Open AirWaves Episode 4: Positional Sleep Therapy: A Military Dentist’s Mission to Improve OAT Efficacy-Open AirWaves Episode 4 (Video)

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this episode of the Open Airwaves podcast, Dr. Tanya DeSanto converses with Colonel Philip Neal, an Army dentist focused on improving sleep health for military personnel. Dr. Neal's initiatives in dental sleep medicine (DSM) have significantly transformed the management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the military, increasing oral appliance delivery from fewer than 3 per month in 2015 to over 3,500 annually by 2022. He has been instrumental in developing a DSM course leading to over 1,100 trained providers and co-authoring clinical guidelines for OSA management tailored to military needs.<br /><br />Dr. Neal's comprehensive military experience, both as an enlisted member and as a dental officer, has fueled his commitment to mitigating sleep-related issues, including reducing veteran suicide rates and enhancing cognitive functions among soldiers. By bringing key experts together and employing techniques like positional therapy to augment mandibular advancement devices, he has refined care methodologies to uphold soldiers’ operational readiness and mental health.<br /><br />He emphasizes the importance of precise and comfortable sleeping positions, arguing that positional therapy significantly enhances respiratory and cognitive outcomes. Dr. Neal's protocol includes meticulous positioning from head to toe, ensuring comfort and stability, thereby supporting better sleep quality and breathing capability. His training promotes self-awareness, facilitating quicker sleep onset and reducing insomnia-associated arousals through mindfulness-based strategies.<br /><br />As he prepares for military retirement, Dr. Neal aims to continue championing veteran and family support, underscoring the synergy between physical and mental health in achieving well-rounded care for service members.

Keywords

sleep health

military personnel

dental sleep medicine

obstructive sleep apnea

oral appliance delivery

DSM course

positional therapy

veteran support

cognitive functions

mindfulness strategies