Stephen M. Brand, DDS
Dr. Brand was always interested in the biological sciences, but made the decision to become a dentist because of the encouragement and support he received from his own dentist. After graduating from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in 1968, Dr. Brand served two years as a Captain in the US Army at Fort Benning, GA. “That assignment was very beneficial for me because I was not only able to do general dentistry, I was also able to treat patients in the oral surgery, periodontic and prosthodontic departments,” he says.
He went into private practice in 1970, and has served the Westminster, MD area for more than 40 years. “I am now treating the children and grandchildren of some of my long-time patients. I love the interpersonal relationships I’ve built with my patients and their families,” he says. The relationships he’s built with his staff are very important to him, too, and he says that’s what sets Dental One Associates of Westminster apart. Most of his hygienic and support staff have been with him for 15 or more years, and he has worked with Alexander Chung, DDS, for 25 years. “We have all worked together and supported each other for a very long time,” he says.
In addition to seeing patients, Dr. Brand serves as the clinical director for the Dental One Associates group in Maryland. He mentors other general dentists and establishes clinical protocols, but he sees his main responsibility as being a patient advocate and assessing how his fellow dentists and staff can better serve their patients. “I really enjoy educating patients and helping them understand the need for the treatment plans we recommend,” he explains. To that end, he has recently added a new area of care, the dental treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), to his practice.
OSA is a life-threatening sleep disorder that affects millions of Americans. If left untreated, it can be linked to congestive heart failure, stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, depression, diabetes, excessive fatigue and memory loss. Dental sleep apnea treatment is a relatively new alternative that uses an oral appliance to gently push the lower jaw forward to prevent airway collapse. The appliance allows the patient to breathe easily and continuously, significantly reducing the number of apneas and improving the quality of sleep.
Dr. Brand was intrigued by the opportunity to offer patients a new treatment that improves the overall health and quality of their lives. “After 40 years in dental practice, taking on a new challenge that has such a high expectation of helping people feel better and live longer is reenergizing,” he says. Since beginning to treat sleep apnea in 2010, Dr. Brand has already had many successes. He describes one patient who was having 53 apneas, or pauses in breathing, an hour. She never got a good night’s sleep and frequently fell asleep in meetings at work and even while driving. “She felt terrible, but she refused to use her CPAP machine,” he says. After Dr. Brand made her an oral appliance, her apneas were reduced to 14 an hour. Within two days, she was sleeping through the night. “The look on her face when she came in for the follow up was great. Seeing this kind of success with a new treatment is very exciting,” Dr. Brand says.
His other success stories with dental sleep apnea treatment include a patient whose wife no longer shared the bedroom with him because of his loud snoring and gasping. After his first night with the oral appliance, she began sleeping in the bedroom again. Another patient sought out the oral appliance as an alternative to the CPAP machine. “She is traveling to Africa for a two-year long mission trip and can’t take the machine,” Dr. Brand says. “The oral appliance is a convenient and effective alternative.”
As intrigued as he is with this new treatment, Dr. Brand hasn’t stopped enjoying providing patients with general and cosmetic dentistry, “Of course,” he says, “it’s still fun to improve someone’s smile and see the difference that makes in their confidence.”
When not in the office, Dr. Brand enjoys the camaraderie of his friends and the scenery of the outdoors he finds on the golf course. He also enjoys pen & Ink drawing and horseback riding.
Education:
University of Maryland, College Park, MD; Bachelor of Science, 1963
University of Maryland Dental School, Baltimore, MD; Doctor of Dental Science, 1968
Dental Area of Focus:
General Dentistry with special interest in Implants, Cosmetics and Sleep Apnea
Notable Achievements, Certifications, Recognitions:
Outstanding Leader and Dental Provider, Carroll County Chamber of Commerce 150th Anniversary
Associations and Organizations:
American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Volunteer/Community Involvement:
Carroll County Head Start
Staff member, Carroll County General Hospital
Consultant, Pediatric Dental Clinic at the Hospital
