Author: Michael Kelley

 Dental Sleep Coordinator Specialist “Certification” Course Due to high demand and overwhelming positive feedback from the first ASBA/SGS Boot Camp held in Phoenix, AZ in December 2017, the ASBA will be including a special Dental Sleep Coordinator Specialist “Certification” Course at Sleep and Wellness 2018. This will be a separate one-day course at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas dedicated to increasing “take-home” value to the practice. This is a MUST ATTEND for the staff member(s).   Register at SLEEP-CONFERENCE.COM and select “Add a Staff Member” to receive admission to the boot camp. Course Description: Become an integral part of the interdisciplinary dental sleep medicine team This course is designed for the dental office auxiliary and clinical team members Do you know that 80-90% of adults with OSA remain undiagnosed?  Or that 1 in 4 of your patients is already suffering from OSA?  Or that over 50% of children diagnosed with ADHD suffer from sleep apnea?  Do you know about the ASBA-approved alternatives to CPAP?  Most importantly, do you know that as a clinical staff member, you are in a unique position to recognize the signs and symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) because of the time you spend with each patient on a regular basis. The ASBA Sleep Specialist Certificate in Dental Sleep Medicine for the RDH/Clinical Team gives you the knowledge you need to add value to your licensure and the practice where you work! This Boot Camp, in association with SGS, is built around supporting dental team members involved in DSM screening and treatment. The program will provide a hands-on training dedicated to their particular roles in snoring and sleep apnea screening and treatment, as well as oral appliance therapy. The program will focus on patient care, team coordination, case creation and presentation, marketing, insurance billing and collections and will provide the necessary educational requirements to achieve Dental Sleep Coordinator Specialist “Certification“.   Register at SLEEP-CONFERENCE.COM and select “Add a Staff Member” to receive admission to the boot camp.   Taught by Certified Sleep Coordinator Specialist Rebecca Layhe has worked in the medical field for over 20 years.  She has experience in dental and medical practice management, as well as in medical billing, coding, transcription, and is a medical language specialist. She has extensive marketing experience and has worked recently developing the leading dental sleep medicine practice in Arkansas.   She has a passion for education and marketing, lecturing regularly on the role of Dental Sleep Medicine in the treatment of sleep apnea. Rebecca’s experience in the medical and dental fields allows her to understand the intricacies of integrating medical therapies and billing into the dental practice.  As the leading dental sleep medicine consultant in Arkansas, she has a balanced understanding of business management, team building, and sleep medicine practice development. Rebecca is passionate about whole patient care and understands that sleep apnea has become one of our nation’s leading health crises.  Dental medicine and Sleep medicine work beautifully together to help save lives and improve the health and well-being of our patients.

Infants born preterm have significantly lower nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal volumes, compared with newborn peers carried to full term, and those lower airway volumes are independent of the infants’ gender, ethnicity or weight, according to a study published online Dec. 16, 2017 in Clinical Imaging.   Story published on Science Daily Materials provided by Children’s National Health System Journal Reference: Clinical Imaging

