Beyond The Chair - Escalantes

Credits: 6

Course Description:

Day 1 – Foundations of Dental Sleep Medicine for DentistsDesigned for dentists who are new to or exploring the field of dental sleep medicine, this full-day session blends foundational education with practical application. The morning lecture (4 hours) will cover the essentials of sleep apnea, the role of dentistry in treatment, and the critical importance of implementing systems that support long-term success. In the afternoon (4 hours), attendees will engage in hands-on training, including home sleep testing (HST) protocols for dental practices and oral appliance fabrication techniques.

Day 2 – Operational Success: Staff, Systems & BillingThis session shifts focus to the operational side of a successful dental sleep practice. Aimed at office managers, billing coordinators, and support staff, the day’s lecture will explore how to manage financial workflows, production tracking, and medical billing processes. Emphasis will be placed on fostering collaboration between office teams and billing companies to ensure accuracy, compliance, and streamlined communication.

Learning Objectives:

Day 1: Clinical Foundations & Hands-On Application for DentistsParticipants will:

• Understand the fundamentals of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and its relevance to dental professionals.
• Identify the spectrum of sleep-disordered breathing, including snoring, upper airway resistance, and OSA.
• Learn the terminology, diagnostic criteria, and systemic health implications associated with OSA.
• Review how common dental conditions such as bruxism relate to airway obstruction during sleep.
• Explore the prevalence of undiagnosed sleep apnea within the general dental patient population.
• Gain a high-level overview of the systems and workflows necessary for incorporating sleep medicine into the dental practice.
• Experience a Home Sleep Apnea Test (HSAT) firsthand and understand how to interpret basic results.
• Learn methods for patient screening, including the use of questionnaires, clinical indicators, and CBCT evaluation.
• Participate in hands-on sessions that include:
• • Measuring jaw range of motion
  • Fitting a provisional mandibular advancement device
  • Fabricating an AM Aligner (morning repositioning device)
  • Reviewing and discussing HST results

Day 2: Practice Management, Team Roles & Medical BillingParticipants will:

• Understand the critical roles that staff and office managers play in the success of a dental sleep program.
• Learn how to track and manage key production and financial metrics for sleep-related services.
• Review best practices for collaboration between office teams and third-party medical billers.
• Explore the process of insurance verification, pre-authorizations, and claim submission for oral appliance therapy.
• Gain insight into medical documentation requirements, SOAP note formatting, and medical necessity criteria.
• Learn how to create efficient systems that support billing compliance, accurate coding, and successful reimbursement.
• Develop team communication strategies to ensure consistency and accountability across clinical and administrative roles.

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Peggah Escalante and Cris Escalante are a dynamic husband-and-wife team dedicated to advancing dental sleep medicine through clinical excellence, strategic leadership, and education.

Dr. Peggah Escalante is a proud South Texas native who completed her undergraduate studies through the honors program at St. Mary’s University before earning her DDS with distinction in Teaching and Research from the University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School in San Antonio. A Diplomate of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM), she discovered her passion for sleep medicine after meeting Dr. Steve Drake and has since committed herself to improving lives through better sleep. Dr. Escalante is devoted to making dental sleep therapy more accessible for patients and more effective for providers. She currently practices in San Antonio and serves as a faculty member at the UT Health San Antonio Dental School.

Cris Escalante brings a rich and diverse background in healthcare administration and leadership. Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico and New York, Cris served in the U.S. Army as a human intelligence collection specialist and combat medic, retiring in 2009. He has since held roles in academia, veteran support initiatives, and medical center administration. A graduate of Purdue University and Harvard Business School, Cris now focuses on the operational and strategic development of dental sleep practices. He co-owns Dr. Drake’s Sleep Solutions alongside Dr. Escalante and Dr. Drake, where he leads the administrative systems that drive practice growth and sustainability.

Together, Peggah and Cris blend clinical insight and operational expertise to empower providers and teams in delivering impactful, patient-centered sleep care.

Host or Publisher Dental Sleep Solutions