Author: Michael Kelley

When you decide to attend a dental sleep educational course, where do you begin? You have to know who you’re learning from, credentials/experience of the organization and its speakers, and the method of instruction that will provide you with the desired outcome. At the American sleep (ASBA) Study Club you will be educated from A-Z on how to build a million-dollar practice, from experts who are actually doing it in the industry, and who have created successful business models in various markets. This learning experience is in an elite and non-vendor atmosphere, where practitioners who have built million-dollar practices will offer their combined experience in dental sleep medicine at an up-close, hands-on learning environment. The ASBA Study Club isn’t a traditional lecture with speakers and presentations; it is a Q&A with real material, case studies and collaboration at a location where you aren’t being bombarded by salesmen. You will return home with skills and knowledge you can apply to your practice, not another piece of equipment or subscription to something you won’t be using in a month. These mini-conferences are unique, very affordable, 100%-nonprofit events designed to help ASBA members and potential members enjoy continued prosperity & growth. Many have left the conference saying that it was the most vital, essential & powerful dental sleep learning event they’ve ever attended.  We feature Doctors from a wide range of markets who will share insight with you on how to grow your dental sleep practice. Hear accounts from real ASBA members! Learn from their successes at our Study Club! Join us in Phoenix, AZ on August 11-12, 2017 for the next ASBA study club by registering now as spots are limited!   Event Details: Pointe Hilton – Squaw Peak Resort August 11-12, 2017 Course Fee: $1,500 Breakfast/Lunch Included   For more information/registration call 602-478-9713 or email david@myasba.com  

The American Sleep and Breathing Academy (ASBA) continues to forge new ground in dental sleep medicine.     David Gergen and the team will be in Dallas, TX on May 17, 2017 to meet with executives overseeing a hospital chain made up of 16 hospitals regarding a groundbreaking program in sleep dentistry. In addition, the meeting will include NFL Hall of Fame running back and “Prince of Texas” Earl Campbell who will be involved in doing advertisements for the program. The hospitals are now going to, when medically indicated, send for oral appliance therapy (OAT) as the first line of defense in treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The program, which will be operated by Pro Player Health Alliance (PPHA) and the ASBA, is going to integrate sleep dentists into hospitals. The only sleep dentists allowed to be included in the program by the hospitals will be ASBA members due to the higher standards of excellence that is a direct result of ASBA training. A key component of the program is the process which the dentists will be paid – the hospitals will bill insurance on behalf of the dentists to ensure higher reimbursements. This is another reason why ASBA members will become the top sleep dentists of the country in coming years. For more information, email David Gergen at gxployer@aol.com or call at 602-478-9713.

On Jan 3, 2017, a sleep apnea public awareness event took place at ViewHouse Eatery, Bar & Rooftop located South of Denver in Centennial. At a star studded event that saw the likes of Roy Green, Chuck Foreman, Eric Dickerson, Derek Kennard, Karl Mecklenburg and Earl Campbell all in attendance to support Pro Player Health Alliance (PPHA), PPHA CEO David Gergen American Sleep and Breathing Academy (ASBA) Diplomate Dr. Steve Wilk were the stars of the show. Derek Kennard said, “David Gergen does a great job bringing awareness to the players, and doc saves our lives. They are the real MVPs.” It’s now summer, and David Gergen is back in Colorado planning Dr. Wilk’s second awareness event. “January’s event was rewarding seeing people who truly needed care with their sleep apnea come out, not to mention everyone who attended brought cards and photos for the players to sign. Everyone had a great time and Dr. Wilk was able to reach out to a number of locals who sought treatment for their obstructive sleep apnea.  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. David Gergen coordinates 5-6 public sleep apnea awareness events with ASBA doctors a year nationwide. For more information on how you can become involved in reaching out to your local community with such an event, contact David Gergen at 602-478-9713.

