Interprofessional Collaboration and Practice Management
What the candidate must know
OAT is delivered through a team: the patient, the sleep physician who diagnoses and interprets testing, the dentist who fabricates and titrates, and often the primary care clinician. Know the referral loop - a physician order or referral, the dental assessment and appliance, and communication of outcomes back to the physician. Understand documentation requirements: diagnosis and severity, device type and prescribed position, titration records, adherence, side effects, and follow-up testing results. Practice management includes informed consent, fee discussions, scheduling for titration visits, and coordination with medical insurance. Know that scope-of-practice rules vary and that the dentist should work within them.
Traps in questions
A frequent trap is the dentist acting outside scope by making a sleep diagnosis or altering a medical plan unilaterally. Another is failing to close the communication loop with the referring physician. Questions may test that informed consent covers expected side effects and occlusal change, and that records must support the therapy provided. Do not assume insurance coverage; verify benefits and document discussions.
Worked example / rule of thumb
A physician refers a patient with moderate OSA. Rule of thumb: confirm the order, complete the dental evaluation, fabricate and titrate, then send a structured report to the physician including device, position, adherence, and any follow-up testing. Keep the loop closed. Document consent, fees, and each titration step so the record supports the care.