Blog List – Classic
Comprehensive Sleep Bruxism Therapy as related to Sleep Disordered Breathing
Sleep Bruxism is a condition that is receiving a tremendous amount of attention of late in the news. Perhaps as a result of the number of dentists who are providing high level diagnostics using a medical grade sleep bruxism monitor to collect surface EMG data. This kind of objective data has opened the opportunity to improve speed to treat for patient with jaw symptoms. Patients who clench and grind do not all generate pain or present with a jaw pain complaint in fact they may be unaware that t...Read More
Medical reimbursement drives sleep therapy in a new direction
One inescapable conclusion one would have to make about OSA therapy is that CPAP has dominated the scene for over 30 years. The current DME climate has reimbursement so low that it is difficult to get CPAP supplies locally in many areas. Often internet suppliers are the only option. CMS has changed its billing practices many times in the last 3 years resulting in consolidation of care providers and has really begun to affect compliance rates with CPAP. Dr Colin Sullivan the inventor of CPAP had ...Read More
Sleep Disorders- It’s all about Team Communication
The practice of sleep treatment has come to rely on a number of different disciplines to contribute to the treatment of a patient with sleep disordered breathing. The dental community has made great strides as part of the effort to manage this life long disorder. Dr Louis Malcmacher and Dr Slocum in the case presentation below make an excellent case that often the dental team doesn’t know that the practice can provide sleep therapy. In the case below the link between facial aesthetics and ...Read More
Arizona Cardinals and Retired NFL Greats to Attend Americas Largest Public Event for Sleep Apnea and New Sleep Center
Ribbon cutting ArrowHead Sleep Center Date: Tuesday January 26, 2016 Location: 10:00 am ArrowHead Health Centers Glendale, AZ Fundraiser: Time: 7PM until 10 PM Location: Padre Murphys Irish Pub, 4338 W Bell Rd, Glendale, AZ 85308 Sponsors: ArrowHead Pro Sleep, Gergens Orthodontic, Koala Sleep Centers, Redirect Health, ZQuiet, Budweiser, American Sleep and Breathing Academy CHARITIES: Phoenix Police Foundation and 100 Club of Arizona Public Safety Officers Speakers: Az Attorney General, Mark Br...Read More
Disease management the future of OSA and TMD therapy?
Obstructive sleep apnea is a a lifetime disorder that requires the clinical team to plan long term and treat the whole patient. The literature and more importantly medical insurance providers urge careful evaluation of temporomandibular joint as a part of oral appliance clinical work up. I read the following article by Dr. James Fricton, which was previously published in the CDA journal, and I really got excited about his approach. This comprehensive Patient focused program seems to be exactly w...Read More
Consensus on Anterior Discluding Stops for OSA Appliances
(Keith Thornton, Barry Glassman, John Viviano, Jason Tierney, Steve Carstensen, Dan Tache, Harry Ball, Kent Smith, Erin Elliott, Les Priemer, Daniel Klauer, Steve Lamberg, Dennis Marangos, Tony Soileau, Christopher Kelly, Shouresh Charkandeh) The LinkedIn Discussion Group, “SleepDisordersDentistry” has just completed an open discussion on “Anterior Discluding Stop Design, What, Why, When, How and Which… ”. Here is a consensus for all to ponder. What was asked, “Anterior Discluding Stop Design,...Read More
Combination CPAP and OAD is Here to Stay
High Risk Women Age 67 Poor compliance, unmonitored for 5 years Complaint and AHI within normal limits after 4 months with Sleep Treatment Specialists (STS) treatment Case Highlights Chief Complaints: OSA/EDS/Snoring Diagnosed severe OSA 2009 CPAP non compliant/failure Elevated BMI & HPTN Gastric bypass /Septaplasty STS treatment plan with OAD. PAP and positional therapy AHI dropped from 72-3.5 Indicates feeling well and rested Follow up visits Every 3 months Hx: Before Sleep Treatmen...Read More
The DOT’s War on Drowsy Driving
The AAA Foundation for Traffic safety has released a survey with details the warning signs of drowsy driving. “People know that drunk driving is dangerous and [socially] unacceptable, but drowsy driving is a much more gray area. Drivers tend to underestimate its danger and overestimate their ability to deal with it,” says Bruce Hamilton of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, which recently polled more than 2,300 Americans about the issue. Hamilton says AAA researchers estimate drowsy driving ...Read More