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Good morning.

Are touchscreens disrupting sleep for our youngest patients?

Yes.

Turns out touch screens have a bigger impact than just viewing a screen. If you are treating pediatric sleep patients… they need to know this information!

In Today’s Edition:

• The Impact of Touchscreen Use on Infant Sleep

• Dental Marketing Foundations

• Industry Events

• [Video] Screens Affecting Brain Development

5-minute read👇

Clinical Corner

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Key Takeaways🔑

The Impact of Touchscreen Use on Infant Sleep

Introduction

In today’s digital age, the influence of technology on our daily lives is undeniable, and this extends to even the youngest members of our society. With portable touchscreen devices becoming ubiquitous, concerns have arisen about their impact on infant and toddler sleep—a critical period for cognitive development. Recent studies shed light on this issue, revealing significant associations between touchscreen use and sleep patterns in children aged 6 to 36 months.

The Study

A comprehensive online survey conducted among 715 UK parents aimed to explore the relationship between touchscreen use and sleep in infants and toddlers. Parents reported on their child’s daily media use, sleep patterns, and various demographic factors. Structural equation models were employed to analyze the data, accounting for variables such as age, sex, TV exposure, and maternal education.

Key Findings

Touchscreen Use and Night-time Sleep

Reduced Night-time Sleep: Increased touchscreen use was significantly associated with decreased night-time sleep. For every additional hour of touchscreen use, infants and toddlers slept 26.4 minutes less at night on average.

Daytime Sleep and Sleep Onset

Increased Daytime Sleep: Surprisingly, higher touchscreen use was linked to increased daytime sleep by about 10.8 minutes for each additional hour of use. This compensatory behavior, however, did not make up for the overall reduction in sleep duration.

Longer Sleep Onset: The time taken for children to fall asleep increased with more frequent touchscreen use, indicating potential delays in initiating sleep due to device interaction.

No Impact on Night Awakenings

Stable Night Awakenings: The frequency of night awakenings did not show a significant association with touchscreen use, suggesting that while devices affect sleep duration and onset, they may not disturb the continuity of sleep once it begins.

Practical Takeaways for Dental Sleep Professionals

Understanding the nuances of these findings can help dental sleep professionals provide actionable advice to parents concerned about their children’s sleep quality. Here are some practical tips:

Limit Screen Time Before Bed

Encourage parents to establish a screen-free period at least one hour before bedtime. This can help reduce physiological arousal and avoid the negative effects of blue light on melatonin production.

Create a Consistent Sleep Routine

Emphasize the importance of a consistent bedtime routine that does not involve screens. Reading, calming activities, and a predictable schedule can help infants and toddlers transition smoothly to sleep.

Monitor Daytime Screen Use

Advise parents to be mindful of the total screen time throughout the day. Even though daytime screen use was associated with increased naps, the overall reduction in sleep can impact cognitive and emotional development.

Educate on the Benefits of Quality Sleep

Highlight the role of quality sleep in neurodevelopment and overall health. Educating parents on how screen time impacts sleep can motivate them to implement healthier habits for their children.

Conclusion

The findings from this study underscore the significant impact of touchscreen use on the sleep patterns of infants and toddlers. As dental sleep professionals, translating these insights into practical guidance can empower parents to foster better sleep environments for their children, ultimately supporting their cognitive and physical development.

Business of Sleep

📈Better businesses = more lives saved!

The Do’s and Don’ts of Medical Billing

Running a dental practice is no different from running a retail business. Success hinges on differentiating your services, attracting patients, and staying profitable. In the world of dental sleep medicine, one of the biggest hurdles is mastering medical billing. Get it right, and you’ll set your practice apart while providing essential care to your patients. Here’s how to navigate the complexities of medical billing and transform your practice.

The Financial Upside of Dental Sleep Medicine

Dentists who incorporate sleep apnea treatments into their practice can tap into a significant market. About 50% of adults snore, and around 24% of men and 9% of women suffer from sleep apnea. However, only 26% of dentists currently offer sleep therapy, according to New West Dental Ceramics. This gap presents a golden opportunity to attract new patients and retain existing ones by offering a service that’s in high demand.

