7-8 hours of sleep keeps the body and mind refreshed,[i] lowering the risk of systemic health conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.[ii] Research into sleep medicine continues to grow, from investigating the impact on cognitive function to the importance of maintaining the circadian rhythm.
In the world of cosmetic dentistry, a focus on sleep medicine allows clinicians to treat patients holistically, achieving longer-lasting outcomes. However, enhancing understanding of sleep medicine in dentistry requires a cooperative effort between practitioner and patient, with a focus on sleep disorders and how they affect the mouth.
Dr Paul Reaney is a dentist with a special interest in orthodontics and has successfully incorporated a Dental Sleep Medicine Clinic, Snoring Solutions NI, within his general dental practice. His award-winning pathway of patient care and implementation of digital technology in Dental Sleep Medicine has been recognised internationally and he is currently a committee member of the Irish Society of Dental Sleep Medicine and a Board Diplomate of the European Academy of Dentists in Sleep Medicine. This unique experience offers a fascinating insight into how sleep impacts our daily life, in more ways than we know. Dr Reaney elaborates:
“Many of us place more importance on charging our mobile phone at night than recharging the most important digital technology we possess – our brain! Sleep is often the neglected foundation that supports our physical and mental wellbeing, allowing us to enjoy a good quality of life. It is only when we are sleep deprived that we appreciate how it compromises how we feel and negatively impacts our mood and personal relationships.
“Sleep is often overlooked when we consider our quality of life and wellbeing. Yet it has significant relevance on our clinical accuracy as we strive to deliver care to patients, and many dentists are unaware of the influence sleep has on the conditions we manage and the treatments we provide.
“As clinicians, we attend many courses on treatments that we never experience personally, yet we all experience sleep deprivation. 80% of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are undiagnosed, and many of them sit in our dental chairs each day – would you know how to identify if you, a family / team member or patient were undiagnosed and how to successfully manage their care?”
A wake-up call
To improve understanding in this area, Dr Reaney will be delivering a session at the BACD 22nd Annual Conference, held this year at the Royal College of Physicians, London, on 13-14 November. Dr Reaney’s lecture is titled “Wake Up to Dental Sleep Medicine… Changing Lives with Every Breath” – he sets the stage:
“The talk will delve into the impact of sleep, spanning such topics as:
- Appreciating the importance of good sleep for our personal health and quality of life
- Recognising how sleep deprivation compromises the accuracy of all our clinical workflows
- Understanding sleep disordered breathing (snoring and OSA) and how it is associated to many dental conditions such as dental erosion, bruxism, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), perception of pain, and periodontal disease.
“Elsewhere, attendees will gain an insight how a general dental practice can work together with medical colleagues to deliver not just life-changing, but lifesaving care to patients with Sleep Disordered Breathing. There will also be a focus on the solutions, such as smartphone apps and wearable sleep monitoring devices, that can be reliable tools in managing patients, and mandibular advancement appliances that form part of an award-winning clinical and laboratory pathway in patient care.
“The BACD Annual Conference is an excellent educational event and I look forward to presenting my session, catching up with colleagues and hearing from the fantastic line-up of international speakers. I shall see you there!”
Multitude of benefits
As well as the rich programme of lectures and hands-on workshops for clinicians, the event will deliver another unmissable Gala Dinner – an annual tradition of gourmet food, awards, networking and a free bar. This year’s venue is One Marylebone, a luxury location with stunning interiors for an elegant evening. It cannot be missed.
This year’s conference theme is “Future Frontiers – Innovating Cosmetic Dentistry”. With Dr Reaney’s session looking at how to enhance the longevity of aesthetic treatments, and other eminent dental professionals sharing their invaluable expertise, the BACD 22nd Annual Conference is the best way for cosmetic dentists to position themselves at the forefront of positive change.
Pre-sale tickets at: https://bacd.com/pre-sale-bacd-22nd-annual-conference-2026/
BACD 22nd Annual Conference
13- 14 November 2026
Royal College of Physicians
For further information and enquiries about the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry visit www.bacd.com
Author: Dr Paul Reaney
[i] Worley, S.L. (2018). The Extraordinary Importance of Sleep: The Detrimental Effects of Inadequate Sleep on Health and Public Safety Drive an Explosion of Sleep Research. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, [online] 43(12), pp.758–763. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6281147/.
[ii] Colten, H.R. and Altevogt, B.M. (2006). Extent and Health Consequences of Chronic Sleep Loss and Sleep Disorders. [online] nih.gov. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK19961/.
