Increasing Popularity of Oral Appliance Therapy 

In the aftermath of a recall by a major CPAP manufacturer, Phillips Respironics, there is national CPAP shortage.   As a result, oral appliance therapy is being considered as a treatment option more than ever before.   The most common therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in the United States is positive airway pressure, either a continuous pressure (CPAP) or one that auto adjusts (autoPAP).   An alternative option is a mandibular advancement devices (oral appliance) which has been gaining popularity over the last 10 years. Traditionally, CPAP has been the first choice of physicians for treatment of patients with OSA because of its effectiveness …

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May is High Blood Pressure Education Month!

Did you know… 83% of drug resistant hypertension patients also have Obstructive Sleep Apnea! Half of Obstructive Sleep Apnea patients also have hypertension! The good news is treatment can help! For example evidence shows when you treat people with sleep apnea, their blood pressure is not only lower at night – it’s also lower during the day. Take time to have your (or your loved ones) sleep tested and treated. Our dentists have treatment solutions & alternatives to CPAP! Talk to your us or your medical professional about your sleep today! According to the National Sleep Foundation https://sleepfoundation.org/ask-the-expert/sleep-apnea-and-heart-disease The American Heart …

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OSA Therapy Choice and Compliance

The two most common therapies for Obstructive Sleep Apnea are continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and mandibular advancement splints (oral appliance). These two therapies have similar benefits to patients but differ in comfort, ease of use and compliance levels. Traditionally, CPAP has been the first choice of physicians for treatment of patients with OSA.  Low CPAP compliance rates and high efficacy results for the oral appliance have physicians reconsidering this choice. Studies show that 30 to 50% of CPAP users are noncompliant. In contrast, oral appliance users report nearly 100% compliance. Noncompliant patients are at risk of stroke, obesity, drowsy …

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A Case For The Patient Treatment Pathway For Oral Device Therapy

Featured in the March 2017 edition of Dental Sleep Medicine Insider Magazine is article A Case For The Patient Treatment Pathway For Oral Device Therapy  By Jagdeep Bijwadia: 40% of CPAP users are non-complant. That means that for close to half of all patients being treated for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, CPAP simply is not a viable solution. The ideal metric for treatment should take into account both the AHI and… read more 

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Increase physician referrals for Dental Sleep by billing In-Network

Has your dental office been speaking and marketing to physicians about oral appliances but receive fewer referrals than expected? One reason may be that you are not contracted as a participating provider with medical insurance. Most insurance companies have taken steps to minimize the use of out-of-network providers, including significantly higher deductibles, higher coinsurance percentages, and even Out-of-Network Consent Policies and patient notification forms. Physicians recognize a discord is created when their patients receive large bills because of using an out of network facility.  Having marketing sleep testing services (Millennium Sleep Lab) to physician offices for several years, one of …

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