A Unique Program

This program is unique in that it is a combination of online modules and live webinars, and as part of the training you will receive a 3D printed nylon appliance to be used on a patient that you select.  The appliance could be for yourself, a patient of the practice, a dental assistant or even a family member.

In addition to the online modules, three live webinars will help you through the clinical steps of providing oral appliance therapy for your patient.  This has been established as the best way of learning with our comprehensive program giving you all the knowledge needed in all aspects of providing oral appliances for snoring, sleep apnoea and bruxism.

You will also be supported through the process with one-on-one coaching by phone, zoom or email from our panel of expert dentists.

12 Week Program – including a Fast Track Option

Dental Sleep Institute is a 12 Week Program designed to give dentists the tools and knowledge needed to feel confident treating patients soon after registering for the program.  

Commencing on Tuesday the 30th of March, with the first webinar, the first four weeks of the 12 Week Program make up a Fast Track Option.  By following this step by step process, you will:

– be supported in completing four specific modules, representing just under 10 hours of the program,
– participate in the three live webinars, at the beginning, middle and end of the 12 Week Program.
– and complete all the clinical steps for a patient with the provided appliance.

One on one support is an integral part of the program.

Details of the 12 Week Program are provided after registering for the program.

Commencement Date

The 12 Week Program will commence with the first of the three webinars, on the 30th of March 2021 at 7.30pm AEST.

Content Access

You have immediate access to all the modules listed below as soon as you complete the online registration form.  Whilst the 12 Week Program has been established to fast track your training, should you choose, you can complete the modules listed below at your leisure, with access to the program guaranteed until the end of 2022.

Program Fee

Information relating to the program fee can be found on the registration page.  For details please click the link below.

Program Webinars

Presented by Dr Harry Ball

Webinar One – 7.30pm AEST Tuesday 30th March 2021

The topics include:

• How to use the program
• Selecting a patient – screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea / Snoring
• Organising a sleep study
• Records required for a Mandibular Advancement Splint – taking a registration
• Preventing and managing occlusal changes
• Q & A

Webinar Two – 7.30pm AEST Tuesday 4th May 2021

The topics include:

• Presenting the results of the sleep study to the patients
• Fitting the appliance
• Titration protocol
• Potential side effects
• Q & A

Webinar Three – 7.30pm AEST Tuesday 22nd June 2021

The topics include:

• Post fitting assessment
• MAS study
• Involvement of a sleep physician
• Combination treatments
• Side effects
• Occlusal changes
• Q & A

Program Modules

Module 1 – Overview of Sleep and Sleep Disorders

Presented by Dr David Cunnington, sleep physician

• The various sleep disorders
• Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
• Treatment of Sleep Apnoea
• The Sleep Physician/Dentist relationship

Module 2 – Overview of Dental Sleep Medicine

Presented by Dr Harry Ball, dentist

• Overview of Dental Sleep Medicine
• Educating and acquiring patients
• Diagnosing Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)
• The treatments for snoring
• The treatments for OSA
• The effectiveness of Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS) for OSA
• Compliance of the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine in comparison to MAS

Module 3 – Best practice in Dental Sleep Medicine – using an Evidence Based Approach

Presented by Associate Professor Ramesh Balasubramaniam, oral medicine specialist

• Evidence based dentistry and best practice
• Controversies associated with MAS design
• Controversies in the field of dental sleep medicine
• Controversies involving laser treatments

Module 4 – Screening, Sleep Studies, Diagnosis, Phenotypes and CPAP Therapy

Presented by Dr Linda Schachter, sleep physician

• Sleep terminology
• What constitutes a good night’s sleep
• Understanding the Hypnogram
• Summary of sleep disorders
• How to assess sleep 
• Level 1 sleep study
• Level 2 sleep study
• Level 3 sleep study
• Level 4 sleep screening
• Interpreting sleep studies
• Establishing the severity of OSA and its importance
• Examples of sleep study reports

Module 5 – Signs, Symptoms and Screening of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Patients in Dental Practice

Presented by Dr Mayoor Patel (USA) dentist and TMD specialist

• Signs and symptoms of OSA
• Risk factors
• Dental signs and symptoms
• Screening your patient
• Extraoral exam
• Airway evaluation
• Dental and oral evaluation
• Imaging for OSA

