Diplomate Credentials in Dental Sleep Medicine

​Becoming a diplomate in a recognized association or board conveys a better knowledge of dental sleep medicine and sleep medicine. This also shows a higher level of training and commitment. The medical community will have more trust in you, as most physicians have completed specialty training and have achieved diplomate status. Since there is no recognized specialty in dental sleep medicine, it is the closest thing to a residency and specialization.
Hundreds of people teach courses in dental sleep medicine, with many different styles and focus. There also are a few mini-residencies in dental schools and private groups, and many small groups or organizations have their own credentialing and marketing focus. The top three associations for dental sleep medicine are the AADSM, ACSDD, and ASBA.

The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) is the largest association for dental sleep medicine. It offers continuing education, conventions, publications, lobbying for dental sleep providers, facility accreditation, policies and procedures standards, and more. This association is located within and as part of the American Association of Sleep Medicine (AASM), the largest association of sleep physicians and their sleep lab accreditation credentialing arm. They set the standard in sleep medicine specialty and practice. I personally recommend joining this association to everyone doing dental sleep medicine.
The AADSM also offers the Qualified Dentists designation. It is the credential for having the minimum skills and qualifications necessary for recognition in dental sleep medicine. They require twenty-five hours of approved continuing education in dental sleep medicine.

The American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (ABDSM) is part of the AADSM and is the diplomate credentialing arm of the AADSM and AASM. It is currently the most recognized credentialing group within the dental sleep medicine world and is by far the most respected by sleep physicians. I am a diplomate with the ABDSM, and I recommend working toward diplomate status with the ABDSM for everyone doing dental sleep medicine.
To obtain credentials with the ABDSM, you need the following:
fifty hours of continuing education in dental sleep medicine. After 2017, those hours must come from a nonprofit continuing education program or a dental school. two letters of recommendation from two board-certified sleep physicians ten hours of observation at a board-certified sleep center and a signed letter stating that from a board-certified sleep physician. a 200-question proctored examination and submission of fifteen cases with documentation for evaluation

The Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders (ACSD is a smaller association, and it’s relatively expensive to receive diplomate credentials. To receive their credentials, you need to take their training (forty-five hours), their proctored examination, and submit twenty cases for review.

American Sleep and Breathing Academy (ASBA) is a newer association that offers continuing education and credentialing. It requires forty hours of continuing education, ten cases for review, and a one-hundred-question proctored exam.
With the choices for association membership and credentialing, it is becoming more difficult to obtain diplomate credentials.  


 
Facility Accreditation with the AADSM
I was the first in Arizona to achieve facility accreditation, but I have let my facility accreditation expire.
. I was also on the committee for approving facility accreditation. The process of applying made my office sleep program better and helped me to make clear standards and objectives. I think it is wise to go through the steps for application because it will improve the way you maintain your charts and policies. It’s beneficial to get facility accreditation first if you need more time to get the diplomate status; getting facility accreditation is easier than the diplomate status.

 

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