ABOUT THE HOST

Dr. Jerald H. Simmons, MD

I was driven to become a neurologist out of my interest in how the brain works. After finishing my neurology residency, I went to Stanford University to do my sleep fellowship with the world-renowned Christian Guilleminault. Within the first few weeks, I became aware of what I call “basic truths about sleep disorders” that are so pivotal and impactful on overall health. I was so bothered that I had gone through 4 years of medical school, an internship, and 3 years of neurology residency without learning these “basic truths”, and had I known, it would have enhanced my ability to treat my patients. I said to myself, “it shouldn’t require a fellowship in sleep medicine to obtain these “basic truths about sleep disorders” and I made it my mission to be part of the solution and teach healthcare professionals these “truths” to enhance patient care.

During my academic position at UCLA in the 1990’s I was extensively involved in teaching neurology residents, medical students, and fellows. When I transitioned into private practice and moved to Texas my mission of teaching the “basic truths” had not changed. So, I started the Sleep Education Consortium in 2004 to spread the knowledge to those who will never do a sleep fellowship yet could benefit from this knowledge of the “basic truths about sleep disorders”. Over the past 19 years, I have directed this conference, each year enhancing the knowledge of those who attend. I know, from the feedback I’ve received, that I have made an impact on many healthcare professionals, which proliferates the impact by enhancing the lives of their patients.

The educational battle has basically just begun. Medical schools only provide 2 to 4 hours, over four years, teaching medical students anything about sleep. It is my mission to help compensate for this deficit and teach the “basic truths about sleep disorders”. Working with my colleagues we have put together a course packed with information over several days to teach and raise the level of care to meet the needs of our patients.


Register Now to Attend the 2024 Dental Sleep Conference!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

ABOUT THE DENTAL SLEEP CONFERENCE

The dental sleep conference architects the growing link between dentistry and sleep medicine, making it clear how the dentist can play a larger role in the overall health of patients. 

The Sleep Education Consortium presents a unique opportunity to learn about the dentists’ role in sleep medicine beyond just placing an oral appliance in a patient.  

In an effort to provide the best educational experience, the conference provides lectures specifically designed to address the educational needs of the D.D.S. with the first day consisting of hands-on sessions to learn about the oral exam, working with appliances, and taking bite registrations amongst other things. The second and third day of lectures is open to all healthcare professionals, such as physicians, and has a broader range of sleep-related lecture topics are covered.

By addressing the patients’ questions regarding sleep issues, the dentist and support staff can be grounded in the broader aspect of sleep disorders. The conference will allow the dentist and support staff to become familiar with many sleep problems, and they can be more responsive to questions patients may ask as the dentist screens for sleep disorders within their practice. The educational methods will include lectures, Q&A, panel discussions, and hands-on workshops.  

The hands-on experience workshops will teach how to take a bite record, perform an airway exam and make a morning repositioner appliance. This course will provide dental professionals with a pathway for building a dental sleep medicine aspect of their dental practice while functioning within accepted medical standards. 


GAIN THE KNOWLEDGE YOU NEED

The three-day comprehensive conference course structure is tailored to provide dental professionals with the essentials to you need to build your dental practice in this evolving area of sleep and airway dentistry.

This course establishes the framework for enhancing collaboration between dental and medical professionals, both didactic and clinical educational methods, in the diagnosis and management of patients with sleep and airway disorders. It will become clear how you can play a larger role in the overall health of your patients by learning to:

  • Identify airway disease as the central root cause of medicine.
  • Grow your dental practice.
  • Develop clinical pathways to improve your practice.
  • Offer valuable services to patients.
  • Bill medically for services related to dental and sleep medicine.
  • Empower and educate your patients about prevention in airway health.
  • Understand the field of sleep medicine and devices.

Dentists and staff attending this conference will become educated on the broad spectrum of sleep disorders on a basic level and learn, in a more detailed fashion, about sleep-related breathing disorders. You will gain knowledge that will help when screening for sleep disorders or providing guidance to patients who need proper medical care, by physician colleagues, for both sleep disturbances and airway dysfunctions.

The conference will offer hands-on experience to practice taking a bite record, performing an airway exam, and in making a morning repositioner. This course will provide you with a pathway for building this aspect of your dental practice while functioning within accepted medical standards.

