The Oral-Systemic Connection: A Call to Action for Dentists

From the Desk of a Certified Medical-Dental Sleep Billing Consultant (QMDSA)
By Shelbey Arevalo, Founder of Elite Dental Systems

Dentists, it’s time to level up.
You are not just fixing teeth—you are in a position to save lives.

Every single day in practices like yours, patients walk in with far more than just a cracked molar or loose crown.
They’re carrying undiagnosed sleep apnea, uncontrolled diabetes, chronic inflammation, and warning signs of systemic disease—and it’s all showing up in their mouths.

As a qualified sleep apnea billing specialist (QMDSA) and dental consultant, I’ve helped practices across the country implement revenue-generating medical billing systems that also deliver life-changing patient outcomes.

And I’m here to help you do the same—step by step.

The Silent Epidemic: Why This Matters More Than Ever

• 30 million Americans have sleep apnea—80% remain undiagnosed

• 70% of adults over 65 suffer from gum disease

• Oral infections have been linked to Alzheimer’s, stroke, diabetes, and heart disease

• Elderly patients with poor oral health are at higher risk for pneumonia, malnutrition, and cognitive decline

This is more than a dental problem—it’s a national health crisis.
And YOU, the dentist, are in the best position to spot it.

 

You Are the Frontline of Whole-Body Health

Think about this: you see your patients more than their primary care doctor does.
You’re examining the airway. You’re noticing grinding, fatigue, gum inflammation, infections—and most importantly, you’re listening to their stories.

Here’s what stepping into your role as a systemic health ally looks like:

✅ Screen using STOP-BANG, Epworth, Berlin, or AADSM Systemic Health Questionnaires
✅ Identify risk factors (apnea, TMJ, trauma, inflammation)
✅ Refer and collaborate with MDs, sleep specialists, PCPs
✅ Treat or co-manage using oral appliance therapy, occlusal splints, surgical referrals, or perio
✅ Bill medical insurance to increase access—and bring in a new revenue stream

 If you click on this link, I included a medical billing starter checklist to help your offices get started…

The Elder Care Crisis: Dentistry’s Untapped Impact

In senior care settings, oral neglect is rampant.
Too many facilities lack consistent hygiene, screening, or professional dental support.

➡️ Chronic gum infections increase the risk of Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline
➡️ Systemic inflammation is worsened by untreated periodontitis
➡️ Many seniors quietly suffer from undiagnosed OSA, worsening fatigue, mood, and memory

Imagine being the reason someone sleeps better, breathes easier, and lives longer.
When you screen, document, and bill appropriately—you can intervene early and advocate powerfully.

 

How to Start Without Getting Overwhelmed

Let’s be real—medical billing in dentistry sounds intimidating.
But that’s where Elite Dental Systems comes in.

I’ve taken my certification in medical-dental sleep apnea billing (QMDSA) and turned it into a proven system that walks your team through everything:

✔️ Over 15 plug-and-play forms ready for use
✔️ Training manuals for your front and back office teams
✔️ Tracking tools and SOPs for OSA, TMJ, trauma, and more
✔️ Help with Medicare, private plans, documentation, and pre-auth
✔️ Support to build a “Practice Within a Practice”—dedicated to sleep medicine

You’ll know exactly what to screen, when to refer, how to document, and how to bill. My team can even take over the medical billing altogether - sounds like a win-win, right?

 

Tools You Can Start Using Today!

Want to screen smarter? These tools are your new best friends:

📝 AASM Systemic Health Questionnaire (Great for new patient intake)
🛏 STOP-BANG Questionnaire (Quick airway risk screener)
😴 Epworth Sleepiness Scale (Daytime drowsiness)
📋 Berlin Questionnaire (OSA + comorbidity overview)

Incorporate these into your patient packets and start the conversation today. Why This Isn’t Just About Health—It’s Smart Business

Medical billing = untapped income.

You’re already doing the work—now get paid properly.

✔️ Oral Appliance Therapy (E0486) is covered by Medicare + most government plans
✔️ TMJ therapy and occlusal appliances are billable when medically necessary
✔️ Full mouth trauma, oral surgery, biopsies, periodontal care with systemic links—all may qualify

Let me say this clearly: You’re already seeing these cases. Let’s make sure they’re not slipping through the cracks—medically or financially.

 

Final Word from the Frontlines

As someone who lives and breathes this work, I promise you this:

You don’t have to do everything at once. You just need to START.

Elite Dental Systems is here to help you build the system, train your team, and hold your hand through each claim, each form, each case—until it’s second nature.

So let’s stop treating symptoms in isolation—and start building a future of whole-body dentistry.
One patient. One case. One program at a time.

 Ready to launch your program?

📩 Ready to get started? Contact Elite Dental Systems today. (916) 269-9899 or contact@elitedentalservices.net

RESOURCES & LINKS

• AASM/AADSM Clinical Practice Guideline for OAT (2015) – Treating OSA and snoring with oral appliances (aadsm.org, aasm.org)

• AASM/AADSM Joint Guideline (2024) – Expanded teamwork between physicians & dentists in OAT (aasm.org)

• AASM Oral Appliance Therapy Portal – Professional guide and patient handouts (aadsm.org)

• AADSM Standards for Practice: 2022 & 2025 Updates – Screening, treatment & management protocols for adult SRBD (aadsm.org)

• AADSM Oral Appliance Therapy Protocol – Step-wise clinical guidance for dental teams (aadsm.org)

• AADSM Journal: Current Issue, Volume 12 Issue 2 (2025) – “Dental Sleep Medicine Standards…” (aadsm.org)

• STOP‑BANG Questionnaire – Validated OSA screening tool (aadsm.org)

• Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) – Daytime sleepiness assessment

• Berlin Questionnaire – Broader comorbidity risk screener