Good morning. This is More Than Teeth. The newsletter that helps dental sleep professionals get 1% better every week. If you read this in the morning, you'll feel like happy gilmore did after hearing this advice:

In this week’s issue:

• Proven Supplement to help you sleep

• Depression and OSA

• Lasers Curing OSA?

• Increase Case Acceptance using DiSC

• Taking Over the World With Your CPAP

This is a 5-minute read today. Let’s dive in👇

Clinical Corner

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

1/ Here are some science-backed supplement suggestions for a better night's rest from Dr. Andrew Huberman:

1. Trouble falling back asleep? 😴

• Myoinositol (900 mg): Helps shorten the time it takes to fall back asleep. Bonus: It's also beneficial for mood!

2. Need help falling asleep faster? ⏰

• Magnesium Threonate/Bisglycinate: These magnesium forms can speed up the transition to sleep and may improve sleep depth. They also offer potential cognitive support and neuroprotection.

• Apigenin: A derivative of chamomile that helps lower anxiety, making it easier to fall asleep.

3. Intense dreams causing wakefulness? 💭

• Avoid Theanine: If you're waking up due to vivid dreams, consider skipping theanine supplementation.

🔬Experimenting with supplements:

• Try one supplement for a week, then switch or combine, depending on your needs and results.

• Observe changes in your or your patient’s sleep without altering other aspects of your routine.

2/ Daytime Sleepiness, OSA, and Depression: more than just an overlapping symptom

Dentists treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) play a crucial role in their patients' overall well-being, and it's essential to consider their mental health as part of a comprehensive care approach. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS), a prevalent symptom of OSA, is often linked with major depressive disorders (MDD). The bidirectional relationship between EDS and depression highlights the importance of evaluating mental health when treating OSA. By incorporating mental health assessments and providing support for psychosocial functioning in OSA patients, dental sleep professionals can deliver more holistic and effective treatment plans. This not only helps in managing OSA symptoms but also contributes to better patient outcomes in terms of sleep quality, emotional well-being, and overall life satisfaction.

Treatments like CPAP and Mandibular Advancement Appliances are proven to positively effect OSA. More research is needed, but its not a far jump to state that sleeping better could lead to better mental health!

3/ Lasers Curing OSA?

📚 The Study: Researchers conducted a study using the Snore Outcomes Survey (SOS) and Spouse/Bed Partner Survey (SBPS) to measure the impact of NightLase treatment on snoring severity. This non-invasive laser therapy was compared to a sham treatment, with patients and their partners filling out questionnaires before and after the treatments.

🏆 The Results: NightLase treatment outperformed the sham treatment in reducing snoring and improving sleep-related health for both patients and their partners!

🩺 The Benefits: The best part? NightLase is minimally invasive and doesn't require anesthesia. Patients reported only mild, temporary side effects like a sore or dry throat. This laser therapy seems to be as effective as more invasive treatments, with fewer risks and side effects.

⚠️ A Word of Caution: The study had a small sample size and a short follow-up period, so we need more large-scale, long-term studies to confirm its effectiveness. Keep an eye out for future research on this innovative treatment for snoring!

Business of Sleep

📈Better businesses = more lives saved!

Nail Your Case Presentation with Patient Personalities

Picture this:

You're presenting a treatment plan to a patient, and they seem disinterested. 💤

Despite the plan being perfect for their dental goals, they've completely tuned out.

Sounds familiar? It doesn't have to be! 🙌

By attending to your patient's personality type, you'll find more patients saying 'YES' to treatments.

Introducing: DiSC Personality Types 

We use the DiSC system, categorizing individuals into four types: Driver (D), Influence (I), Steadiness (S), and Conscientiousness (C). By speaking their language, you can create tailored case presentations that resonate.

🕵️‍♂️ Identifying DiSC Types in Your Dental Practice:

1. Driver (D): Fast-paced, assertive, result-focused

   • Quickly expresses concerns

   • Seeks efficient treatment options

   • Prefers minimal small talk

2. Influence (I): Enthusiastic, sociable, relationship-driven

   • Talkative, shares personal stories

   • Interested in aesthetic aspects of treatments

   • Seeks a friendly rapport with dental pros

3. Steadiness (S): Patient, empathetic, values support

   • Hesitant or anxious about treatments

   • Seeks reassurance about the process

   • Focuses on safety, comfort, and long-term outcomes

4. Conscientiousness (C): Detail-oriented, analytical, evidence-based

   • Requests comprehensive treatment info

   • Interested in data, statistics, and evidence

   • Asks detailed questions about procedures

Presenting Dentistry to Each Personality Type:

Driver (D): Be efficient, let them decide, and emphasize results.

Influence (I): Engage in conversation, share excitement, and focus on aesthetics.

Steadiness (S): Be empathetic, reassure safety, and invite questions.

Conscientiousness (C): Offer lots of info, answer technical questions, be organized

By recognizing each patient's DiSC personality type and adapting your approach, you'll improve communication, boost treatment acceptance, and make patients feel truly understood.

Something Sweet

🍭Stuff so sweet you might get a cavity..

🤣