You’re a hygienist. . . and you can do that?? Alternative careers in dental sleep medicine

Course Duration: 1.5 hours

Objectives:

• Understand the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing among American adults
• Recognize the 3 primary components of a proper airway assessment
• Discuss the pros and cons of 5 different treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea
• Discover 3 realistic ways RDHs can become involved in dental sleep medicine within their practice
• Explore 5 action steps for hygienists to transition into dental sleep medicine

Course Description:

Dental sleep medicine was once a developing specialty that the public knew nothing about—and the medical community had little confidence in. Over the past few decades, however, oral appliance therapy has evolved into a comfortable, effective way of treating sleep-disordered breathing and has allowed oral healthcare providers to increasingly bridge the gap between the dental and medical realms.

Where does the dental hygienist play a role in this exciting, advancing field? Is it possible for an RDH to establish a career in oral appliance therapy? This course will discuss the foundation of dental sleep medicine, ways hygienists can become airway experts in their practice, and how they can form a cohesive partnership with their practice owners to offer next-level care that will benefit their patients, team, and business.

Full contact info and bio:

Bethany Montoya, RDH is a writer, speaker, and practicing clinician based in Fort Worth, Texas. She serves as editorial director for DentistryIQ, providing clinical oversight for their daily newsletter, Clinical Insights. She has a passion for helping other clinicians develop their careers, both inside and outside of the operatory, and offers support through mentorship and professional writing coaching. She also created and maintains Human RDH, a social media brand that offers content that appeals to the human side of dentistry: mental health, personal growth, and daily clinical life. She can be reached at bethanyrdh@outlook.com.