The American Sleep and Breathing Academy’s (ASBA) concluded a very successful 6th annual meeting April 21-22 in Phoenix AZ. This year’s highly anticipated conference, exceeded expectations, with a record number of registrations, as well as a very strong speaker program the conference garnered fantastic reviews from attendees, exhibitors and other industry professionals who attended. Next year’s conference scheduled for April  13-14, 2018 is expected to draw over 500 attendees. The Sleep and Wellness Conference 2017 exhibitors’ feedback was “overall a huge success”, which in turn has lead to 33 out of the 48 available spots being reserved for 2018. Sleep Group Solutions’ CEO, Rani Bendavid, was thrilled to be able to attend the meeting. Rani Bendavid said, “We sold more product at this meeting than any previous meeting.” “The 15 booths we still have open to exhibitors will go by the end of the month. It’s a good idea to reserve your spot as soon as possible,” says Gergen. Reservations for spots in the exhibitor hall can be made by emailing David Gergen at david@myasba.com or Alan Hickey at alan@myasba.com. View photos from Sleep and Wellness Conference 2017 by clicking here.

It is a known fact that oxygen is a basic human need for physical survival and while suffocation is the result when an individual completely lacks air, dangerous conditions occur as a result of low oxygen over an extended amount of time. Normal blood oxygen levels are approximately 85mm Hg. Hypoxemia is a condition of deficient oxygen levels in the blood (oxygen desaturation as low as 60mm Hg) , which can cause hypoxia – a low amount of oxygen that is able to reach the cells and tissues. Some symptoms of hypoxia are:   To read more of the ASBA Diplomate and Board Member Dr. Elliott Alpher’s Huffington Post Blog, click here:

The American Sleep and Breathing Academy’s (ASBA) concluded a very successful 6th annual meeting April 21-22 in Phoenix AZ. This year’s highly anticipated conference, exceeded expectations, with a record number of registrations, as well as a very strong speaker program the conference garnered fantastic reviews from attendees, exhibitors and other industry professionals who attended. The conference began Thursday, April 20, with a full day review course for candidates preparing for the board exam. Dr. Kevin Mueller, a professor at Midwestern University, was lead instructor for dentists preparing to sit the American Board of Sleep and Breathing’s (ABSB) Diplomate Exam, the following Sunday, April 23rd. The review course is considered by previous participants as a must-attend. The ABSB exists to administer a certification program to dentists in dental sleep medicine which is a process that enables them with a higher level of training and certification to treat more patients with oral appliance therapy and positional therapy, in an efficient and cost effective manner as possible. On the Friday, Congressman Marty Russo, a returning keynote speaker, launched the meeting in the main lecture hall with a compelling presentation about making the case for oral appliance therapy with local government and educating the public about sleep apnea. Megan Cheever explained navigation of medical billing for dentists treating OSA, Dr. Richard Bonato proved compliance in custom oral devices, Cindy White reviewed Medicare requirements for sleep medicine, Attorney General Mark Brnovich and Secretary of Transportation for Highway Safety Alberto Gutier showed sleep apnea as a priority for state government and highway safety, John Nadeau revealed a protocol for reducing time and achieving optimal oral appliance outcomes and Dr. Larry Tilley co-presented with Dr. Bryan Keropian on sleep disorders and the dental patient. Friday concluded with a cocktail mixer including networking with NFL legends and an open bar provided by the ASBA. Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Champion, Derek Kennard, said, “I love coming to the ASBA meetings. Every doctor I meet is friendly and willing to help. I always learn something new I can take to my football brothers that really help our quality of life immensely. And I can’t forget to mention the cocktail receptions are a blast every time! The guys and I love hearing stories when we mingle with the crowd. And yes, we do sign autographs because the doc’s coming to the meeting to be educated on how to better help their patients’ health are the real MVP’s.” Saturday, ASBA President Dr. Kent Smith provided his thorough knowledge of working with physicians and establishing yourself as a dental sleep expert. Dr. Paul Van Walleghem explained how credentialing works and what becoming board certified means for the dental sleep medical model. Dr. Neal Seltzer and Gina Pepitone spoke on building the dental sleep dream team and what percent of the practice should be sleep. Dr. Richard Klein displayed TMD and its relation to OSA. Dr. David Singh “wowed” the crowd with his demonstration of non-surgical upper airway remodeling and special guest Dr. Ronald Brown who served as a board director on the American Board of Dental Specialties concluded lectures by presenting dental sleep medicine as a sub-specialty. The completely sold out exhibit hall was filled during the two day meeting. Sleep Group Solutions’ CEO, Rani Bendavid, was thrilled to be able to attend the meeting. David Gergen credited the entire Sleep Group Solutions staff for bringing energy to the meeting and their booth by engaging attendees the entire duration of day one and day two. Bendavid said, “We sold more product at this meeting than any previous meeting.” Dr. Anthony Scianni complemented the