The West Virginia University School of Dentistry will present the annual Mesaros Symposium on Friday, Aug. 22, at Erickson Alumni Center. The half-day continuing education opportunity is open to all dentists, dental hygienists and members of the School of Dentistry community and will be followed by optional afternoon lunch and learn session.
This year’s symposium, titled “Changing Lives: The Roles of Dentists in Healthy Sleep,” will be presented by Matthew Patterson, DMD. The session will start at 8:45 a.m. and adjourn at noon. Check-in and a light breakfast will be available beginning at 7:45 a.m. This event has been designated for 3.0 continuing education credits.
Dr. Patterson’s presentation will focus on obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep-related breathing disorders, including diagnosis and treatment. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, an estimated 54 million adults in the U.S. have some degree of sleep apnea.
Offered through the Drs. Paul and Laura Mesaros Endowed Lectureship in Dentistry, the symposium is free for WVU School of Dentistry faculty, students, residents, staff and rural rotation preceptors. The fee for all other attendees is $100 until Aug. 15. The late registration fee is $150.
Online registration is now open.
The non-credit lunch and learn session, “Look Past the Teeth, the Impacts of OSA on the Oral Environment,” will be presented by Nicole DeCaria Chenet, DDS. Dr. Chenet is a diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and a 2000 graduate of the WVU School of Dentistry. To register for the lunch and learn session, contact Administrative Associate Carrie Trejo.
For questions about registration, contact Dr. Elizabeth Kao.
CE Course Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a type of sleep-related breathing disorder (SRBD), can cause significant dips in blood oxygen saturation. In the long term, these drops can cause or contribute to numerous morbidities, including excessive daytime sleepiness, ADHD, bruxism, diabetes, hypertension, heart dysrhythmias and stroke. Yet OSA remains a largely undiagnosed epidemic.
Dentists are in a unique and critical position to turn this tide. In 2019, the ADA recommended that all dentists screen their patients for SRBDs. This course will provide a foundation in the most current accepted knowledge of SRBDs, OSA screening, diagnosis and treatment, how to further develop your skills, and how to incorporate this vital aspect of healthcare into your practice.
Dr. Matthew Patterson
A 1985 graduate of Temple University School of Dentistry, Dr. Matthew Patterson served in the U.S. Navy where he received advanced dental training. He held numerous leadership positions at the Naval Regional Dental Center in Pensacola, Florida, and served as Dental Officer aboard the USS Lexington. Following his Naval service, Dr. Patterson practiced general dentistry for more than 30 years. A someone who suffered with obstructive sleep apnea for many years, he trained in dental sleep medicine at the L.D. Pankey Institute and American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. He attained diplomate status with the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and has practiced dental sleep medicine since 2012. He founded the Lancaster Snoring and Sleep Center in 2019.
Drs. Paul and Laura Mesaros Endowed Lectureship in Dentistry
Established in 1993, the Drs. Paul and Laura Mesaros Endowed Lectureship in Dentistry reflects a lifelong commitment to healthcare. Following their careers as physicians, the couple wanted to give back to the profession by providing opportunities to advance the field and medical education. Today, their gift enables the School of Dentistry to bring distinguished members of the dental profession to campus for lectures on important areas of current interest and development in oral health.
For more information, visit ce.wvu.edu/mesaros.
Download the Mesaros Symposium flyer.
-WVU-
jw/6/24/25
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