Module 6 – History and Evolution of Dental Sleep Medicine

Presented by Dr Gail Demko (USA), dentist

Module 7 – The A-Z of Oral Appliances and Maximising Success

Presented by Dr Harry Ball, dentist

• The different types of oral appliances
• The different designs of MAS including pros and cons of each
• Which is the best MAS?
• Predicting success with a MAS
• Providing consistently high quality appliances

Module 8 – The Clinical Steps

Presented by Dr Harry Ball, Dr Sam Talpis and Dr Ken Lee, dentists

• The initial consultation
• Impressions and intra-oral scanning
• Taking a registration
• Communicating with the laboratory
• Fitting an appliance
• Post fitting review
• Correspondence and letters to physicians, GPs and others

Module 9 – Side Effects and Problem Solving

Presented by Dr Harry Ball, dentist

• Occlusal changes
• TMD pain and dysfunction
• Dry mouth
• Residual sleepiness
• Residual snoring
• Residual sleep apnoea

Module 10 – A Focus on Occlusal Changes

Presented by Dr Ken Lee, dentist

• Signs and symptoms of occlusal changes
• Causes of occlusal changes
• Who might get occlusal changes
• Preventing occlusal changes
• Managing occlusal changes
• Take home message

Module 11 – Managing Side Effects from OAT with an Emphasis on TMD

Presented by Dr Mayoor Patel (USA), dentist and TMD specialist

• TMD pain
• Capsulitis
• Myalgia pain
• Myofascial pain
• Documentation of muscles and joints
• Tooth pain
• Salivation
• TMJ Disorder sounds
• Dry mouth
• Gum irritation
• Bite changes
• Case studies

Module 12 – Bruxism: Etiology, Assessment and Management

Presented by Associate Professor Ramesh Balasubramaniam, oral medicine specialist

• Definition and classification
• Prevalence and risk factors
• Pathophysiology
• Sleep bruxism andsleep disordered breathing
• Diagnosis
• Management
• Occlusal splint designs
• Conclusions and further directions

Module 13 – The link between TMJ Disorder, OSA and Bruxism

Presented by Associate Professor Ramesh Balasubramaniam, oral medicine specialist

• Relationship between sleep bruxism and OSA
• Relationship between OSA and TMD
• TMD with MAS Therapy
• Screening for TMD
• Management of TMD with Oral Appliance Therapy
• Take home message

Module 14 – Orthodontics and OSA

Presented by Associate Professor Sanjivan Kandasamy, orthodontist

• Using radiographs for the diagnosis of OSA
• Can we grow jaws to improve the airway?
• Can we expand the maxilla to improve the airway?
• Do extractions reduce the size of the airway?
• Do orthodontics and orthognathic surgery increase the size of the airway?
• The impact of obesity

Module 15 – ENT Assessment & Management of OSA

Why the Nose Matters

Presented by Professor Raj Dedhia (USA)

• Understanding the importance of nasal breathing for sleep
• Nasal history and physical examination
• Nasal and soft tissues surgery for OSA

ENT Assessment and Management of OSA

Presented by Mr Eduard Pudel – ENT surgeon

• ENT examination
• Treatment options
• Predicting surgical success
• Preoperative considerations
• Nasal conservative treatments
• Surgical considerations
• Types of surgery
• Postoperative considerations
• Role of the dentist in ENT management

Module 16 – Oral and Maxillofacial Management of OSA

Presented by Dr Sam Verco, oral and maxillofacial surgeon

Surgical Management of OSA

• Maxilla-mandibular advancement (MMA)
• Preoperative assessment
• Sequencing of treatment
• Facial aesthetic changes
• Functional impact of these changes
• Key points
• Common questions and answers

Module 17 – The Role of the Psychologist in Managing Sleep Disorders

Presented by Professor Gerard Kennedy, sleep psychologist

• Assessing sleep
• Sleep disorders
• Current behavioural and psychological treatments
• Cases

Module 18 – The Dentist Sleep Physician Relationship

Presented by Dr Linda Schachter, sleep physician

Module 19 – Communication, Marketing, Fees and Implementation

Presented by Dr Harry Ball, dentist

• Communication and presentation skills for high case acceptance
• Marketing-internal and external.
• Setting fees
• The steps for implementing dental sleep medicine into a dental practice

Module 20 – Guest Presentation: Oral Appliance Designs

Presented by Associate Professor Fernanda Almeida, dentist

• Tongue retaining devices
• Non custom-made devices
• Vertical opening
• Monobloc versus titratable appliances
• Titratable designs
• Side-effects
• Efficacy
• Adherence