Author: Michael Kelley

Obesity is a global epidemic. In the US alone, according to the American Heart Foundation, 78 million adults and 13 million children are affected. However, aside from being a disease itself, obesity also poses great risks for developing other serious health complications. To read more of this week’s article in ASBA Diplomate and Board Member, Dr. Elliott Alpher’s Huffington Post Blog click here.

The American Sleep and Breathing Academy is an organization dedicated to enriching our members’ knowledge and skill in the treatment of sleep disordered breathing. Our goal is to provide current evidence based information to our members and enable them to provide optimal treatment for their patients. The Academy offers certification to its members as a confirmation of their knowledge, skill and experience. There are multiple levels of certification within our organization. On September 23-24, in Phoenix, AZ the ASBA will be holding a review course is offered to Dentists who wish to attain diplomacy with the American Sleep and Breathing Academy. The review course is a one day seminar that uses mock exams and literature reviews to prepare ASBA members to sit for the ASBA Diplomacy exam the very next day. Some but not all of the questions in the review course will appear in the 2016 exam. All of the literature used in the review course will have been used to make up the final exam. Details/registration for the exam and review course can be found at the following links:   During that weekend, the ASBA will also be offering a study club to members in a non-vendor atmosphere. This means attendees will enjoy a pure learning experience from the most elite dental sleep medicine professionals in the country. ASBA mentors are required to have done $1.5 million/year in sleep. Each mentor comes from different markets and are able to share unique marketing and business strategies. Register for the ASBA study club now as spots are limited! Details/registration for the ASBA study club can be found at the following links: Study Club Friday–Saturday, September 23rd – 24th, 2016 Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort 7677 N 16th St Phoenix, AZ 85020 Room rates start at $145.00/night Registration for the Study Club is $2,500.00 Registration For The Course Link For The Hotel Booking – Click on “MAKE YOUR SELECTION” and select “ATTENDEE” Diplomate Review/Exam Friday–Saturday, September 23rd – 24th, 2016 Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort 7677 N 16th St Phoenix, AZ 85020 Room rates start at $145.00/night Registration for the Review is $795.00 Registration for the Exam is $895.00 Registration For The Review Registration For The Exam Link For The Hotel Booking – Click on “MAKE YOUR SELECTION” and select “ATTENDEE” For questions please email info@myasba.com or call David Gergen at 602-478-9713.

Many dentists start out on an arduous road with road blocks everywhere in dental sleep medicine. It doesn’t have to be like that. When you sign up for vendor sponsored courses they try to sell you products which are often old, obsolete and not beneficial at all to the success of the practice. How many of you have purchased vendor equipment that is sitting in your office which you have never even taken out of the box? We’ve all been there. This is why the ASBA does not allow vendor sponsored training at the intro to sleep courses. ASBA mentors are the top dentists in the country in treating sleep and have experienced all of the pot holes and road blocks so you don’t have to. The next Intro to Sleep 101 course will be a two day event held in Dallas, TX on November 4-5. While all doctors and their staff members will benefit from the information provided, the agenda is going to focus on getting to the basics. It will be an in depth course on introduction to dental sleep medicine for anyone interested in treating OSA in their practice and also for the doctor who has a number of cases under their belt, but has trouble getting paid or successful results. Through the last four years, Gergen has brought NFL legends to the ASBA team that have become advocates to not only dental sleep medicine, but to the members of the academy as well. ASBA members have partnered with Pro Player Health Alliance and NFL stars such as Eric Dickerson, Tony Dorsett, Michael Irvin, Roy Green, Ed Too Tall Jones and Derek Kennard. It is almost certain that Gergen will be bringing iconic Cowboys to this event for autographs, pictures and possible marketing opportunities. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Rod Willey, Diplomate of the ASBA and the largest standalone dental sleep practice in the country with over 60 cases/month and holds the record for 106 successfully treated cases in a single month. As a master of navigating the medical world, he will be teaching you techniques that will put you in network with insurance companies so you can spend your time and energy giving your patients a better quality of life instead of losing it on back end work. Go Go Billing will enlighten guests on the secrets to billing in office for oral appliance therapy. Additional speakers will spotlight staff training, things they wish they knew before treating sleep apnea and how to be more involved in the community. This course will give you an easy-to-follow cook book for success in dental sleep medicine. Don’t let the amateurs teach you bad techniques. Learn from the experts who have years and thousands of cases behind them. Not only will you receive a wealth of information, attendees will be granted 16 CES and a membership with the ASBA. Sign up for Intro to Sleep 101 to receive instant access to the ASBA’s vast library of sleep articles, journals and papers. In addition, you will also receive Breathless, the official weekly newsletter of the ASBA. Event Details November 4-5 Cooper Hotel and Conference Center 12230 Preston Road Dallas, TX 75230 United States  

  This final portion of the series is to share treatment options that parents can consider and discuss with their child’s healthcare provider who may give a diagnosis of ADHD. There are alternative avenues to consider for treatment and there is an increasing need for healthcare and childcare providers to work with one another to evaluate all best options to provide treatment. To read more of this week’s article in the ASBA Diplomate and Board Member Dr. Elliott Alpher’s blog on the Huffington Post click here.

