2025 Courses and Events

Course #: 2150
Date: 11/29/2025
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Course Info: Half Day
Speaker(s):
Steve Carstensen, DDS

Topic: Sleep Apnea
Tuition: $305.00
Credits: 3
AGD Number: 730 - Oral Medicine, Oral Diag
Recommended For:
Dentists, Hygienists, Assistants, Administrative Staff, Spouse, Educator, Nurse, Doctor

Description:

Breathing disorders particularly sleep-related conditions impact 30–50% of patients in a typical dental practice, yet most remain undiagnosed. Dentists and their teams are in a powerful position to identify at-risk individuals, support diagnosis, and offer effective treatment options. However, addressing these issues requires knowledge and skills that go beyond the traditional dental curriculum. This course introduces the fundamentals of breathing and sleep-breathing disorders and outlines the dentist’s expanding role in airway-focused care. Attendees will learn how to recognize clinical signs and symptoms, understand the broader health implications, and incorporate a simplified, practical workflow into everyday practice. The session will also explore emerging technologies that support accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Learn to:

• identify patients at risk for sleep-breathing disorders
• understand the systemic health consequences of impaired breathing
• recognize the dentist’s role in treating sleep-related breathing issues
• implement a step-by-step workflow to integrate airway care into daily practice

Course #: 3100
Date: 11/30/2025
Time: 8:30am - 11:30am
Course Info: Half Day
Speaker(s):
Steve Carstensen, DDS

Topic: Sleep Apnea
Tuition: $410.00
Credits: 3
AGD Number: 730 - Oral Medicine, Oral Diagnosis, Oral Pathology-Sleep Medicine
Recommended For:
Dentists, Assistants

Description:

It is highly recommended to attend Dr. Carstensen’s Saturday morning lecture as an essential foundation for the hands-on material covered in this session.

Dentists who are trained in sleep medicine often need help to match patients with mandibular advancement devices (MAD). This workshop will examine several and offer details for making choices. Participants will create an interim MAD for themselves as well as a morning repositioner. We will look at an example sleep test so the dentist can pick out the most important information for medical decision-making.

Learn to:

• understand features and benefits of several common mandibular advancement devices
• make a semi-custom interim oral device for sleep
• customize a morning repositioner and understand its use
• be able to see details in a sleep test that might indicate which oral device is best

Course #: 3110
Date: 11/30/2025
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Course Info: Half Day
Speaker(s):
Karen Parker Davidson, DHA, M.Ed, APRN
Steve Carstensen, DDS

Topic: Sleep Apnea
Tuition: $410.00
Credits: 3
Recommended For:
Dentists, Students, Educator, Nurse, Doctor

Description:

Nasal breathing plays a crucial role in sleep quality, oral health, and overall wellness, and dentists are uniquely positioned to help patients improve it. This interactive workshop will give you the tools and techniques to assess, improve, and coach functional breathing habits right in your dental practice. You’ll gain a clear understanding of nasal resistance and its impact on oral appliance therapy, sleep-disordered breathing, and systemic health. Through hands-on exercises, you’ll practice techniques to enhance nasal airflow, evaluate airway resistance, and educate patients on why nasal breathing is key to long-term health. Walk away with practical skills and protocols you can implement immediately to expand your services and improve patient outcomes.

Learn to:

• identify and address nasal resistance and its implications for oral appliance therapy
• explain to patients the systemic benefits of functional nasal breathing
• apply breathing techniques that positively influence whole-body physiology
• evaluate and select appropriate interventions to support nasal airflow
• understand the tools, supplies, and technologies that support airway-focused dental care