Dr. Timothy Adams to speak at ASBA study club on airway dentistry

Dr. Timothy C. Adams will co-lead a two-day American Sleep and Breathing Academy seminar Aug. 14-15 in Phoenix focused on craniofacial, TMJ and oral appliance strategies for dental sleep medicine. The course aims to help general dentists build or improve sleep apnea treatment programs as interest grows in non-CPAP care.

Why it matters: - The seminar targets general dentists who want to screen for airway problems and build structured sleep apnea treatment programs. - The topic matters because obstructive sleep apnea affects an estimated 936 million adults worldwide. - Up to 60% of sleep apnea patients do not comply with or tolerate CPAP therapy, increasing interest in oral appliance therapy.

What happened: - Dr. Timothy C. Adams, DDS, D.ABSA, will speak both days of an American Sleep and Breathing Academy continuing education seminar on Aug. 14-15, 2026. - The two-day program will be held at the Hilton Phoenix Airport in Phoenix, Arizona. - The course is titled "Open Loop Cricket with Epigenetic Appliances" ASBA Study Club. - Dr. Adams will co-instruct with David Gergen, CDT, chief executive officer of ASBA's Dental Division. - Dr. Scott Parker, DDS, will join as a special guest presenter for both sessions.

The details: - The seminar will focus on craniofacial and airway-related topics, including cranial strains, biotensegrity, temporomandibular joint dysfunction and emerging oral appliance designs. - Organizers say the goal is to help general dental practices create structured sleep apnea treatment programs. - The course is built around case-based instruction for identifying craniofacial and airway-related issues in general practice. - Attendees will also review how oral appliance solutions fit into treatment planning. - Sessions are expected to cover cranial strain patterns, the relationship between biotensegrity and jaw and airway function, TMJ dysfunction evaluation and newer oral appliance design approaches for long-term airway management. - Parker is vice president of clinical affairs at DEKA Dental Lasers, where he oversees clinical education and hands-on laser training for dental practitioners nationwide. - The two-day format is designed to give attendees both a clinical framework and practical steps for adding airway and sleep-related screening to a general practice. - The course is aimed at dentists at any stage of building a sleep apnea treatment program, including those deciding whether to add the service and those refining an existing protocol.

Between the lines: - ASBA is positioning the study club as both a clinical update and an implementation guide, not just a lecture series. - Adams' role on ASBA's Credentialing Board signals direct involvement in the academy's professional standards for dental sleep medicine. - The focus on oral appliance therapy reflects a broader shift toward alternatives for patients who cannot use CPAP consistently. - Adams said the study club will give practicing dentists a working framework for identifying airway and craniofacial issues that are often overlooked in general practice. - Adams said he wants attendees to leave with practical tools they can use with patients right away.

What's next: - Dentists who attend will be expected to take the clinical framework back to their practices and apply it to screening and treatment planning. - ASBA will continue its Diplomate accreditation process for dentists practicing in dental sleep medicine. - The academy will keep promoting education, training and collaboration around airway, breathing and sleep-related care.

The bottom line: - ASBA's Phoenix study club is designed to turn airway dentistry concepts into usable steps for general dental practices, with Dr. Adams leading the clinical instruction.