Taking a sleep history is not something typically taught in medical or dental school. If you are interested in a comprehensive approach to patients with sleep issues and gaining knowledge of how to approach sleep history, the SEC conference is the place to go.

Want to get a jump start on what questions to ask? Try using the SEC’s one-page sleep questionnaire. Don’t wait until April’s SEC conference, get the FREE sleep questionnaire to start understanding what questions to ask patients now so that you can start enhancing your care of patients with sleep-related health issues.


Discover More About the Conference in the Media Library!

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CONFERENCE AGENDA

The Growing Role of the Dentist in Sleep Disorders Medicine: Integrating the Dentist into the Medical Treatment Team (Pleminary Agenda - Subject To Change)

The Sleep Education Consortium (SEC) presents a unique opportunity to learn about the dentists’ role in sleep disorders medical field. This conference is a three-day event for dentists. Below is the agenda for all three days of the conference. The first day is designed for dentists, whereas the second day and first half of the third day is designed for both physicians and dentists. Then concluding in the afternoon of the third day is a focused approach for dentists to integrate sleep medicine into their practice from a practical standpoint.

Expand All +
  • DAY 1

    Thursday, April 4th

  • 1.) Integrating 3D Technology to Identify, Manage, and Patients with Obstructive Breathing During Sleep   2.) Making a Construction Bite and Morning Re-aligner / Making a Boil & Bite Appliance   3.) Managing Oral Appliances from the First Presentation to the Patient to Adjustments Over Time  4.) Airway Exam to Identify Airway Deficiencies and Potential Contraindications for Oral Appliance Therapy

  • DAY 2

    Friday, April 5th

  • DAY 3

    Saturday, April 6th

Register Now to Attend the 2024 Dental Sleep Conference!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
  • Dentist $1,899 (Early Bird $1,499)

  • 3-Day Course:
  • * Includes breakfast, lunch, and snacks during the break
  • * 24 CE Credits
  • * Early bird pricing available through December 15, 2023
  • $1,499
  • REGISTER NOW
  • Non-Dentist $599 (Early Bird $499)

  • 3-Day Course:
  • * Includes breakfast, lunch, and snacks during the break
  • * Refer a dentist and receive a discount (see Registration page for details)
  • * Early bird pricing available through December 15, 2023
  • $499
  • REGISTER NOW

CONFERENCE FACULTY

The Growing Role of the Dentist in Sleep Disorders Medicine: Integrating the Dentist into the Medical Treatment Team
Jerald H. Simmons, MD

Jerald H. Simmons, MD

Ronald S. Prehn, ThM, DDS

Ronald S. Prehn, ThM, DDS

Rob Veis, DDS

Rob Veis, DDS

Sal Rodas, MBA

Sal Rodas, MBA

Joseph Yousefian, DMD, MS

Joseph Yousefian, DMD, MS


Kevin Boyd, DDS

Kevin Boyd, DDS

David Alfi, MD, DDS

David Alfi, MD, DDS

Andrew J. Maxwell, MD

Andrew J. Maxwell, MD

Courtney Snow

Courtney Snow

Kristie Gatto MA, CCC-SLP, COM®

Kristie Gatto MA, CCC-SLP, COM®


NICOLE GOLDFARB M.A., CCC-SLP, COM®

NICOLE GOLDFARB M.A., CCC-SLP, COM®

William G. Ondo, MD

William G. Ondo, MD

Christopher M. Tran, MD

Christopher M. Tran, MD

Cheng-Huai Ruan, MD

Cheng-Huai Ruan, MD

Andrew T. Huang, MD, FACS

Andrew T. Huang, MD, FACS


Howard Hindin, DDS

Howard Hindin, DDS

 
 
 
 

Download Your FREE Copy of the S.E.C. Sleep Questionnaire!

ACCESS THE SLEEP-QUESTIONNAIRE

Conference Location

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Houston

Greenway Plaza, Houston, TX
6 E Greenway Plaza, Houston, Texas, 77046
TEL: +1-713-629-1200 | FAX: +1-713-850-2336

For reservations and more information on the facility
please click HERE.

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    • SEC Dental Sleep Conference