Proper Sleep is More Than a Curfew Football players are used to strict curfew guidelines, largely designed to ensure the proper amount of sleep. And yet, lying in bed with eyes closed does not necessarily lead to clinically proper sleep. In some situations, it can be quite the opposite. The story of defensive end Reggie White, in particular, has become a cautionary tale on the hazards of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a disorder characterized by complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway. At the time of his retirement in 2000, the 6-ft 5-inch “minister of defense” had 198 sacks, the most in the history of the game (since eclipsed by Bruce Smith’s 200 sacks). When White died at the age of 43 in 2004, the official cause of death was cardiac issues, with OSA listed as a contributor. White’s wife cared about the topic so deeply that she helped start the Reggie White Sleep Disorders Research and Education Foundation after her husband’s death. During OSA episodes, shallow or paused breathing can lead to reduced blood oxygen saturation, which is measured as an apnea hypopnea index (AHI) during sleep tests. Physicians agree that a high AHI degrades organ function over time, which can eventually contribute to premature death. Reduced energy during the day is another obvious result of poor sleep. Those with high AHI numbers are literally waking up several times per hour, making restorative sleep impossible. The goal of sleep apnea treatment is to reduce the AHI number to single digits, or even zero. For current players, sleep apnea can translate into poor performance on the field, which could lead to less money on the next contract, not to mention a less healthy body. “Consider that NFL players seek out every edge they can to capitalize on what amounts to short and lucrative careers,” says David Gergen, CEO of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy (ASBA). “Proper sleep, and avoiding OSA, should be top of mind for current NFL players who are looking to improve their health and better their performance on the field.” Meanwhile, many ex players who used to throw around their weight to great effect on the field, are often obese after retirement. “Some of those linemen at over 300 pounds stop playing and they have a very high incidence of sleep apnea,” says Harry Sugg, DDS, owner of Dallas-based Wheatland Dental, and a dentist at Project Rose in Tyler, Texas. “When a player’s athletic career ends, the level of exercise is reduced dramatically while caloric intake often remains high,” adds Andre Collins, executive director of the Professional Athletes Foundation and NFLPA director of Former Players. “This could lead to obesity, along with other serious comorbidities.”   Your Mind, Your Body, Your Health The NFLPA family has long provided its members (via its Your Mind, Your Body, Your Health program) with the tools to address football-, and non-football-related health concerns. Much like the growing awareness surrounding brain trauma and its long-term effects, the problem of poor sleep is gaining traction in the public eye. Thanks partly to ASBA (in conjunction with Pro Player Health Alliance [PPHA]) events that work closely with current and retired NFL players, members of the public are paying attention because their gridiron heroes are willing to talk about the problems of poor sleep. Players are eager to talk about OSA because they see the benefits of oral appliance therapy (OAT), particularly OAT that involves the Herbst Appliance. Effective on chronic snoring and mild to moderate OSA sufferers, the appliance allows patients to move laterally and vertically without disengaging the appliance, and very few adjustments are required. The hard acrylic of the Herbst appliance snaps into place, and when requested, retention clasps can be added and adjusted with telescopic hardware. The Sleep Herbst can be fabricated in hard acrylic, thermo active, or soft/hard materials. Gergen’s Lab and Space Maintainers Lab were the only two labs in 2012 to be Medicare cleared to fabricate these devices, but more labs across the United States are applying for and gaining clearance. The ASBA’s mission is firmly in line with the NFLPA’s own stated goal to tell real stories and “equip our current and former members and their families with the knowledge needed to tackle tough subjects…and live the healthiest life possible.” Super Bowl Champion and All Pro offensive lineman, Derek Kennard, went a long way toward living a healthier life when OSA treatment lowered his AHI from 72 to 2. He used some of the extra energy from radically improved slumber to work out more often, eventually losing a whopping 145 pounds. All pro and two time MVP runner up, Roy Green, who started at wide receiver most of his career and for a few years started both sides of the ball, had three heart attacks and two strokes before being treated with an oral appliance for OSA. Since beginning the treatment, he has had no further heart attacks or strokes. With an AHI that went from 32 to 7 since using the Herbst Appliance, the 60-year-old Green says he feels better than he has in decades. Green and Gergen have spread the word about OSA through the ASBA-affiliated Pro Player Health Alliance, holding free public awareness events in cities across the United States. Green’s extensive connections, along with his involvement in PPHA, has brought hundreds of former players, and countless NFL fans, to try much-needed OSA treatment. Additional NFL Players Who Benefitted from OSA Treatment Legendary running back Eric Dickerson played the bruising position for a decade, and for years woke up with morning headaches, while also feeling tired during the day. After being treated with an oral appliance, his AHI went from 26 to 4. His bite was vertically restored by the combined treatment of Dr. Harry Sugg and Dr. Rebecca Lauck in Dallas, TX The morning headaches went away, and his energy returned.   Lance Smith, an 11-year pro (offensive line), significantly lowered his AHI and lost more than 100 pounds on his 6-ft, 3-inch frame.   Billy Thompson, a 12-year pro defensive back who played his entire career with the Denver Broncos, had central apneas, which are more difficult to remedy. In his case, an oral appliance was not suitable. “By putting the patient first through the program,” says David Gergen, “we were able to get him started on the best path. He was treated with diet and exercise and is now doing fine. He has since become a huge supporter of the NFLPA and the sleep program.”   Eleven-year pro Karl Mecklenburg, a linebacker with the Denver Broncos, cut his AHI from 17 to 1, and his wife is “happier than ever” now that he does not snore.   The program’s roots began forming when David Gergen was invited to a coaching camp where former NFL players would be at different football positions helping youth develop their skills in that particular area (lineman, wide receivers, running backs, quarterbacks, defensive backs etc.). David, a state champion head football coach, was chosen to help develop the coaches of youth football teams. He saw Derek Kennard one morning and came to the conclusion that he must have been drinking all night or he had terrible sleep apnea. He then proceeded by getting Derek treated for sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy and during Derek’s treatment, Derek’s brother died from sleep apnea caused issues. Derek became passionate about it and worked with David Gergen to spread the word to his “NFL brothers”. It was after this that the sleep apnea awareness began spreading through the former NFL player community. Mike Haynes, who is passionate about former player health after defeating prostate cancer, joined the team and began spreading awareness as well. It wasn’t long after that, David Gergen was then introduced to Dr. Archie Roberts (Founder of Living Heart Foundation). Dr. Roberts has been in charge of the Living Heart Foundation health screenings for former players nationwide for many years. Health evaluations for the players named above began with the Living Heart Foundation’s HOPE Program that was launched in 2012. Roberts added the sleep component after meeting with Gergen, CEO of the Gergen’s Sleep Appliance Lab and PPHA. After treating many of the players across the country and proving through data from sleep tests, Mike Haynes and David Gergen presented the information to Andre Collins (Executive Director in the NFLPA) and together they created the Sleep Apnea Program for Former NFL Players through the “Player Athletes Foundation”. It was eventually made mandatory that doctors be trained through the ASBA to ensure the best OSA treatment for former players. A newly implemented “sleep coordinator course” mandates that at least one member of the doctor’s staff be certified in sleep with special training. Current and former players who take Your Mind, Your Body, Your Health to heart should not overlook the vital component of proper sleep in a healthy lifestyle. If you are interested in learning more about the sleep program, contact David Gergen at 602-478-9713.  