exhibitors who engaged with attendees through the end of both days, saying, “It was refreshing seeing many of the vendors remain in their booths until the end of the conference. The speakers topics were of high value, but we also enjoyed time in the exhibit hall to see the latest innovations from exhibiting industry companies”. The ASBA annual conference is the only meeting for dental and medical professionals alike where NFL legends, congressmen and some of the most successful sleep experts in the country come to share their experiences and knowledge with members who attend. This unique combination offers an outlook on all aspects of sleep medicine from the patient’s point of view to working with local government to promote awareness and recognition of sleep disordered breathing in the local community. Dr. Clint Blackwood mentioned, “The ASBA sets themselves apart from other organizations in many ways, but what really sticks out to me is how they are able to bring an extensive variety of meaningful topics to their meetings. Other meetings have the same doctors presenting the same topics and I’m able to pick out about 5% of the meeting as new information. I can tell the ASBA prides themselves in being on the forefront of the industry, consistently staying on top of and bringing the newest content to their members.” Click here to see photos of the ASBA Sleep and Wellness Conference 2017

Sleep Medicine to Improve Athletic Performance         National Football League (NFL) Hall of Famer Michael Haynes is arguably the best athlete that the NFL has ever seen. It’s high praise, considering that the league is filled with elite athletes. As a high school long jumper in 1971, he set a 23’ 5” school record that still stands. During the previous track season, Haynes nearly jumped over the landing pit, forcing groundskeepers to ultimately extend the sandy landing area. During most of his stellar career, Haynes was fanatical about proper diet and exercise. Now 63 years old, Haynes, who played cornerback for the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Raiders, admits that he never paid much attention to the value of good sleep. Why bother? His remarkable skills as a 6’3” “shutdown corner” with speed to burn suggested he was doing all the right things to take care of his health. Haynes recalls one game day during his NFL rookie season in which a lack of sleep had an effect. “I had one incident where I ended up not sleeping at all,” confirms Haynes, who is also the national spokesperson for prostate cancer awareness. “And I did not feel super sharp. I knew that getting a good night’s sleep was important, but it’s really not until the last five years that I realized how important it is.” After hearing David Gergen, CEO of the American Sleep & Breathing Academy (ASBA), speak on the topic of sleep apnea and oral appliances a few years ago, Haynes gained a new appreciation for the value of proper slumber. “David and Roy Green [retired NFL player] and a few other retired football players were talking about the importance of sleep, and I used to always think that sleep was overrated,” he says. “When I heard their speech, I started thinking, ‘maybe they’re right.’” Using one of his sons’ computer brain games (Lumosity), Haynes confirmed that his mental sharpness was indeed better after a good night’s sleep. It may not have been a formal scientific test, but it helped to convince him that sleep truly mattered.   Enhancing Athletic Performance In the fevered race to enhance athletic performance, addressing sleep apnea represents a potentially huge business niche, particularly for dentists who provide oral appliances. If Haynes had sleep apnea during his playing days, and we don’t know that he did, it is possible that his Hall of Fame level play could have been even better. During Haynes’ playing days at Arizona State University, college football programs had curfews, but testing for sleep apnea was never considered. NFL physicians and athletic trainers were experts at treating injuries, but they too did not evaluate sleep at the clinical level during the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and in some cases, not even now. And yet, times are changing. With the help of retired NFL athletes, an audience of potential patients (particularly men of a certain age who have been following football for a long time) are getting the message. The ASBA chatted with Haynes about his work with the ASBA, and his continued mission to educate athletes and the general public about overlooked health problems such as sleep apnea and early detection of prostate cancer.     ASBA: Does today’s athlete appreciate the value of sleep? Michael Haynes: I know the awareness has a long way to go. At this point, I think we are barely scratching the surface. I was doing some work with the football team at my alma mater [Arizona State University] and trying to tell the guys that sleep is important. However, I also know that I was their age at one point.   ASBA: Did the staff at your alma mater know about sleep apnea? Haynes: During a presentation, I saw this one guy nodding off all the time. After the meeting, I asked him, “How much sleep did you get last night?” He said, “I don’t know.” I asked him, “Do you know what sleep apnea is?” He did not know, and I went to go talk with the trainer. I asked the trainer if he tested players for sleep apnea. They did not test players, and I told him they should think about it. I said, “You have no idea how much better these guys could be.” Their concentration and physicality could be improved. I’m not sure if they did anything, but I do know that people don’t think of it.   