Pediatric Dentistry Endowed Lecture
Continuing education for dentists, registered dental hygienists (RDHs) and registered dental assistants (RDAs)
In-person | 6 CE credits* | $280 | Limited capacity
* This number is an estimate. Your regulatory body will issue the credits.
** Tuition may be subject to change
Discover Hidden Connections. Join us for this year's full-day pediatric seminar, where we'll explore the intricate connections between oral pathologies, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and orthodontics. Gain a comprehensive understanding of how these conditions impact children's health and development. This year's seminar will be on Oct. 26, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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What you'll learn | Faculty
Overview
This event is designed to provide health-care professionals with specialized knowledge essential for the effective diagnosis and management of pediatric sleep medicine. By completing this course, you'll enhance your clinical skills, positioning yourself as a specialized practitioner capable of delivering multidisciplinary care and improving health outcomes for young patients.
We are thrilled to welcome a renowned professor from Europe, an expert in pediatric OSA research, who will share her evidence-based insights and international expertise on this critical topic.
Oral pathologies and the relation to obstructive sleep apnea
Explore the connection between OSA and oral comorbidities, and discover how dentists can utilize metabolic saliva biomarkers for early detection and improved patient outcomes.
Lecture overview
OSA is a serious chronic disease with significant morbidity and mortality. In children, OSA is linked to cognitive and behavioral issues, affecting school performance and behavior. This condition is characterized by the partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway, leading to repetitive oxygen desaturation and an overactive sympathetic nervous system. These obstructive respiratory events contribute to various metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, and oxidative stress from oxygen free radicals exacerbates inflammatory processes.
Researchers are actively exploring the connection between OSA and oral comorbidities. Dentists are poised to play a crucial role in this process by identifying potential metabolic saliva biomarkers, such as c-reactive protein, interleukins, lipoprotein cholesterol, and cysteinyl leukotrienes. Identifying these biomarkers could revolutionize the early detection and management of this debilitating condition.
What you will learn
- Understand the impact of OSA on metabolic and cardiovascular health.
- Recognize the potential of various biomarkers as screening tools.
- Learn how to integrate these findings into clinical practice for both adult and pediatric patients.
- Learn how general DDS can assist and learn about screening.
The role of dentistry (pediatrics and orthodontists) in sleep medicine
Uncover the vital role of dental professionals in combating pediatric snoring and OSA—from early diagnosis to transformative treatment strategies.
Lecture overview
These respiratory sleep disorders are characterized by varying degrees of decreased space of the upper airway, caused by anatomical and functional factors.
Studies have shown that respiratory function is widely implicated in the development of these pathologies, which affect the growth and positioning of the facial skeleton and cervical posture. The proposed treatment involves a multidisciplinary team, including pediatricians, otolaryngologists, orthodontists, sleep medicine specialists, and speech therapists.
What you will learn
- Understand the role of dental professionals, including pediatricians and orthodontists, in the diagnosis and management of pediatric OSA.
- Identify the anatomical and functional factors contributing to respiratory sleep disorders in children.
- Recognize the cognitive, behavioural, and socio-economic impacts of pediatric OSA on children's school performance and overall behaviour.
- Learn the importance of clinical history and polysomnography (PSG) in diagnosing snoring and OSA.
- Explore the significance of cephalometric analysis in screening for craniofacial characteristics and growth predictions related to OSA.
Appreciate the contributions of a multidisciplinary team in managing and treating OSA. - Understand the role of myofunctional therapy in the reeducation of facial muscle structures, improving respiratory functions, chewing, and swallowing.
Examine the coadjuvant role of myofunctional therapy with preventive and interceptive Orthodontics in achieving muscle balance and stability, thereby reducing the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI).
Our leading faculty
Keynote: Dr. Susana Falardo Ramos
President of the European Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
Dr. Falardo, DMD, MSc, PhD, is a distinguished expert in orthodontics, public health, and sleep medicine. She serves as an Invited assistant professor at the Faculty of Dental Medicine, Catholic Portuguese University, and as coordinator of the postgraduate sleep course at the same institution in Lisbon. She is the President of the European Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and vice president of the Scientific Committees for both the American and Spanish Academies of Dental Sleep Medicine.
Dr. Falardo holds numerous prestigious credentials, including board diplomate status by the European Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and an international certification by the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. She completed a pediatric sleep mini-residency at Tufts University and holds a master of science in myofunctional therapy from the Superior Institute of Psychological Studies in Madrid.
Since 2001, Dr. Falardo has been the clinical director at Clínica Médico-Dentária Nª Srª da Atalaia in Lisbon. Her contributions to research, education, and clinical practice have earned her the 2019 Award of Merit for volunteer work in oral health and sleep education and the 2002 Medal of Honor and Merit from the Rotary Club of Montijo.
Dr. Manuel Lagravère
Director, Applied Oral Health Research Unit
Dr. Lagravère, DDS, MSc, PhD, is a professor, speaker and researcher. His publications include several book chapters and over 150 peer-reviewed papers.
After graduating with a masters of science, Dr. Lagravère moved to Edmonton to pursue his PhD in orthodontics at the University of Alberta, which he completed in 2009. Immediately following his convocation, Dr. Lagravère was awarded a fellowship from the College of Dentists of Canada in the specialty of orthodontics and dental facial orthopedics. He also has a clinical trial expert certification.
His research focuses on improving the mastication process, or chewing of food, in children and adolescents. Dr. Lagravère is also interested in how the bones in the upper and lower jaws affect breathing and the production of growth hormones. Currently, he is working on an artificial intelligence model to analyze airways and determine if some orthodontic treatments are more suitable than others in helping reduce sleep apnea in children.
Questions?
Contact us at dentce@ualberta.ca
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If you have any questions about the University of Alberta's School of Dentistry graduate studies program, please reach out to dentistry.gradstudies@ualberta.ca.