In the last issue of Sleep Review, Brian G. Palmer, DDS, began a two-part series dedicated to the anatomical, anthropological, and behavioral origins of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) from the perspective of the development and uniqueness of the human airway. In part two, “Prevention—The Key to Treating OSA/SDB,” he discusses the importance of early intervention and how development of a correct swallow may be the key to preventing SDB. The interplay of nature vs nurture in upper airway development may make all the difference in preventing SDB and developing a healthy dental occlusion. The specific environmental causes and their correction should be of great interest to parents and sleep professionals alike.
This issue of Sleep Review is dedicated to the gathering of all topics related to sleep. If it has been awhile since you have attended the annual Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS) meeting, this would be a great year to join in. This truly is the largest and most comprehensive meeting of its kind, taking place on June 3-8, 2003, in Chicago. This is the 17th annual APSS meeting, which is a joint meeting of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the Sleep Research Society, and, in 2003, The World Federation of Sleep Research Societies, the 25th anniversary of the Association of Polysomnographic Technicians, and the 12th annual meeting of the Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (ADSM)—all at the same time.
The ADSM will meet on June 6-9 at the Palmer House, which is a short walk from the Hyatt Regency. It will begin with a full day of premeeting laboratory courses, which will provide a hands-on opportunity for participants who are interested in the latest technologies used in the treatment of SDB. The educational program begins on Friday and represents an international group of the best and brightest clinicians and scientists in the field of sleep. The meeting will culminate on Monday for those who are taking the ADSM certification examination. This meeting is open to dentists, physicians, researchers, and health care providers who treat and study patients with SDB. If you are unable to attend the entire meeting, I encourage you to stop by and visit our exhibit hall and see how dental sleep medicine can help you manage patients with SDB. For program information, visit www.dentalsleepmed.org. Hope to see you in Chicago!
Don A. Pantino, DDS, is immediate past president of the Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine; associate clinical professor at the State University of Dentistry and Medicine at Stony Brook, NY; and a member of Sleep Review’s Editorial Advisory Board.