Fortunately, advancing technology has allowed for more effective treatment options. The CPAP, Continuous positive airway pressure, is a form of positive airway pressure ventilator, which applies mild air pressure on a continuous basis to keep the airways continuously open. It is the most publicly well-known treatment option, but most patients stop using it for numerous reasons and are CPAP-intolerant. The FDA recently approved a new kind of treatment option for those patients suffering… To read more, visit HuffingtonPost.com

On December 8, 2017 David Gergen, CEO of Pro Player Health Alliance (PPHA) and the American Sleep and Breathing Academy (ASBA), was invited to a meeting organized by the NFLPA L.A. Chapter and its President, Frank Rice. The meeting was held at Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood, California, just southwest of Los Angeles. Former NFL great and U.S. Olympian Ron Brown said, “This was one of the best turnouts we have seen at our chapter meetings in a long time.” According to other players in attendance, there were excellent reasons for that outcome: included in the meeting topics were sleep apnea treatments and dental benefits for retired NFL players. David Gergen mentioned, “Frank invited me to his meeting because of my previous experiences with helping the former players across the country. I invited two of the ASBA’s Diplomates who are already treating some of the former players for their sleep apnea needs, Dr. Dian Olah and Dr. Alex Kalmanovich, to the meeting.” The meeting room was packed full with former players including Mike Haynes, who currently serves on the Board of the Greater Good Fund. Mike spoke about the dental benefits the players receive through the Greater Good Fund and touched on his experience being treated with sleep apnea. “I had fewer than ten apneic episodes an hour, but I hear of so many guys who have 40, 50 or more an hour. I have my appliance and it’s made a huge difference in my quality of sleep. You need to get yours too,” he explained to the group. After Mike Haynes spoke, the Dream Team was presented on the stage. Many think of the Dream Team as the 1992 U.S. Olympic Basketball team but in this case it was Dr. Dian Olah and her staff. Dr. Olah’s practice, The Dream Team Sleep Center, has been the go-to office for many of the former players in the Beverly Hills and surrounding area for the past year. She was able to explain the short version of sleep apnea treatment for the players. “We can give you a very simple written screener form to see if you are at high risk of having sleep apnea and if you are, we can give you a take home test. The take home test is a small device that will record data during the night, in your own bed, and is used to verify if you have sleep apnea or not.” Overall, the players were happy with the outcome of the event. Each and every person expressed the importance of having Dr. Olah and Dr. Kalmanovich in attendance. One former player said, “It’s always nice knowing that your doctor really cares about you. That means a lot seeing Dr. Kalmanovich and Dr. Olah here in person on their night off. Those are the doctors we’re going to see.”  

