Articles
The Great Debate: FFS VS Medical Billing
The Great Debate: FFS VS Medical Billing By Mona Patel Most dental sleep medicine courses teach that you need to use medical billing when you get started helping patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Often these courses have some focus on medical billing and you may leave thinking that medical reimbursement will be a big
The TMJ is the Gateway to The Airway by Jeff Paz
TMJ is the Gateway to Airway By Jeff Paz Close to 1 billion people have OSA, according to the World Health Organization. A couple of treatment options for such breathing problems involve the use of an oral appliance and/or CPAP. These appliances help to open the user’s breathing passage more fully to allow easier breathing
OSA Appliance Basic Design 101
OSA Appliance Basic Design 101 By Moses, Tessier, and Pacini There is a complex interrelationship between head posture, breathing, speech, swallowing, and the position of the teeth in the mouth. Teeth and the dental alveoli lie in a position of balance between the cheeks, lips, and tongue. Ideally, there is nasal breathing; the tongue is
A Recipe for Success: Have the Right Conversation
As Seen in Dental Sleep Practice Magazine by Michael Cowen Are there really that many sleep patients who need your help and where are they? I’ll give you a hint. Yes, they are on your schedule, in your chair, and in your waiting room right now. They were on yesterday’s schedule, too. You did hygiene checks on some
Stop Shelving Sleep – Here’s How It Improves Your Practice
A sleep researcher tweets at 2am. Clinicians and coaches re-share at all hours of the night. A dentist gets scanned for an oral appliance after years of encouragement from the spouse. An RDH discusses sleep hygiene with all patients, but has been putting off her own appointment for CBT-I. An Oral Appliance manufacturer rep admits
Prosomnus® EVO™, A New Paradigm in Device Design; Engaging ALL the Stakeholders
By Dr. Mark T. Murphy Traditionally, oral appliances for treating OSA have utilized existing materials and manufacturing standards. This has required repurposed orthodontic parts and pieces (Herbst arms, hooks, jackscrews, straps, etc.) being assembled by hand and attached to cold cured poly methyl methacrylate platforms. Occasionally modifications appear that make them easier to deliver (ball
Coffee is for Closers: Get Out of Your Own Way
Coffee is for Closers: Get Out of Your Own Way As Seen In Dental Sleep Practice Magazine by Michael Cowen “I don’t understand. You’re telling me your treatment plan conversion rate dropped from 70% to 16%?” Perplexed, I exclaimed, “This makes no sense, Todd!” My friend, “Todd”, owns a successful general dentistry practice in the
The SomnoDent Avant – Mandibular Advancement Device Review
By: Dr. Greg Manning, DDS, ASBAD One of the newest offerings by SomnoMed is called the SomnoMed Avant; this device is of the latest digital workflow, milled, and one of the most easily delivered appliances for treating sleep apnea. Having been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea myself over eight years ago, I have used many
TAP and myTAP – Precisely Designed Therapy Choices
By: Steve Carstensen, DDS It’s time to pick a movie for tonight. Scrolling Netflix provides hundreds of choices, many sound good, and your partner gives you no help. How do you settle on one? There are more than 120 oral appliances FDA cleared to treat sleep-related breathing disorders, SRBD. Your patient is waiting for you
The #1 Struggle in a Dental Sleep Practice Isn’t What You Think
By Michael Cowen Written originally for Dental Sleep Practice Magazine How would you answer the question – “What is the #1 Struggle in a Dental Sleep Practice?” Would you cite the challenge of getting your whole team on the same page? Maybe you would quote the astonishing number of times patients say “no” when their
10 Reasons Why a Dental Team Should Be Treating Sleep Apnea
By Chad Wooters Why should a dentist be involved in identifying or treating someone with obstructive sleep apnea? This is only part of the question. The reality is that dentists are busy doctors! On their own, they limit the potential that their team can have in the dental sleep medicine arena. Dental teams are uniquely
Who Do You Know?
You or someone you love can be suffering from sleep apnea unknowingly right now, but it doesn’t have to be that way!