Good morning. This is More Than Teeth. The newsletter that helps dental sleep professionals get 1% better every week.

Sort of like drinking espresso shots after a nap. ☕️

This Week We Cover:

• OSA and Alzheimer’s Connection

• AASM National Indicator Report

• NIR Therapy for Better Sleep

• Strategies for Marketing Your Practice

• Sleep Lab Tells ALL: Digital Workflow

7-minute read today, let’s dive in!👇

Clinical Corner

🥼Use the clinical corner as your secret weapon to impress your colleagues and patients!

1/ OSA and Alzheimer’s Connection

Here's the scoop you need to know from a recent study linking Sleep Apnea and Alzheimer's. This one's a game-changer!

🔬 The Research: A team of scientists, led by Dr. Rena Li at the Banner Alzheimer's Institute, conducted a study to investigate the connection between Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Alzheimer's disease.

🌙 Sleep Apnea: OSA affects nearly 30 million Americans, and 80% of cases are undiagnosed. It's a condition that disrupts breathing during sleep, leading to drops in blood oxygen levels, which is bad news for brain health. Not only can this condition lead to heart disease and diabetes, but it also incurs a massive $149.6 billion annually in health care utilization and lost productiv​ity.

🧠 Alzheimer's Link: The study found that OSA might speed up the onset of Alzheimer's by influencing brain metabolism and accelerating brain aging. This could potentially trigger earlier onset of cognitive issues in people predisposed to Alzheimer's.

2/ AASM National Indicator Report

🏥 The Impact of Undiagnosed OSA

The report highlighted that approximately 23.5 million cases of undiagnosed OSA in the U.S. incur $149.6 billion annually. This comes down to increased health care utilization, motor vehicle and workplace accidents, and reduced productivity. Moreover, OSA disproportionately affects some communities, including Blacks, Latinos, and Native Americans. These communities are a focus of the awareness program’s efforts to improve screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

 📣 The Need for Awareness and Action

One of the main barriers to OSA diagnosis and treatment is insufficient awareness, both among the public and health care professionals. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and its partners in the Count on Sleep project aim to spur more conversations between healthcare workers and patients about sleep health.

Here's where you come in. Along with routine assessments of weight and blood pressure, health workers should ask patients about common symptoms of OSA.

3/ 🔥Near-Infrared Phototherapy: A Game-Changer for Sleep & Daytime Function?

Time to dive into some cutting-edge sleep research that could shake up your practice. We're looking at a recent randomized, sham-controlled study by Kennedy, Wills, Holt, and Grandner from the University of Arizona. They explored the effects of near-infrared (NIR) phototherapy on sleep and daytime function.

A New Bedtime Routine: NIR Collar Before Bed 🛌

This study investigated whether a cervical NIR-emitting collar, worn every other night before bed, could enhance sleep and next-day function in adults (30-60 years) who had self-reported sleep complaints.

Methodology & Findings 🔬

Over five weeks, the study participants wore the collar, emitting wavelengths of 660nm, 740nm, 810nm, and 870nm. Their physical symptoms, insomnia severity, sleep quality, energy levels, and overall performance were assessed.

Key takeaways from the study:

• SAFTEE Score: The NIR group had a significant decrease in the Systematic Assessment of Treatment Emergent Effects (SAFTEE) total score and sleep-related symptoms compared to the control group.

• Sleep Latency: Sleep latency (the time it takes to fall asleep) dropped by an average of 6 minutes in the NIR group.

• REM Sleep: The NIR group saw a slight decrease in REM sleep percentage.

• Quality & Refreshment: The NIR group experienced improved sleep quality and felt more refreshed upon waking.

• Daytime Function: Participants in the NIR group also reported an increase in daytime function and relaxation.

• Performance & Energy: The control group reported a drop in perceived overall performance and energy levels, which was not observed in the NIR group.

So, What's the Verdict? ⚖️

NIR phototherapy before bed shows promise for improving sleep and daytime function. However, more research is needed to determine the optimal parameters. If proven effective, this could become a valuable tool for your patients dealing with sleep issues, potentially improving their oral health and overall well-being.

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Business of Sleep

📈Better businesses = more lives saved!

🔥 Rethink Your Dental Marketing Strategies

Today we're diving into the golden nuggets from a recent NexHealth podcast episode with Gary Bird, CEO of SMC National. He offers a fresh take on dental marketing during a recession. Let's get to it:

Riding the Recession Wave 🌊

Gone are the days when piling on marketing efforts to attract new patients could save the day. With dental schedules bursting at the seams, that strategy doesn't quite cut it anymore. Gary suggests an alternative - maximize the value of each patient interaction.

This means leveraging existing patient relationships, enhancing patient retention, and delivering top-notch service to keep them coming back. It's all about nurturing patient loyalty for sustainable growth, even when the economy takes a hit.

The Dental Practice Triad 🔺

Gary outlines three patient entry points to your practice:

1. Hygiene schedule

2. Doctor's schedule (emergencies)

3. Consultation schedule (big-ticket treatments)

With many practices short on hygienists, it's time to shift focus to doctor and consultation schedules.

Two Types of Patients, Two Strategies 🧑‍⚕️

1. Short Buying Cycle Patients - They need immediate care, be it for emergencies or routine cleanings. They pick a dentist based on online reviews, availability, and quick appointment bookings. To attract these folks:

   • Increase your online visibility through SEO.

   • Rack up positive reviews.

   • Answer phone calls promptly.

2. Long Buying Cycle Patients - They're the planners, thinking about significant treatments like clear liners or implants. They have a high dental IQ and do their homework. To engage this group:

   • Educate and nurture them via social media.

   • Provide informative content that builds trust.

The Takeaway 🥡

Riding out a recession in the dental world needs innovative thinking. Focus on patient retention and satisfaction, understand the patient entry points, amp up online visibility, and become a dental authority via informative content. Gary Bird's strategies can help you not just survive, but thrive, even when times are tough.

Something Sweet

🍭Stuff so sweet you might get a cavity..

Digital workflows for DSM are the future

But too many are making it a headache in-office.

True Function Labs are putting on a FREE education to train on the best ways to incorporate digital workflows.