November 20, 2017 saw Pro Player Health Alliance (PPHA) host another of their sleep apnea awareness events. This time it was at the office of Dr. Steve Wilk, DDS. Dr. Wilk had previously attended a Living Heart Foundation screening at Centura Hospital that had approximately 60 former NFL players get screened for sleep disorders. The event was so successful, some of the players agreed to return and share their testimonies at Dr. Wilk’s public awareness event at The Viewhouse. It was incredibly rewarding meeting people who truly needed care with their sleep apnea come to our event. Some also brought cards and photos for the players to sign. Everyone had a great time and Dr. Wilk used the event to reach out to members of the local community who are seeking treatment for their OSA. David Gergen, CEO of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy (ASBA), Pro Player Health Alliance (PPHA) and Gergen’s Orthodontic Lab, flew out to Denver, CO for a 3rd time on behalf of the former players. “ESPN and NBC were there to cover the event, and it is working well, while also getting better each and every time. I’m excited for our next event.” says Gergen. He and Dr. Wilk’s Denver Sleep Apnea Center team greeted the former NFL players and current Broncos lineman Billy Turner who gathered to learn about the dental and sleep benefits they receive from the time they spent playing football in the NFL. “Back in the day, these players were really beat up,” said Wilk. “These are really big men, and while we hear about concussions now, they have a lot of other health issues.” Wilk, who is a Diplomate of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy, has been called a “life-saver” by his patients. With over 2800 hours of continued education and decades of experience in treating patients for sleep, TMD and dentistry, Dr. Wilk is one of the country’s most experienced and educated dentists. After becoming involved in the Denver area with Pro Player Health Alliance and treating the retired NFL players for dental and sleep apnea needs, one of the players joked, “Word has quickly spread with how friendly and efficient Dr. Wilk and team are; now he’s starting to get fans of his own.” To learn more about the ASBA, membership, diplomacy or future events, email info@myasba.com or call 602-478-9713.  

Ensuring proper rest for its marquee players has been one of the most pervasive issues affecting the NBA the last several seasons, prompting a lengthening of the schedule and a reduction in games on back-to-back nights and the elimination of stretches with four games in five nights. While that league-wide initiative will aid every team’s recovery this season, the Chicago Bulls are among the organizations adding layers of player monitoring…   To read more, visit Sport Techie.

December 1-2, marked the first Sleep Coordinator Boot Camp with the American Sleep and Breathing Academy and Sleep Group Solutions working together to bring a two day course geared entirely towards giving staff members the keys to succeed in a dental sleep practice. Rebecca Layhe brought energy and excitement to the course as she presented to over 40 dental team members. She has worked in the medical field for over 20 years.  She has experience in dental and medical practice management, as well as in medical billing, coding, transcription, and is a medical language specialist.  The Sleep Group Solutions/ASBA Boot Camp is built around supporting dental team members involved in DSM screening and treatment. The program provides a two-day, hands-on training dedicated to their particular roles in snoring and sleep apnea screening and treatment, as well as oral appliance therapy. The two-day program focuses on patient care, team coordination, case creation and presentation, marketing, insurance billing and collections. For only $295, sending your staff to this course is a no-brainer; the amount of productivity it will bring to your office is priceless. To find out more or how you can register for the next ASBA/Sleep Group Solutions Sleep Coordinator Boot Camp, email skylar@myasba.com.