After achieving American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) Dental Sleep Medicine Facility Accreditation for her practice in 2012, Nancy Addy, DDS, says it has raised the profile of Snoring and Sleep Apnea Dental Treatment Center of Kansas City within the community.

“I sought AADSM Dental Sleep Medicine Facility Accreditation so that I could continue to progress in a field that I love,” Addy says in a release. “Earning facility accreditation offered a wonderful learning experience and the opportunity to grow my practice.”

Establish Partnerships with Physicians

As more sleep physicians are seeking dentists qualified in dental sleep medicine, AADSM Dental Sleep Medicine Facility Accreditation provides an opportunity for dentists to expand their professional networks. Facility accreditation demonstrates that an office meets standardized guidelines, follows rigorous protocol, and has procedures in place to address any problems or complications a patient may incur with oral appliance therapy.

Facility Accreditation also attests that the dentist understands that proper communication with medical colleagues is critical to the teamwork required to treat patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Such professional recognition helps improve relationships with sleep physicians and promote a dental practice, the AADSM says.

“When dentists take the time to get their facility accredited by the AADSM, physicians take notice,” Addy says. “My facility accreditation showed sleep physicians that I am dedicated to dental sleep medicine and has worked as an endorsement of my skills and my practice. Physicians are confident that when they send patients to my accredited dental office, those patients will receive optimal care for the treatment of sleep apnea. This has significantly increased the patient referrals I receive.”

Prepare for Medical Insurance Coverage

The current structure of medical insurance provides challenges for many dentists treating sleep apnea patients with oral appliance therapy. While nearly all US medical insurers now cover oral appliance therapy, coverage is not as straightforward as dental insurance and involves arduous paperwork. Addy asserted that AADSM Dental Sleep Medicine Facility Accreditation helped her better understand medical insurance and more easily decide how to navigate this area.

In addition, facility accreditation provides third-party validation of a dentist’s experience, which helps better qualify dental practices for acceptance by medical insurance companies. By assuring medical insurance decision-makers of a dental practice’s exceptional performance and quality patient care, facility accreditation also supports fair reimbursement for dental sleep medicine services.

“There is a huge opportunity for dentists in the fast-growing field of dental sleep medicine, and AADSM Dental Sleep Medicine Facility Accreditation is one of the few ways dentists can demonstrate proficiency in this area of care and help grow their dental practice,” says Kathleen Bennett, DDS, AADSM president.

Through facility accreditation, AADSM provides a wealth of resources, education, and training, offering dentists ongoing professional development and the assurance that they’ll remain at the forefront of dental sleep medicine.

“Upon completing the AADSM Dental Sleep Medicine Facility Accreditation, I gained a tremendous amount of confidence and credibility with physicians,” Addy says. “I know that I’ve done the best I can for my sleep apnea patients and my small business.”