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Dr. Steve Carstensen, DDS, is the co-founder of Premier Sleep Associates, a dental practice dedicated to treating obstructive sleep apnea and snoring.
After graduating from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1983, he and his wife, Midge, a dental hygienist, started a private practice of general dentistry in Texas before moving to native Seattle in 1990.
In 1996 he achieved Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentists in recognition of over 3000 hours of advanced education in dentistry, with an increasing amount of time in both practice and classwork devoted to sleep medicine.
A lifelong educator himself, Dr. Steve is currently the Sleep Education Director for The Pankey Institute. As a volunteer leader for the American Dental Association, he was a Program Chairman and General Chairman for the Annual Session, the biggest educational event the Association sponsors. For the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine he’s been a Board Member, Secretary Treasurer, and President-Elect. In 2006 he achieved Certification by the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine.
In 2014, he became the founding Editor-in-Chief of Dental Sleep Practice magazine, a publication for medical professionals treating sleep patients. He is a frequent contributor to webinars and other online education in this field.
Breathing and Airway Support in Pediatric Dentistry
By: Steve Carstensen DDSThis Topic Originally Appeared on PankeyGram.Org. Dr. Carstensen granted permission for igniteDDS to share with…
Airway Dentistry: Making a Difference for Patients’ Wellness
By: Steve Carstensen, DDS This Topic Originally Appeared on PankeyGram.Org. Dr. Carstensen granted permission for igniteDDS to share…
Improving the Quality of Life for Patients with Sleep Apnea
By: Steve Carstensen DDSTopic originally appeared on Pankey.org: Dr. Carstensen allowed permission for igniteDDS to share with…
Beyond the Teeth: Integrating Airway Dentistry Into Everyday Visits
By: DeWitt Wilkerson, DMDThis topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Dr. Wilkerson granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. In my practice, we spend time taking patients’ health history, interviewing them to screen for breathing conditions and behaviors, and examining them for airway disorders. During these portions of our comprehensive preclinical and clinical evaluation,…
The Practice Profitability Playbook
Part 1: Systems Control — The Foundation of a Low-Stress, High-Performing Practice By: Dawn Patrick, Business Strategy Coach, IgniteDDS If you’re like most dental practice owners, your dream is simple: You want your practice to run smoothly, your team to take ownership, and your patients to receive consistently excellent care — without you feeling like the only…
From Clinician to CEO: Part 1
Part 1. Clinical Control: Leading People to Clinical Excellence By: Dr. David Rice Do you want to know how to build a team that diagnoses, treats, and performs just like you — even when you’re not in the room? When most new owners we meet talk about clinical excellence, they’re really talking about clinical skill….
How Many Days Have You Missed?
By: Dr. Eric Recker This past weekend, I got sick. I will spare you the details, but let’s just say that sometimes you go to sleep at night with a high level of confidence that your stomach contents will be leaving before morning. That was my Saturday night. Sunday was followed by serious chills until about…
Professional Development that Actually Works
By: Garrett Wilson Professional development is one of the top five benefits dental professionals are looking for from their employers, according to our research, which surveyed over 1,000 dental professionals across the country. But there’s a catch: development cannot be forced. As a leader, you can’t care about someone’s development more than them. The best…
Achieve Superior Provisionals with Matrix1
By: Kelley Brummett, DMD This topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Dr. Brummett granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. When it comes to delivering provisional molds, precision is paramount. A well-made dental provisional not only ensures patient comfort but also sets the stage for a seamless crown preparation. In my practice, I’ve found that the material used…
Deep Marginal Elevation: What It Is, Why It Matters, & How to Learn the Basics
By: Michael Eid Your first deep marginal elevation (DME) will test every bit of patience you have. The matrix won’t seal, saliva will creep in, and you’ll start questioning why a class 2 is becoming this difficult. But once you understand why you’re doing it and how to do it right, DME becomes one of the…
Gratitude in the Operatory: Finding Joy in the Everyday Practice
By: Dr. Sable Muntean As November rolls in and the holiday season approaches, many of us in the dental profession find ourselves reflecting on what we’re thankful for, in life and in practice. Dentistry can be fast-paced and demanding, but it’s also a career filled with opportunities to touch lives in meaningful ways. Discovering Joy…
Blessing or Curse? The 4 O’Clock Dilemma
By: Ronda Holman It’s 3:55 p.m. on a Thursday. The 4 o’clock patient just canceled. You can almost hear the sighs of relief ripple through the back office—until the dentist pops their head in and says, “Let’s fill that spot with a root canal!” For the doctor, this is a victory. The schedule stays full, production…
Correcting Patients’ F & V Sounds During Restorative Dental Treatment
By: Lee Ann Brady, DMDThis topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.Org. Dr. Brady granted igniteDDS permission to share with our readers. Following on the last article about correcting the S sound, I want to take a look at two other phonetically similar sounds, F and V, that affect our restorative dental treatment results. The good news is that…


