SomnoMed First Annual Symposium
August 4, 5, 6, 2009
TURTLE BAY RESORT | OAHU, HAWAII
SomnoMed invites you to join the industry’s top Sleep and Dental Sleep Professionals at SomnoMed’s First Annual Symposium. This event takes place at Turtle Bay Resort on the beautiful North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii August 4 – 6, 2009.
The line up is an unprecedented collection of International speakers with backgrounds primarily in Sleep Medicine or Dental Sleep Medicine.
SomnoMed Symposium Speakers
Tuesday, August 4
7:30 Registration
8:00 – 10:00am 
Dr. Kent Smith
Integrating Dental Sleep Medicine into your Practice
Is sleep dentistry just a niche in your dental practice, or is it fully integrated into everything you do? Does it get placed on a shelf, only to be pulled off when someone mentions they snore? Find out how to make sleep an integral part of every treatment you provide, to get your team in sync, and to get your patients talking to their family and friends about what part you play in this life-saving effort. If you have exhausted your own patient pool, or even if you haven't, you might want to draw upon the thousands in your area who are afflicted, but are not aware that you treat airway disorders. Learn some unique approaches for closing this informational gulf!
10:00 – 10:30am Break
10:30am – 12:30pm 
Dr. John Remmers
Sleep and the Pharnyx: Why is the Human Airway so vulnerable?
Dr. John Remmers will explore the fundamental features of the human pharynx that underlies its instability during sleep. Language has its costs and the gene for speech appeared only recently. The implications of these developments will be discussed.
Wednesday, August 5
8:00 – 10:00am
Dr. Leopoldo Correa
The Effect of Vertical Dimension and Protrusion on Oral Appliances, a delicate balance between effectiveness and side effects
Oral appliances for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) work primarily by advancing the mandible and increasing the vertical dimension of occlusion. The appropriate balance between these two adjustments may lead to the successful management of OSA. However, any imbalances may create negative effects on the muscles of the head and neck, temporomandibular joint, and cervical vertebrae. This lecture will demonstrate the comprehensive management of sleep apnea patients at the Craniofacial Pain Center at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.
10:00 – 10:30am Break
10:30am – 12:30pm
Dr. Susanne Schwarting
Dental Sleep Medicine and the Use of MAS in European Countries
The Position Paper of the German Society of Dental Sleep Medicine on the Use of Mandibular Advancement Devices in Adults with Sleep-related Breathing Disorders is an internationally published position statement (Sleep and Breathing 2007, 11, 125-26) and advises proper indication of MRAs regarding OSA severity, body mass index and dentition. Physicians, dentists and health insurances are provided with the information when to prescribe and reimburse MRAs in OSA patients. This position paper is one reason why MRAs just were accepted as an OSA treatment option in the new “S3 guidelines for non-restorative sleep” of the German Sleep Society. Dr. Susanne Schwarting will also talk about her experience with hundreds of SomnoDent® MAS appliances, pros and cons in comparison to other appliances, flex versus acrylic devices and trouble shooting in difficult patient cases.
Thursday, August 6
8:00 – 10:00am
Dr. Larry Barsh
Marketing Dental Sleep Medicine in the 21st Century
The days when a newspaper or Yellow Pages advertisement or even a simple web site would ensure a flow of new patients are long gone. Snoring and sleep apnea are fields where the public is unaware that dentistry plays a vital role. Because of this, marketing to the millions of potential undiagnosed patients and those who cannot tolerate CPAP requires a cooperative marketing effort from multiple practices. Dr. Larry Barsh will introduce a new concept in marketing the dental sleep medicine practice - Collaborative Social Marketing™ - a technique that takes advantage of all that Web 2.0 has to offer. Collaborative Social Marketing™ goes to where prospective patients are finding information and takes your practice along.
10:00 – 10:30am Break
10:30am – 12:30pm
Dr. Daniel Taché
Often, there is a common denominator to the mechanisms at work which underlie many recurring and very common clinical challenges. See that the role the dentist, who is properly educated in Dental Sleep Medicine can play is substantial. Dr. Taché will cast Dental Sleep Medicine, in a new light, perhaps, so that ALL may come to understand that this knowledge is powerful and has application in EVERY area of dentistry. Regardless of whether you have ANY interest in ever treating a CPAP-intolerant patient with obstructive sleep apnea, this information and the insights that will be provided will only help you better serve your patients.
Turtle Bay Resort
OAHU, HAWAII
At Turtle Bay Resort, your spirit can run free, whether you’re galloping on horseback through the surf or hiking on pristine trails at the ocean’s edge.
Other activities on the North Shore beckon as well, from legendary surf spots to family attractions like the Polynesian Cultural Center. Your body will be energized and your spirit fulfilled.
Miles of white-sand beaches, ironwood forests and a tropical countryside await your exploration. All the world’s most legendary surf spots, Sunset Beach, Banzai Pipeline and Waimea Bay are just minutes away.
Turtle Bay Resort is surrounded by the best that Hawaii has to offer. Of course, you can simply stay put and soak up the sun on the resort’s pristine beaches or relax beside the beautifully landscaped beachside pool. Whatever you decide to do, the activities at Turtle Bay Resort will create lasting vacation memories.
For a true taste of Hawaii, the resort offers an array of exceptional dining choices, from poolside casual to upscale gourmet prepared in a style unique to the island.
Beaches, bays and ocean-carved coastline as far as the eye can see, creates a world both intimate and never-ending. If you measure a vacation by memorable experiences, Turtle Bay is a resort of untold riches.
