I found that I myself felt tired during the day and had what I perceived to be low energy. ... I also was made aware that I snored loudly. So, as advised, I took a sleep test and found out I had sleep apnea. Dr. Dan Grob: I've heard that you're helping to manage patients who suffer from sleep-disordered breathing. Dr. Devin Croft: Yes-and the important fact is that I'm helping to manage the disease or disorder. It's important to emphasize the fact that dentists are an important part in the management of these patients. DG: How did you become interested in the field and get into practice? DC: I opened my practice in a new office in 2009, before the Great Recession fully took hold. I needed to fill my schedule during the day because in the orthodontic world, the mid- to late day involves intense scheduling demands. There was a large retirement community 15-20 minutes from the office with people who have free time while kids are in school, and don't like 44 to wear CPAPs. The light went on and I decided to add another spoke to the wheel of my practice. DG: What is a CPAP machine? DC: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is a common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. A CPAP machine uses a hose and a mask or nosepiece to deliver constant and steady air pressure to patients while sleeping. Many patients do well with this treatment; however, it is somewhat cumbersome. DG: I can't imagine doing something like this without some insight or training. Certainly this isn't the type of thing taught in dental school or orthodontic programs. DC: I started to take CE classes through Dr. Edward Spiegel about incorporating dental sleep medicine into a dental practice, OCTOBER 2020 // dentaltown.com DT1020_Grob_Croft_Sleep_MM.indd 44 9/18/20 10:08 AMhttp://www.dentaltown.com