The Importance of Medical Billing

Most patients expect to use their medical insurance for treatments. Sleep apnea, a medical diagnosis managed by physicians, qualifies for medical insurance coverage. Unfortunately, many dentists shy away from medical billing due to its complexity, resulting in lost opportunities. Understanding and implementing effective medical billing can significantly boost your practice’s revenue and patient satisfaction.

Do’s of Medical Billing

1. Verify and Update Provider Information:

• Ensure your National Provider Identifier (NPI) and address are correct in the insurance carrier’s system.

• Keep your information up to date in the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH) database.

• Ensure your NPI lists dentistry as the primary specialty, not DME (dental medical equipment).

2. Document Patient Conditions:

• For mild sleep apnea, document an Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) of five or higher, or an Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score of 11 or higher.

• For severe sleep apnea, get a signed document confirming the patient has tried and failed Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) therapy.

3. Check Patient Coverage:

• Verify patient coverage and eligibility before starting pre-authorization to ensure the plan is active and determine deductibles and co-payments.

• Check benefits for Medicare patients, especially those with replacement plans, and whether they have a second residence that affects payment amounts.

4. Pre-Authorization and Proof of Delivery:

• Always check if pre-authorization is required and submit requests with all necessary documents.

• Ensure patients sign a proof of delivery when they receive the appliance, as some carriers require this before paying the claim.

5. Systematic Approach:

• Give your team time to understand the medical billing process.

• Be patient and methodical, especially if you are new to dealing with insurance carriers.

Don’ts of Medical Billing

1. Avoid Premature Delivery:

• Don’t deliver an appliance without pre-authorization or gap approval if required.

2. Billing Practices:

• Don’t bill on the impression date; the date of service should be the delivery date.

• Don’t assume you have all required documents for medical necessity based on your judgment; each carrier has specific policies.

3. Financial Transparency:

• Don’t send patients surprise bills; comply with the federal price transparency law and have patients sign a financial agreement before treatment.

4. Annual Medicare Claim:

• Don’t forget to bill at least one claim to Medicare annually to keep your enrollment active.

5. Ethical Billing:

• Don’t routinely waive deductibles; only do so with a financial hardship letter on file.

• Don’t trust anyone blindly with billing codes; always verify and ensure ethical billing practices.

Actionable Steps for Implementation

1. Training and Education:

• Invest in training your team on medical billing procedures specific to dental sleep medicine.

• Consider hiring a medical billing service to help navigate the complexities.

2. Streamline Processes:

• Develop a systematic approach to medical billing, ensuring all team members are on the same page.

• Utilize technology to keep track of pre-authorizations, patient documents, and billing codes.

3. Patient Communication:

• Clearly explain the billing process to patients, including what their insurance will cover and any out-of-pocket costs.

• Provide patients with detailed financial agreements to avoid surprises.

4. Collaboration:

• Work closely with sleep physicians to ensure comprehensive documentation and streamlined patient care.

• Stay updated on insurance carrier policies and federal regulations to maintain compliance and optimize billing.

Looking Forward

The landscape of medical billing in dental sleep medicine is evolving. Future trends include increased integration of AI-driven billing systems and more personalized patient communication tools. Staying ahead of these trends will not only improve your billing efficiency but also enhance patient satisfaction and practice growth.

Conclusion

Mastering medical billing for dental sleep medicine can set your practice apart, attract new patients, and increase profitability. By following these do’s and don’ts, implementing systematic processes, and staying informed about industry trends, you can overcome billing challenges and unlock the full potential of your practice. Transform medical billing from a hurdle into a growth opportunity, and watch your practice thrive.

Something Sweet

🍭Stuff so sweet you might get a cavity..

Industry Events

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Miscellaneous

😅P.S. … I forgot something

Discover how screen time could be impacting your child's brain development and what you can do about it!