ASBA: Do you think your message could resonate with other sports and other teams? Haynes: I think that if players knew the importance of sleep, they would want to improve it. I think that they just don’t know. They think five or six hours of sleep is fine, and if they are on time, they are ok.   ASBA: Why do you think awareness is still low among athletes and coaches? Haynes: I think it’s because the athletes still perform at a pretty high level. If they were running the 100 meters in say 10 flat, and then they did not get a good night’s sleep and they ran 10.5, well then of course they would know. But they are not making those comparison tests. At this point, they think they are ok [with the sleep they get]. With the computer mind games, I could determine with a raw number that good sleep made me sharper. And I did not know until I did the comparison, because I felt exactly the same way whether I got poor sleep or good sleep. And when I took the tests, it showed that I was not the same.   ASBA: What is the culture of the NFL when it comes to performance improvement for players? Haynes: In the NFL, they are always trying to get better. But believe it or not, guys can be stubborn too, and they can get stuck in their ways. Every team should be testing for sleep apnea. Just imagine if a top QB had sleep apnea. How much better could he be if he is getting good sleep?   ASBA: How much is on the player to ask to be tested for sleep apnea? Haynes: I think that a lot of it has to be self motivated. It’s not like the trainers are going to say, “I want you to get tested for sleep apnea,” especially if the athletes don’t have a performance concern.”   ASBA: Do you think that athletes are even more likely to have success with oral appliances since many of them are used to wearing mouthpieces for safety reasons? Haynes: Yes, I do. They are used to it. They are used to putting them in, and having them in for a long time. The CPAP machine, I think, would be a little uncomfortable. From what I understand, they are noisy, and I can’t imagine moving around with that mask on. An oral appliance is an easier solution.   ASBA: The ASBA was recently in charge of sleep apnea screenings at the recent NFL Players’ Association meeting. How important are these types of health screenings for retired players and others? Haynes: They are extremely important. You can learn a lot. At a screening for prostate cancer, I found out that I might be a candidate for the disease. The NFL launched its inaugural screening program at the Pro Football Hall of Fame during “Induction Weekend” in 2008. At the time, I was working in the league office. I was asked to go check out the screening and to report back on how it was going.  While there, the phlebotomist convinced me to be screened too.  They said, “Why don’t you participate in the screening? It may convince others to do the same.”   ASBA: What was the screening like? Haynes: They drew blood samples and 20 to 30 minutes later the doctor called me in to talk about my results. He was very thorough and explained that my results are almost meaningless without comparing them to my other test. He said that early detection was the key to treating the disease successfully. I couldn’t answer any of his questions. I didn’t know if my general care physician was tracking my PSA, or if prostate cancer ran in my family, or how many men would be diagnosed with this disease. One in seven men will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime, although I had never heard of anyone getting it.   Hearing that more men would be diagnosed with prostate cancer than women would be with breast cancer got my attention. If I had the disease, I wanted to catch it in its early stages and I contacted my general care physician as soon as I got back home. It was then that I learned that my general care physician had been keeping track of my PSA. I gave him my most recent results, and noticing a radical increase in my PSA, he recommended that I see a urologist to make sure that nothing was going on. During my visit with the urologist, he told me that my doctor should have sent me to see him after my last physical. That conversation opened my eyes and I realized that even the medical community was not on the same page regarding when to send a patient for a biopsy.   ASBA: What were your results? Haynes: My test results were positive. I had the disease. If not for being there, I might have found out that I had the disease in the latter stages when it’s a much tougher kind of fight.   ASBA: And are physicians also bad about asking patients about sleep? Haynes: Yes. Primary care doctors should be asking patients: “How are you sleeping? Do you wake up at night? Does your wife complain about you snoring?” I have never had a doctor ask me those questions. If they started to ask those questions, education would spread. Awareness is getting better.  Pro athletes, a lot of times, are leaders when it comes to health and wellness, so having this type of information helps. The screenings have been wonderful for football players. We are educating our friends, families, and community members.  If I asked my neighbors what sleep apnea was, they probably would not know.   ASBA: Do you have sleep apnea? Haynes: When they tested me, they said I had “slight” sleep apnea. And they were saying that I did not need an oral appliance, but I felt differently and said, “If it’s slight, that means I have it, so let’s look into getting me the oral appliance.” I would rather have no sleep apnea at all if I can. Why would it be ok to have it all? I still use that oral appliance.            

