Overview: This lecture explains obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), how it is screened, and why screening is important for dental students. It reviews the prevalence of OSA in both adults and children and introduces commonly used screening tools. The lecture also discusses interprofessional collaboration among healthcare providers, available treatment options, and the referral process.
Target Audience: Dental students and dental hygienists
Objectives: At the conclusion of this lecture, participants will be able to:
 Elham Abbassi, DDS | Dr. Elham Abbassi is a UTHealth School of Dentistry graduate in San Antonio. She joined Academia in 2019 as a clinical assistant professor and serves as one of the group practice directors in the Pre-doc program at UT Houston School of Dentistry and the course director of Dental Sleep Medicine. Before joining UTSD, she practiced in the Houston Metro area and has dedicated her professional life to continuous learning to provide more comprehensive and better patient care. She spent two years of her career focusing on learning about dental sleep medicine, treating patients with upper airway resistance syndrome, managing patients using oral appliance therapy, and managing side effects, which led her to learn more about TMD and orofacial pain. She obtained a Diplomate status at the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine in 2020. She practices in Faculty Practice at UT Dentists and teaches pre-doc students in the clinic. Her clinical interests include dental sleep medicine and Comprehensive care to improve patients' overall health. She is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM), the Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD), and the ADEA, and she serves on multiple academic and national committees. Dr. Abbassi declares no conflicts of interest. |
Imran Patel, DMD | Dr. Imran Patel currently serves as Associate Director of the AEGD Residency Program at NYU Langone Dental Medicine. Over the course of his career, he has trained and mentored undergraduate and graduate students, residents and fellows across a variety of academic, hospital, and community health settings, including the Mayo Clinic, University of Arizona, and federally qualified health centers. Dr. Patel has extensive experience in managing sleep-related breathing disorders and complex head and neck pain, taking a holistic approach to clinical decision-making and interdisciplinary care. He is a Diplomate of both the American Board of Orofacial Pain and the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, and he currently serves as Director-at-Large for the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. He has given multiple presentations locally and nationally on the intersection of orofacial pain and dental sleep medicine, sharing his expertise with colleagues and advancing the understanding of these complex issues in clinical practice. His teaching philosophy focuses on translating evidence-based principles into practical, patient-centered care, while fostering confidence and professionalism in clinical practice. Dr. Patel’s ongoing contributions to dental sleep medicine reflect his deep commitment to advancing the field and improving patient outcomes through collaborative care strategies. Dr. Patel declares no conflicts of interest. |
Lucy Hovanisyan, DDS | Dr. Lucy Hovanisyan completed her DDS degree at New York University College of Dentistry; her Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) at the New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business; and her Bachelor’s degree in Biology at the University of Pennsylvania. She is furthermore pursuing a Master’s in Health Care Innovation (MHCI) at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. Dr. Hovanisyan is currently on the faculty at New York University College of Dentistry, where she serves as Director of its Practice Management curriculum. A Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, she is passionate about oral appliance therapy for the dental management of sleep apnea. Dr. Hovanisyan declares no conflicts of interest. |
Mayank Shrivastava, BDS | Mayank Shrivastava is a clinical assistant professor in the Orofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine, Division of Diagnostic Sciences, Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is board-certified in Orofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine. His clinical and research interests focus on the diagnosis and management of chronic orofacial pain disorders including temporomandibular disorders (TMD), neuropathic pain, headaches and dental sleep disorders. He has a special interest in the management of obstructive sleep apnea with the use of oral appliances. He is also involved in education and training of upcoming specialists in Orofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine. He is an active member of American Academy of Orofacial Pain, American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and Headache Society. Dr. Shrivastava declares no conflicts of interest. |
Sowmya Ananthan, DMD | Dr. Sowmya Ananthan is a graduate of the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, earning both her DMD and MSD degrees there. Prior to that, she earned a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree from India. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain, the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain. Dr. Ananthan teaches in the Division of Orofacial Pain at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, in Newark, NJ, where she supervises the residents providing clinical care to patients with complex orofacial pain problems. She is also the Assistant Program & Clinic Director of the Post-Graduate Orofacial Pain Program. She treats patients at the Rutgers Health faculty practice in New Brunswick, NJ as well as in her private practice in Red Bank and Plainsboro, NJ. Dr. Ananthan reports a conflict of interest through involvement with the Resident and Academic Training Committee of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain, including discussions related to dental sleep medicine. |
Tanya Al-Talib, DDS | Dr. Tanya Al-Talib is a Professor in Residence and the Orthodontic Program Director at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine. She received a doctorate of dental surgery degree, followed by an advanced education in general dentistry certificate (AEGD) at the Louisiana State University Health, School of Dentistry. Dr. Al-Talib has also earned a certificate and a Master’s degree in the Science of Orthodontics from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Adam School of Dentistry. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, a Diplomate and secretary-treasurer of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, Chair of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine's Academic Steering Committee and the Nevada director to the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists. Dr. Al-Talib declares no conflicts of interest. |
Registration Rates
Lunch and learn webinars are free
Teaching Method
Lunch and learn webinars are live, electronically mediated learning continuing education activities. Webinar recordings will not be provided to attendees.
The AADSM is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. The AADSM designates each webinar for 1.0 continuing education credit.
Confirmation of registration will be sent via email.
All registrations are final.
Any opinion expressed or communicated regarding any product, device, appliance, or treatment protocol during an AADSM educational program is solely the opinion of the individual(s) expressing or communicating that opinion, and not that of the AADSM.
The AADSM does not endorse or recommend any products or services. The AADSM does not review, investigate, or otherwise approve the quality, type, message, nature, or value of any product or service discussed in the course and assumes no liability of any kind for any verbal or written information provided by speakers or attendees. We encourage you to conduct your own independent research to verify and investigate any company prior to purchasing its products or services. Please consult your own professional advisors for all advice concerning dental, legal or financial matters in connection with any products or services discussed.
The AADSM cautions participants about the potential risks of using limited knowledge when incorporating techniques and procedures into practice when they have not had supervised clinical experience or demonstrated competency.
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