Smith Takes AADSM Reins

By Peter Blais, RPSGT

Harold A. Smith, DDS, was elected the new president of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) and took office at the organization’s 25th Anniversary Meeting in June.

He has provided oral appliance therapy since 1993 and is the clinical director of Dental Sleep Medicine of Indiana. He also serves as the dental consultant to the major Indianapolis hospital sleep disorder centers and as a faculty member for Indiana University School of Medicine’s fellowship program in sleep medicine.

Smith followed up his own early research into oral appliance therapy by attending a 1993 Chicago lecture by Dr Peter George of Honolulu, who had developed one of the first oral devices called the NAPA [nocturnal airway patency appliance]. Smith said he found the lecture very interesting and later had the opportunity to speak with several of George’s lab associates. Two months later, Smith attended his first sleep disorders conference in Washington, D.C. sponsored by the original founders of the AADSM.

“There were fewer than 100 people there and very little in the way of literature,” Smith recalled. “A few physicians attended. I gathered all the literature and course materials I could.”

The major change since Smith first became involved with treating sleep apnea is the tremendous amount of research and literature currently available on oral appliance therapy.

“The wealth of research is a great testament to how far dental sleep medicine has advanced. Improved compliance with oral appliances is now an evidence-based fact and, therefore, oral appliance therapy is recommended for patients who don’t adhere to CPAP or prefer an alternative treatment,” said Smith. “Today, oral appliance therapy provided by dentists is often considered the first line of treatment for mild and moderate OSA. The efficacy of oral appliances is no longer in doubt.”

More than 1,200 people attended the AADSM Anniversary Meeting in Denver, which turned into a celebration of the advances made in the past 25 years.

“The AADSM has made great strides in dental sleep medicine. I want to see us continue our commitment to funding research and collaborating with sleep physicians,” Smith said. “I also want AADSM to increase its role as a patient advocate. By encouraging dentists to use proper protocols and stay in communication with physician partners, we can help ensure outstanding patient outcomes in dental sleep medicine.”

Smith previously served as AADSM president from 2002-2004 when the organization first started developing a relationship with the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). The physicians saw the dentists’ group as a viable partner.

As a distinguished speaker and ABDSM Diplomate, Smith has lectured nationally on a dentist’s role as part of a medical team in dental sleep medicine. He also has served on many levels of organized dentistry throughout the years. Smith is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists and is an active member of the AASM, ADA, IDA, IDDS, and AGD. He is a graduate of Indiana University School of Dentistry.

In addition to serving as AADSM president, Smith received the AADSM Distinguished Service Award in 2006 and was president of the ABDSM from 2008-2010.

Photography by Marc Lebryk