It’s Never the Same the Second Time

It feels good to be back as an Editor for Dental Sleep Practice. In fact, it’s better than before. Think about times in your life when you’ve had a chance to return to a place that was familiar, only to discover new, exciting details that give you even more energy and curiosity about what there is to learn.

While these times may not yet afford us the opportunities to visit a favorite vacation spot or gather with our friends at meetings, as we begin to step back into the world, we’ll see things never spotted before.

Such as it is with Dental Sleep Practice magazine. As I return as Chief Dental Editor, I am very happy that DSP has embraced medical colleagues to provide the education and perspective dentists need to be the best partners in our patient’s health strategies. Treating sleep related breathing disorders has never been purely medical or dental, because from the earliest years oral appliances were prescribed after diagnosis. For far too long physicians and dentists have seen themselves as separate, rather than two highly trained professions each with their distinct role to play. Any Venn diagram will have a large area of overlap.

Physicians can learn from dentists, too. By increasing the scope of the magazine, DSP will bring us together with greater appreciation for how we can all contribute to the best outcomes.

This fits the science. Increasing awareness of the need to pay attention to measurements beyond the AHI means the major advantage PAP devices have over oral devices, lowering the number of compromised breathing events, is not the only endpoint. Continuing research shows physiologic effects differ between individuals in ways none of the founders of sleep medicine could have anticipated. Changing treatment goals means different therapies – myofunctional therapy, pharmacology, physical therapy, and other modalities add to our ability to personalize care.

Changing treatment goals means different therapies – myofunctional therapy, pharmacology, physical therapy, and other modalities add to our ability to personalize care.

Whether you are adding a medical service to a dental practice or learning to work with a speech and language pathologist for myofunctional therapy, improving communication skills is critical to success. DSP adds Communication Corner – each issue will give you and your team tips for how to get the message across.

Take a moment to look at the Editorial Board. A diverse group of medical professionals, each with amazing skills and talents, have volunteered to guide Dr. Surkin and me as we serve as Chief Editors. Each of them is a lifelong learner, same as you, Lee Surkin, and me.

Our journey continues, together. Welcome to the new Dental Sleep Practice magazine – with you, I look forward to discovering what’s next to be learned.