New Editor in Chief of Dental Sleep Practice, Mali Schantz-Feld, welcomes new opportunities in the coming year as Dental Sleep Practice evolves into Sleep Practice, and the synergy grows between dental and medical sectors.
Joining the Dental Sleep Practice team as Editor in Chief represents a new opportunity — after 16 years as editor of MedMark dental specialty publications, it now will be my honor to be a part of conveying information to improve the health and quality of life for the 50 to 70 million Americans who suffer from some form of sleep-breathing disorder. Our publication’s goal is not only to help define dentists’ roles in this growing sector, but also to help develop awareness, discover evolving and established protocols, and educate about the many products and devices that can be a part of patients’ journey to overall better health.
We are very proud of Dental Sleep Practice’s growth into a reputable source for information on sleep-disordered breathing topics in the dental community. We have always covered medical topics as well, to inform our readers about the complex biological and anatomical synergies that affect those sleep processes. We view collaboration between medical and dental professionals as an imperative, and to illustrate that goal more strongly, we are broadening the branding identity of our publication. Going forward, we are thrilled to fully acknowledge that intersection and connection with our name change to Sleep Practice.
Partnerships and advocacy are at the heart of our mission. Treatment coordinated between dental professionals, medical doctors, and other members of the healthcare community can enhance patients’ understanding, acceptance, and compliance with the team approach that they so greatly need. This interaction extends past the clinical to the business side where dental/medical interaction can simplify referral systems and improve coordination. In clinical and business aspects, a joint approach reduces frustration and increases opportunities for all involved.
We will continue to cover the mental health issues, brain disorders, heart conditions, and chronic diseases that sleep disorders can cause in adults as well as the emotional, behavioral, and developmental disorders that children and adolescents often face. We will also examine the physiology and functions of the human body that are involved in the process. An article titled “Sleep Deprivation, Sleep Disorders, and Chronic Disease” aptly summed up the key role of sleep medicine in overall wellness when it noted, “It is vital to recognize sleep as a fundamental pillar of public health.”*
Vision, energy, and incredible knowledge are hallmarks of our dental and medical sleep community. In 2026, I invite you to become involved in all aspects of dental/medical sleep. Authors, please email or call me with your ideas, and let your voice impact the lives of millions of people hoping for some relief. You can influence the future of this expanding area.
Shakespeare called sleep “nature’s soft nurse.” For some, this dream is out of reach. Their sleep-related disorder makes what should be a peaceful time of body and brain recovery into a harsh, unhealthy, and frustrating nightmare. The discoveries, perceptions, and triumphs presented in Sleep Practice can be life changing and lifesaving. I look forward to being an enthusiastic and productive steward of this publication and helping to spread the wakeup call.
Looking forward to future connections.
New opportunities abound for management of sleep-disordered breathing with collaboration between the dental and medical fields. Read this CE, “Physician-Dentist Collaboration: A Call to Arms for Allied Troops” at https://dentalsleeppractice.com/archived-ce/physician-dentist-collaboration-a-call-to-arms-for-allied-troops/, and subscribers can take the CE quiz to receive 2 credits!
*Ramos AR, Wheaton AG, Johnson DA. Sleep Deprivation, Sleep Disorders, and Chronic Disease. Prev Chronic Dis. 2023;20:230197. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd20.230197.