I met David Gergen in Minneapolis 7 years ago. At the time, I was the Medical Director and a board member of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy (ASBA). The ASBA was comprised of approximately 500 physician members and over 60,000 in the association consisting of respiratory techs, sleep techs, respiratory therapists and any other sleep professionals in the industry. The owner of the academy and I had reached out to him, due to his 30 years of experience in the dental industry, his energy and reputation as a man with a track record of winning, with a proposition of creating a dental branch within the academy. He agreed to take the task head on. This was actually good news to my ears! As a doctor board certified in sleep medicine, I have always held a firm opinion that mild to moderate sleep apnea should be treated with oral appliance therapy as opposed to CPAP when possible. Adding a dental component to the academy was certain to bring a wealth of awareness to my physician colleagues as well as improve the sleep industry as a whole, for us and our patients. Unfortunately, just as things were getting in order, it came to pass that the owner of the academy ran off with most of the money. The academy then went into a couple of hundred thousand dollars in debt and in a bold effort to save the academy, Gergen provided the funding to keep the doors open. Despite his encouragement for me to remain as the medical director of the academy in order to retain the medical side, I didn’t share Gergen’s optimism so I had no choice but to withdraw from the ASBA. The year is now 2017. The American Sleep and Breathing Academy is thriving and legitimate, scheduled to host a conference on April 21-22, 2017 that is bringing over 400 attendees. The 501(c3) has been filed and the ASBA is about to reinstate all of the medical members from the past. My path has crossed Gergen’s once again and I’m happy to announce that after reaching out to him, I am returning to the ASBA with the intent of fulfilling our original vision for the ASBA, evolving it into a true multidisciplinary academy. This year will be the last year the academy will be geared only toward dentistry. Next year (2018) will be the first year that dental and medical sleep professionals will all be at the conference under one roof. My next step is to call my friend and colleague, Dr. Steven Parks, who was on original board of the ASBA. He is another medical doctor that sees how important it is to integrate dentistry into sleep medicine and shares mine and Gergen’s way of thinking; CPAP should not be considered the gold standard. Whether it be 25% compliance or 40%, both are failing grades where have all gone to school. Many breakthroughs are coming for sleep medicine but oral appliance therapy is the future for now for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. CPAP is over-prescribed and it’s time we utilize oral appliance therapy as a treatment option. Education through the ASBA is going to be the best way we can advance our industry. Please join us at our annual Sleep & Wellness conference April 21-22 in Phoenix, AZ. David will host a panel of like-minded professionals and Doctors who all share in the same vision for dental sleep medicine. Register at sleep-conference.com. Dr. Rudi Ferrate is a physician in private practice in Glendale, AZ. Besides his expertise in Family Medicine he has been diagnosing and treating patients with sleep disorders, medical weight loss as well as preventative medicine with an emphasis or hormones and nutrition. Dr. Ferrate is boarded in Family Medicine, non surgical Bariatric Medicine as well as being board certified in the field of Sleep Medicine. From the very beginning of his medical career has nurtured his passion to find the best, most specific yet natural treatments in the field of Wellness, rejuvenation, sleep disorders and weight loss. He is an active member of various academies and holds medical licenses in multiple states as well as outside of the US. In the sleep medicine field his purpose is to collaborate with the best in the field to define the future of sleep disorders treatment and performance where dentists and physicians will work together using all available therapies as well as develop innovative protocols, tools and medical devices for sleep disorders.performance where dentists and physicians will work together using all available therapies as well as develop innovative protocols, tools and medical devices for sleep disorders.