Thurs., Nov. 5, 2026
1:00pm – 4:00pm (Lecture)
Room 101-B
Speakers: Kyra Chadbourne, DDS ‘08, D-ABDSM and Michael Y. Nagai, MD, DDS ’10, FACS

Alumni Speaker Series

Recommended for: Everyone

Are you ready to incorporate sleep medicine into your practice but don’t know how? This practical, step-by-step course is your blueprint for successfully integrating sleep medicine into your existing dental workflow. Designed for busy practitioners, this course gives you the tools to effectively implement oral appliance therapy into practice. Move past the theory to gain the actionable strategies and predictable results for your patients.

Course Objectives:

• Highlight how dentists can utilize their expertise and knowledge of the head and neck system to play an important role in identifying and helping manage snoring and obstructive sleep apnea as part of comprehensive patient care.
• Review airway-focused examinations and clinical evaluation techniques used to identify anatomical and functional risk factors associated with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.
• Provide a framework for integrating dental sleep medicine into an existing practice model, including patient identification, physician collaboration, workflow development, and medical insurance considerations.
• Develop a systematic workflow for oral appliance therapy including, bite registration, appliance delivery, titration protocols, management of side effects, and long-term follow-up care.

It is estimated that close to 85 million people (~34%) live with obstructive sleep apnea in the United States. When OSA treatment in the dental office fails or if patients would like to pursue alternative treatment strategies, upper airway stimulation surgery can be a viable alternative, especially in the large percentage of patients unwilling or unable to tolerate CPAP therapy. The most advanced surgical options in management of obstructive sleep apnea will be discussed.

Course Objectives:

• Understand the morbidity of OSA and how it effects dental patients.
• Learn current options for surgical management of OSA.
• Understand how upper airway stimulation works.
• Learn how OSA treatment can be integrated into your dental practice.

Kyra Chadbourne, DDS ‘08, D-ABDSM, the owner of Falmouth Dentistry and Maine Sleep Dentistry is recognized for her expertise in dental sleep medicine, airway-focused care, and oral appliance therapy for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine; a distinction widely regarded as the highest credential in dental sleep medicine.

Dr. Chadbourne earned her degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from Yale University before receiving her DDS from the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, where she was recognized with an International Association for Dental Research Award. She subsequently completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at the University at Buffalo, further strengthening her clinical foundation in comprehensive patient care.

Today, her clinical work focuses on the integration of dental sleep medicine into everyday dental practice through evidence-based, interdisciplinary care. Dr. Chadbourne collaborates closely with physicians and sleep specialists to help patients manage snoring and obstructive sleep apnea through oral appliance therapy and airway-centered treatment approaches. She is particularly passionate about helping dentists successfully implement dental sleep medicine into clinical practice through practical workflows, patient screening protocols, interdisciplinary collaboration, and long-term treatment management.

Dr. Chadbourne lectures to dental and medical audiences on the role the dentist plays in airway health and sleep-disordered breathing, with a focus on the dentist’s role as part of the interdisciplinary sleep medicine team. Her presentations emphasize practical strategies for incorporating dental sleep medicine into clinical practice.

Michael Y. Nagai, MD, DDS ‘10, FACS is from Toronto, Ontario. He completed his dental and medical training at the University at Buffalo and Jacobs School of Medicine, respectively. After completion of his maxillofacial residency, Dr. Nagai pursued advanced fellowship training in head and neck oncologic and reconstructive microsurgery at the University of Maryland and The Greenebaum Cancer Center. He now works within the department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery/Head and Neck Surgery at the Erie County Medical Center as an attending physician. His focus is on pathologic conditions of the head and neck including oral/pharyngeal cancers, skin cancers, salivary gland neoplasms and benign tumors of the craniofacial skeleton. He performs microvascular reconstruction, including free tissue transfer and microsurgical nerve repair. Dr. Nagai also performs sleep apnea surgery including implantation of upper airway stimulation devices. He has authored numerous peer reviewed articles and book chapters and maintains involvement with resident education. Dr. Nagai holds appointments in the University at Buffalo’s department of Plastic Surgery, Otolaryngology and General Surgery.

Drs. Chadbourne and Nagai (or an immediate family member) are not associated with, employed by, nor consult for any manufacturer, supplier, or retailer of dental instruments or materials.

The University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, Office of Alumni Relations and Professional Engagement designates this activity for 3 continuing education credits.