Stress Course
1 CE Credit
Instructor: John Tucker, DMD
Duration: 55:48
Course Objectives
- Learn about deeper and longer oxygen desaturation events and how they may contribute more to physiological stress and harmful health consequences.
- Understand why patients with similar AHI may have different clinical symptoms and outcomes.
- Learn how antioxidants and melatonin can reduce oxidative stress.
- Learn about Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants and their relationship to Sleep Duration and Cardiometabolic Health.
Full Course Description
A common comorbidity to obstructive sleep apnea that often goes unmentioned is oxidative stress. Join us as Dr. Tucker discusses the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and oxidative stress. Dr. Tucker will review oxidative stress as it relates to cardiovascular health and cancer.
Vitamin D3 and Sleep Course
1 CE Credit
Instructor: John Tucker, DMD
Duration: 58:50
Course Objectives
- Learn about the effects Vitamin D3 can have on sleep health
- Learn about Vitamin D3 as a hormone and the receptors it populates
- Learn about working with the medical community to screen and treat Vitamin D3 deficiency
Full Course Description
Learn about Vitamin D3 as a hormone and how it interacts with the body. Dr. Tucker discusses the inadequacy of D3 as a problem and the increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea. He will highlight the impact of D3 deficiency on sleep.
Short Sleep - The Impact of Metabolic Syndrome on Mortality Course
1 CE Credit
Instructor: John Tucker, DMD
Duration: 52:27
Course Objectives
- Learn how Metabolic Syndrome effects obstructive sleep apnea.
- Learn how to identify patients with Metabolic Syndrome
- Learn about patients with metabolic syndrome and the risk factors that are involved coupled with short sleep.
Full Course Description
In this course, Dr. Tucker will discuss “The Impact of the Metabolic Syndrome on Mortality is Modified by Objective Short Sleep Duration” that was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. This study overviews the importance of identifying the undiagnosed Metabolic Syndrome patients in your practice. This new research may have a profound impact on your dental sleep medicine practice.
Understand D. I. S. E. Course
1 CE Credit
Instructor: John Tucker, DMD
Duration: 57:26
Course Objectives
- Learn how Drug Induced Sleep Endoscopy can be used to improve treatment success rate.
- Gain a deeper knowledge of the dynamics of the airway.
- Learn about the NOHL Classification used to grade the collapse of the airway.
Full Course Description
Gain a greater understanding of DISE (drug-induced sleep endoscopy), the upper airway and the multi-disciplinary treatment approaches available for the OSA patient. In this course, you will videos recorded during sleep endoscopy showing before and after treatment with an oral appliance. Dr. Tucker will go through the different treatments of OSA and will go through examples of obstructed airways.
Using HRV in Optimizing Airway Health Course
1 CE Credit
Instructor: John Tucker, DMD
Duration: 56:43
Course Objectives
- Learn the effects of Heart Rate Variability on sleep health.
- Learn about the differences between a Low HRV and a High HRV and which one is healthy.
- Gain an insight into the physiological effect of using HRV in dental sleep medicine.
Full Course Description
This course gives an overview of the Understand how to use Heart Rate Variability (HRV) for the management of obstructive sleep apnea. Gain a physiological insight into using HRV in dental sleep medicine. Dr. Tucker calls this the “Holy Grail” of physiological dentistry.
Pharmacology for Dentists Treating the Sleep & Airway Patient
1 CE Credit
Instructor: Todd Morgan, DMD
Duration: 01:17:03
Course Objectives
- Understand better sleep physiology and pharmaceutical solutions.
- Learn the most common mistakes made with drug prescriptions for sleep problems.
- Understand how a dentist performing DSM can do better.
- Learn what sleep drugs are common and whether they work.
Full Course Description
Dr. Morgan discusses what drugs are on board or are playing a role and how are dentists allowed to direct a pharm approach that supplements MRD therapy. He discussed what lays outside the scope of a DSM practice and when is a referral needed. You will learn real life sleep and DSM and what dentists should be able to talk about with their patients.