If there are anyone’s coattails I’ve ever wanted to hang on to, it’s Dr. Steve Carstensen’s. As brave and mighty thought-leader in the contemporary insurgence towards airway health, Steve takes no prisoners! His passion for this work is a marvel to watch. You see, we’ve all met people in this world who truly believe they can make a difference in today’s abysmal health trajectory—the difference is, Steve is actually doing it!

Very simply put, Steve Carstensen is a wealth of information and an incredible teacher. One of the many things I appreciate about Steve is he knows how to make the study and implementation of sleep easy to understand. Steve is outstanding at taking all of the “academia” of sleep and teaching it in a practical way where you can utilize it in the everyday practice of Dental Sleep Medicine. He has facilitated a lot of my path in the treatment of patients with sleep disorders and I will forever be thankful for his help.

Dr. Carstensen is leading the movement in Airway Health on so many levels, the most recent is in leading the charge for educating Dentists in the screening and intervention of children with airway health issues. The awareness and education that Dr. Carstensen is bringing to the attention of major organizations, dental practitioners, and the public are unprecedented. Dr. Carstensen is changing the world…one better breathing and sleeping child at a time.

I have known Steve for over 15 years. I have witnessed Steve working tirelessly to get the word out and encourage others to aid in identifying and caring for those affected by this epidemic. His work in the arenas of education, dispersing knowledge through scientific Journals and advocacy at the level of the American Dental Association and other regulatory organization is commendable. Steve is a remarkable kind gentleman as well as humble humanitarian always willing to assist in any way he can.

While Steve does not actually provide intervention for young children who have poorly developed jaws and associated sleep and breathing problems, he understands that they might someday indeed grow into teenagers and adults, whom he does treat, with sleep, breathing and associated dental problems. His nationally recognized advocacy for children’s airway health as being a vital component to oral and systemic wellness, has already led to major policy changes which are impacting attitudes of allied pediatric health professionals, and the multitudes of affected children whom we all serve.

As the DSM course director at the UDM School of Dentistry and Lead Clinical Faculty at ProSomnus Sleep technologies I have the opportunity to see, hear and experience the full breadth of continuing dental education offerings and presenters. Steve’s depth of knowledge and ability to transpose studies and data into digestible learning units, is second to none. Although he is elite at treating and teaching dental sleep medicine, Steve is wonderfully approachable in these facilitative environments. I have learned so much from him over the past 30 years. You will be advantaged by engaging his wit, character and expertise in any live, virtual or hands-on learning opportunity.

Steve’s contributions to society are so numerous because his heart is made of gold and his mind is that of a humble genius. Steve’s ability to effect real change comes from a place of pure passion, curiosity, patience, unbridled enthusiasm and seemingly unending amounts of energy. Steve is a connector of people and ideas; a true influencer and change-maker. It is not an overstatement to say that organized dentistry and the airway dental movement would NOT be what is, and what it is evolving into to, without Steve’s influence and work. The contributions that he has made to his patients, to his peers, to the profession of dentistry and to humanity in general have been transcendent and invaluable.

Dr. Carstensen is the leading educator in the nation in all things dental sleep related. I have had the pleasure of attending many of his courses or courses he has organized. His passion and commitment to education especially for children’s health and sleep is unparalleled. He not only is a great presenter and educator but also a resource and mentor. Whenever I have a question or need help I know I can reach out to Dr. Steve and he will happily help me in any way he can. In the world of education, his skills and passion are incomparable.

I have known Steve from the Pankey Institute for over 30 years. He was an outstanding lecturer on restorative dentistry and has become a real leader in the field of sleep dentistry, both lecturing and participating as an advocate with organized dentistry. His lecturing is superb with both clinical and practice management expertise. He is the point person for the American Dental Association and is responsible for the ADA’s position on sleep dentistry for both adults and children. He is a delightful, and caring person and is very helpful to participants in his CE classes, both the beginner and expert. I couldn’t recommend him more highly.

As the Co-Founder and Managing Director of The Breathe Institute, it has been an honor to serve on the Board alongside Dr. Steve Carstensen who continues to make me grateful for his collaboration as a colleague. His knowledge, altruism and dedication to spreading education for healthcare professionals and the public about sleep and airway health is truly admirable. -- Wishing you the best of health,