David Gergen will lead the delegation of a committee formed with American Sleep and Breathing Academy members that will be presenting to a Caucus Committee of Congress. The hearing is scheduled for September 27, 2016 and it is estimated that 60-80 congressmen, senators and regulators will be in attendance.  “David Gergen, CEO of the ASBA, selected this team,” says Dr. Elliott Alpher who will be the moderator for the hearing. Gergen stated, “Our objective is to make oral appliances the true benchmark for mild to moderate sleep apnea. We know big CPAP manufacturers have their lobbyists to ensure that does not happen, even though in 2006 the government said oral appliances should be a treatment option. We’re fighting every step of the way.” Earlier this year, under the direction of David Gergen, over 100 comments were submitted by ASBA members to regulators who are charged with overseeing the transportation industry. David Gergen says, “The law makers want solutions and oral appliances are becoming the answer. They are paying attention to the problem as evidence by their decision to extend the commenting period online two months ago. I give credit to our ASBA members; they did a great job by being proactive and it paid off.” Dr. Neal Seltzer out of Long Island, NY is one of the dental sleep professionals chosen by Gergen to speak in Washington D.C. because he “views Dr. Seltzer as one of the top guys in the profession. Not just a fantastic sleep dentist but a fantastic person.” When Dr. Seltzer heard the announcement that the ASBA was going to speak with Congress he said, ““David Gergen has done more for dental sleep medicine in four years than the entire industry has done in 30. He is turning this industry on its ear. Joining the ASBA is one way to encourage that kind of leadership and ensure that the dental sleep community continues to progress in the right direction.” The agenda will be as follows: Dr. Elliott Alpher-Overview Dr. Neal Seltzer-OAT/What it is and how it works Dr. Richard Klein-TMJ David Gergen-Working with NFL greats across the country Roy Green, Marcus Allen, Eric Dickerson-NFL player personal testimonies Dr. Dave Singh-Non-surgical upper airway remodeling Dr. Neal Seltzer-Microrecorder to prove compliance in custom device Dr. Rudi Ferrate-CPAP is overprescribed Dr. Kent Smith-Recap

Initially the idea of NFL football, Sleep Apnea and the Phoenix Police don’t seem to fit together very well. It is important to understand that Sleep Apnea is a pervasive disorder that affects all walks of life and whose impact on performance at every level is real and measurable. Seven months ago Pro Player Health Alliance (PPHA) promoted a sleep apnea awareness event based on that exact model with American Sleep and Breathing Academy Diplomate Dr. Mark Castle, DDS. The event attracted over 3,000 attendees and not only benefited the Phoenix Police Foundation financially, but it also lead to eight officers making appointments with Dr. Castle. As an ASBA Diplomate, Dr. Castle has had the opportunity to work with PPHA and professional athletes to treat them for obstructive sleep apnea. As a result these superstar athletes then become more than just patients, but every day people who publicly support and spread the awareness of OSA at events across the nation, just like Dr. Castle’s event. With a combined effort of former NFL greats, local establishments and public figures, the community as a whole can unite to direct potential patients toward dental/medical professionals who can help. The next Pro Player Health Alliance/American Sleep and Breathing Academy event will be much of the same on September 6, 2016, aimed at improving awareness and understanding of sleep related disorders in the general public and serve as a fundraiser to benefit the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association Charity. In addition, it will be the first official celebration to kick off the new season for the Arizona Cardinals. Location and time of the public awareness event and fundraiser will be at Cowboys Saloon in Peoria, AZ at 6:00 PM. It is expected Dr. Castle’s second event will draw thousands of attendees. Pro Player Health Alliance President David Gergen, owner of Gergen’s Sleep Appliance Lab and Executive Director of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy is an icon throughout the dental sleep community and will be the MC for the event. Gergen will be on hand to help the public meet their favorite player and to share his extensive knowledge of sleep disorders including the dental treatment of sleep apnea. The event is open to the public where the likes of Jet Stream Roy Green (who is going into the Cardinals Ring of Honor this year), Derek Kennard and many more athletes including current Cardinals stars will be present. For more information about the event or how you can work with NFL greats in your community, email David Gergen at gxployer@aol.com or call him at 602-478-9713. Event Details Cowboys Saloon 9824 W Northern Ave Peoria, AZ 85345 September 6, 2016 6:00 PM-Close

This is part two in a three-part series on how sleep apnea affects behavior and learning in children. First, the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea in children. Second, the origin and factors that can lead to sleep disorders and third, are possible treatment plans to consider…. To read more of this week’s article in the ASBA Diplomate and Board Member Dr. Elliott Alpher’s blog on the Huffington Post click here.