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Why Are We Still Just Fixing Teeth?
A Sleep & Wellness Newsletter by Michael Bennett, DDS, PhD & Cathy Bennett, MS, NBCHWC
Good morning. This is More Than Teeth. The newsletter that helps dental sleep professionals get 1% better every week.
Good Morning,
What if your hygiene exam was the most important health screening your patient gets all year?
This issue kicks off our new educational series:
“The Airway & Wellness Masterclass” — empowering dental teams to recognize airway issues, screen for sleep concerns, and take their place as whole-body health leaders. [Podcast episode below]
This one is personal. Dr. Bennett’s PhD dissertation explored why most dentists don’t screen for sleep, even when they know they should. We’re here to change that.
In Today’s Issue:
The silent epidemic of undiagnosed sleep apnea
Why dentists are uniquely positioned to lead in sleep screening
Dr. Bennett’s research on the 3 biggest barriers to implementation
ADA & AADSM guidelines supporting our clinical role
Cathy’s insight on sleep as the gateway to healing
Your first action step for building an airway-aware practice
5-minute read👇
Clinical Corner
🥼Use the clinical corner as your secret weapon to impress your colleagues and patients!
Key Takeaways🔑
Up to 80% of moderate-to-severe OSA goes undiagnosed.
Dentists are uniquely positioned to screen via oral and behavioral signs.
ADA & AADSM support dental-led screening for sleep-related breathing disorders.
Sleep loss drives systemic inflammation, poor healing, and chronic disease.
Dr. Bennett’s dissertation identified the top barriers: time constraints, lack of confidence, and role ambiguity—challenges every practice can overcome.
Healing starts with sleep—and sleep starts with airway awareness.
Why Are We Still Just Fixing Teeth?
Every day, you see the signs:
Flattened teeth and bruxism
Scalloped tongues
High, narrow palates
Large tonsils and poor lip seal
These aren’t just dental anomalies. They’re airway alarms.
Yet according to Dr. Bennett’s PhD research, most dentists hesitate to act, not because they don't care, but because:
They’re pressured for time
They’re unsure how to begin the conversation
They feel the topic belongs more to medicine than dentistry
The result? A missed opportunity to catch sleep-disordered breathing early, before it drives systemic illness.
What’s Really at Stake?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is linked to:
Heart disease & hypertension
Type 2 diabetes & insulin resistance
Cognitive decline, depression, and burnout
Delayed healing, inflammation, and immune suppression
Most patients with OSA have no idea they’re at risk.
But you can change that.
Research Spotlight:
From Dissertation to Daily Practice
Dr. Bennett’s doctoral research explored how dentists experience the process of screening for sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs).
He found that while dentists recognized the clinical importance of SRBD screening, many felt uncertain, undertrained, or unsupported.
They struggled with:
Time limitations in hygiene appointments
Fear of overstepping their scope
Lack of clear workflow or referral protocols
“We don’t need more awareness—we need more activation. That’s what my work is about.”
— Dr. Michael Bennett, DDS, PhD
Business of Sleep
Team Talk This Week:
“Do we screen for sleep? If not—why not?”
Try this intake question:
“How’s your sleep lately? Has anyone ever said you snore or stop breathing at night?”
That’s all it takes to open the airway conversation—and it positions your practice as a leader in preventive, upstream care.
Latest Podcast Episode
Something Sweet
🍭Stuff so sweet you might get a cavity..
CE Opportunities / Events
Event | Dates | Location | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
AADSM Mastery Program | Ongoing dates (check website) | Online | Click HERE |
Transform Your Practice with Dental Sleep Medicine | October 17-18, 2025 | Tempe, AZ | Click HERE |
Dentist’s Role in Snoring & Sleep Apnea | November 7-8, 2025 | Chicago, IL | Click HERE |
Have an event you would like to post? (free) [ click here ]
Miscellaneous
😅P.S. …From Dr. Bennett & Cathy:
This mission is personal. We’ve seen how airway dysfunction erodes health across generations—and how one caring, confident dental team can reverse that trend.
Cathy’s Corner:
“Sleep is where the body repairs. If your patients aren’t resting deeply, their bodies can’t heal—even with the best dental work in the world.”
— Dr. Michael & Cathy Bennett
More Than Teeth | A Mission for Generational Health
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