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Show Notes

Dental Sleep Medicine is like Groundhog Day. Why?

In this episode, Jason Tierney and Dr. Erin Elliott sit down with the “fierce advocate” himself, Dr. Steve Carstensen, to examine why the field is moving at the speed of a dial-up modem.

Steve has been in the room where it happens—serving on boards, teaching the masses, and pushing the rock up the hill—and he’s got some thoughts. If you’ve ever felt like a “second-class citizen” in the medical world or wondered why we’re still arguing over home sleep tests in 2026, this one is for you.

What’s on the Menu:

• The “Orange Jumpsuit” Syndrome: Why the fear of regulatory “monsters” has kept dentists from practicing to their full potential. (Spoiler: You probably won’t go to prison for ordering a ferritin test).

• The MD-DDS Discord: Why does the sleep physician love your outcomes but forget your name when it’s time to refer? We talk about bridging the “silo” gap without needing a medical degree.

• Beyond the “Plastic Provider”: If you think your only job is “mandibular advancement,” you’re missing the 4th dimension. Steve breaks down Developmental Dental Facial Orthopedics and why we need to care about the brain and heart, not just the airway closure.

• The Tipping Point: Is the AI-informed patient actually the one who will finally force the medical and dental communities to play nice?

The Value Add:

Stop playing small. Steve makes the case for moving from “cautious participation” to “meaningful leadership.” You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of the structural barriers holding the industry back—and how to kick them down in your own community.

“All of us is smarter than any one of us.” — Dr. Carstensen’s closing wisdom 

Clinical Concepts & Terminology

• Developmental Dental Facial Orthopedics: A term coined by Dr. Kevin Boyd and Dr. Dave McCarty to shift the focus from just “straightening teeth” to the 4D growth and development of the airway.
  Learn more via Dr. Kevin Boyd’s work

• The “Leaky Syndrome” Concept: Referenced in the context of functional dentistry—looking at the tube from “here to here” (mouth to gut).
  Dr. Witt Wilkerson’s “The Shift”: A guide to health-centered dentistry and the “leaky” body systems.

Professional Organizations & Collaboration

Steve emphasizes joining groups where “nobody cares what’s on your badge.”

• World Dentofacial Sleep Society (WDSS): Founded by Dr. Audrey Yoon and Dr. Leopoldo Correa to unite dentists and surgeons globally.
  Website: dentofacialsleep.org

• World Sleep Society: The premier international organization for sleep professionals. Steve recommends their biennial congress for true interdisciplinary learning.
  Website: worldsleepsociety.org

• AAPMD & AAOSH (Collaboration Cures): The home for the “Collaboration Cures” movement, focusing on the airway, oral-systemic health, and functional medicine.
  Website: aapmd.org | aaosh.org

• Sleep Education Consortium: Founded by Dr. Jerald Simmons, providing the 3-day comprehensive courses Steve mentioned for MD/DDS collaboration.
  Website: dentalsleepconference.com

Featured Experts to Follow

• Dr. Shane Creado: The sleep physician mentioned who “loves our world” and focuses on peak sleep performance and psychiatry.
  Website: shanecreado.com

• Dr. Audrey Yoon: A leader in pediatric dental sleep medicine and orthodontics at Stanford.
  Link to Clinical Profile

Recommended Tools & Reading

• Open Evidence: The AI tool Steve used to research “Evidence-Based Medicine” and alternative clinical trials.
  Website: open.evidence.com

• The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell: The book Steve cited when discussing how the industry will eventually shift its attitude toward airway care. Buy on Amazon.