Program Overview

Introduction to the Fellowship in Advanced Sleep Orthodontics

The Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya, offers a Fellowship in Advanced Sleep Orthodontics (FASO), designed to provide advanced clinical training and education in the orthodontic management of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), including snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), in both children and adults.

Program Overview

This fellowship is an evolving subspecialty that bridges orthodontics with disciplines such as oral and maxillofacial surgery, otorhinolaryngology, respiratory medicine, paediatrics, paediatric dentistry, sleep medicine, and biomedical engineering. Fellows will be trained to manage SDB using oral appliance therapy and other orthodontic interventions within a hospital-based, integrated multidisciplinary care framework.

Program Objectives

The program aims to:

• Assess and evaluate patients: Conduct comprehensive evaluations for sleep-disordered breathing, including diagnostic tests like polysomnography and home sleep tests.
• Develop treatment plans: Formulate personalized orthodontic treatment plans, including the use of appliances for managing sleep apnoea, in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team.
• Provide orthodontic interventions: Apply orthodontic techniques, such as mandibular advancement devices, to treat sleep-disordered breathing in both adults and children.
• Manage post-treatment care: Monitor and adjust treatment plans, manage complications, and ensure long-term care for patients with sleep apnoea.
• Collaborate with specialists: Work with oral and maxillofacial surgeons, ENT specialists, sleep physicians, and other experts for integrated care.
• Contribute to research: Engage in research to advance knowledge and practices in orthodontic sleep medicine.

Nature of Training

The fellowship offers advanced, hands-on training in the management of SDB and OSA in both adult and paediatric populations. Fellows will gain extensive experience in managing SDB, with an emphasis on orthodontic interventions, including the use of oral appliances and adjunctive therapies.

Training Components

Fellows will:

• Participate in comprehensive patient management, including the evaluation of craniofacial morphology, sleep studies (polysomnography and home sleep apnoea tests), and the planning and implementation of treatments.
• Receive one-on-one mentorship, working closely with experts in orthodontics, otorhinolaryngology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and related specialties.
• Develop skills in complex patient management through international clinical attachment, providing exposure to global best practices in sleep-disordered breathing management under the supervision of leading experts.

Attachment Objectives

At the end of the attachment, candidates are expected to be able to:

• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the multidisciplinary approach in managing SDB.
• Apply evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic techniques for both adult and paediatric SDB.
• Collaborate effectively with a multidisciplinary team in formulating treatment plans.
• Manage a wide range of treatment modalities, including MADs, TSDs, palatal/maxillary expansion, growth modification/functional appliance therapy, OMT, orthodontic management of MMA cases, etc., in a multidisciplinary approach.
• Assess and monitor patients' progress in SDB treatment and adjust management accordingly.
• Contribute to research in orthodontic sleep medicine.

Program Duration

The fellowship programme is offered for one to two years and emphasizes hands-on training, treatment planning, and interdisciplinary case discussions under direct supervision.