Recently, Dr. Edward Shukovsky attended a conference for the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM). The group meets annually, rotating locations throughout the country. This year’s meeting was held in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Shukovsky says he has been attending these conferences for the past few years, and is excited to continue to learn new ideas and techniques that can benefit his patients.
Reflecting on the various lectures presented at the conference, Dr. Shukovsky says he learned a great deal, and appreciated that the presentations are “evidence based.” One lecture that stood out to Dr. Shukovsky this year was from Jeffrey Rouse, DDS. Dr. Rouse’s presentation, entitled “Sleep Prosthodontics: Understanding the ‘Why’ Rather Than Treating the ‘How,’” focused mostly on how children’s craniofacial development can be affected by sleep disturbed breathing. The lecture noted how a child’s snoring may be ignored or dismissed because many people believe snoring is common in children. However, Dr. Shukovsky says Dr. Rouse’s presentation went on to explain how snoring could be a symptom of a more serious problem, and airway issues may need to be addressed.
According to Dr. Shukovsky, it is important to look deeper into the issue if he discovers one of his patients snores, regardless of whether they are a child or an adult. He explains snoring could be a sign of sleep apnea, a serious condition that can be potentially life-threatening. Dr. Shukovsky says, although dentists are not able to diagnose sleep apnea, they are able to conduct a screening, and recommend for their patient to see a sleep physician. Overall, Dr. Shukovsky felt the conference was very beneficial, and he looks forward to implementing what he has learned in his own practice.
To learn more about sleep apnea, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Shukovsky, please contact us today.
