American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine

November 21-22, 2025

We are excited to announce "Changing Minds," our first-ever hybrid event, combining both virtual and live participation options.

Recognizing the growing scientific understanding of the neurological factors in sleep physiology, the American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine (ABCDSM) is dedicated to keeping our community at the forefront of this knowledge. Our goal is to help providers understand and address the neural circuits that play a crucial role in various aspects of human function and physiology.

This meeting is specifically designed to highlight how a more profound understanding of wellness aspects, particularly those influenced by the modulation of trigeminal neural circuits, can potentially enhance the outcomes of current therapies. We will explore the role of these circuits in both the etiology of sleep apnea and wakefulness.

Through the collaborative efforts of the ABCDSM and The Synergy Academy, we aim to create a unique opportunity to connect our professional communities and providers from around the globe. Together, we can advance our shared goal of improving access to information that has the potential to reshape our understanding and practices

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Gabor Maté

Dr. Gabor Mate will be discussing the role of adverse childhood events in the neurodevelopmental aspects of human wellness. His speaking topic will be "When the Body Says No".

Gabor Maté (pronunciation: GAH-bor MAH-tay) is a retired physician who, after 20 years of family practice and palliative care experience, worked for over a decade in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side with patients challenged by drug addiction and mental illness. The bestselling author of five books published in 43 languages, including the award-winning In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction, Gabor is an internationally renowned speaker highly sought after for his expertise on addiction, trauma, childhood development, and the relationship of stress and illness. For his groundbreaking medical work and writing he has been awarded the Order of Canada, his country’s highest civilian distinction, and the Civic Merit Award from his hometown, Vancouver. His latest book, The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture remains a Canadian best seller and was a 19-week New York Times best seller. To learn more, join his e-news list at www.drgabormate.com.

Additional speakers and topics

For more information about the Changing Minds meeting, please visit www.changingminds.health or click on the link below.

Dr. Angie Tenholder is currently serving as the President of the ABCDSM. Her presentation will be connecting the dots between the traditional aspects of dental sleep medicine and the emerging science related to the role of neural circuits, neuromodulation and neuroplasticity in human physiology, airway function and overall wellness.

Dr. Stacy Becker is a founding member of the ASAP Pathway and passionate advocate for addressing the lifelong consequences of pediatric sleep disordered breathing. She will be sharing her knowledge as well as experiences with interviewing some of the most innovative thought leaders in the world of dental sleep medicine in her podcast series.

Kristie Gatto MA, SLP-CCC, COM is an author, leader and instructor in the field of orofacial myofunctional therapy. Her presentation will be exploring the functional aspects of the swallow as a neuroreflexive system that is influenced by more than just a series of exercises based on repetition and compliance. Her presentation will explore the current limitations of orofacial myofunctional therapy while exploring the opportunities provided through a deeper understanding of the role of the neural circuits of the swallow.

Learn more

The Value of Credentialing and COmmunity

Professional recognition

Independent testing is the most acknowledged and accepted format for validating knowledge, skills and proficiency. And it becomes especially important whenever a dentist chooses to limit his or her practice to a specific and complex, yet highly rewarding, area of dentistry such as Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine.

Numerous studies have shown that board-certified doctors provide higher quality care and achieve better treatment outcomes for their patients than doctors who are not board certified. The ABCDSM Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine credentialing program is gaining widespread recognition as "the gold standard" for dentists who are focusing all or a portion of their practices in this area of dentistry.

Participation in the ABCDSM credentialing program assures patients that the dentists who are managing their care have achieved a level of excellence