The American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics (AAMP) and the International Society for Maxillofacial Rehabilitation (ISMR) will be holding a joint session to share the latest updates on maxillofacial research, technology, and patient care. The dental clinicians, academics, and researchers in this field are changing lives for patients that are dealing with unimaginable, and often quite painful, conditions. As you can imagine, protecting the airway will be an integral part of these discussions. The 4th annual joint meeting is October 28 – 31 in the City by the Bay, beautiful San Francisco. I have my tickets to be there, and will be joined by my colleague Shirlene “Charlie” O’Russa representing Whip Mix. Click here for more information on the programs.
The theme for this meeting is Bridging the Gap between research and patient care. Many of the speakers will be presenting on ways that they are utilizing Computer-Aided Techniques and 3D printing to address what is needed for rehabilitation or to create a prosthesis. The various ways that computerized technology can be used today never ceases to amaze me, and I cannot wait to gain a better understanding of all the different applications. For the past two years I have been working with Noxturnal software from Nox Medical that in its simplest form documents up to 18 channels of data on sleep disordered breathing. Behind the scenes, patient sleep data is collected second by second to provide an in-depth look at airflow, effort, oxygen saturation, heart rate, audio, body position, and masseter movement. This open software is intended to be shared between dental and medical professional and allows the user to look at the data from various perspectives.
On a similar note, Graeme Mulholland will be presenting on Multilevel Surgery for Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. One of our colleagues at Whip Mix has benefited from surgery to open the airway and he speaks very positively about the experience. I am looking forward to learning more on this subject as another option for patient care.
There are so many more great presentations planned on reconstructive surgeries and prosthetic rehabilitations. You will not want to miss this. Immediately after this meeting, be sure to stay in town for the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) meeting November 1 – 4.
Of course there will be many other like-minded organizations at the meeting as well. Charlie and I will be entertaining at the Whip Mix table. We hope you will stop by to say hi and to pick up free literature on the product of your choice.
Many studies have been completed on the links between bruxism and airway. Using a home sleep monitor that tracks movements of the masseter in conjunction with airway provides dentists with an extra edge for treating their patients. Click here for examples.
Every day medical experts and sleep labs use the Nox T3 home monitoring system to collect airway data. Now, with a system designed for dentistry, the Nox T3 collects bruxism data in conjunction with airflow, oxygen saturation, heart rate, body position, and audio … 14 channels in all. The system is very easy to use and comfortable to wear. The Noxturnal software that is part of this system is meant to be shared with medical doctors for a diagnosis of sleep apnea. With this medical diagnosis, the best treatment plan, possibly CPAP therapy or a sleep appliance, can be determined for the patient. If an oral appliance is used, test again to provide medical doctors with objective AHI data on the effectiveness of treatment. Click here for a link on 5 Reasons Every Dentist Should Add Airway screening to their Practice.
Questions for the Team:
- How is the bruxism data determined with this system?
- Does this system provide the data needed to determine the AHI number?
- What is the difference between the home sleep tests and the lab sleep studies?
Objective data makes all the difference when trying to determine the appropriate treatment plan. If you have a patient with signs and symptoms of airway issues, share a visual showing their airway struggles during sleep and encourage them to see a medical specialist. This system provides a comparison of bruxism with oxygen saturation with heart rate, body position, and audio. Included with this system is an app on a tablet that will automatically email patient data to you if wifi in enabled. For a study on what every dentist should know about sleep, bruxism, and sleep disordered breathing, click here.
Questions for the Team:
- Can this monitoring system be used to titrate appliances?
- What type of bruxism data does this system provide?
- How does the app on the tablet work?
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