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Good morning!

This morning, we have two vital resources for you: an important screening tool and an accompanying social media post!

Nasal breathing is crucial for dental sleep professionals. Mastering this can greatly boost your treatment results and your patients' health. Improve your practice with these key tools. Let's work to better patient care and patient awareness!

In Today’s Edition:

• Screening Nasal Breathing as a Dentist

• How to Win at the Phone Answering Game

• Industry Events

• Breath Without Surgery [Video]

5-minute read👇

Clinical Corner

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

Key Takeaways🔑

Nasal Obstruction and OSA

In the realm of sleep dentistry, addressing Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) often involves more than treating the condition itself. Beyond providing an oral appliance, enhancing nasal breathing should be a key treatment goal.

Nasal obstruction in OSA patients impacts the efficacy of treatments, particularly with oral appliances. In a [study], where patients used mouth tape to promote nasal breathing, compliance improved by up to 74%!🤯

Why Nasal Breathing Matters

For OSA patients, clear nasal breathing is crucial. The nose, designed for optimal breathing, is key to OA therapy success. Not only will your treatments be more successful, but your patients will experience better overall health!

Nasal breathing is more than a compliance secrets; it offers health benefits:

1. Warms and moistens air, protecting nasal tissues.

2. Filters out allergens, bacteria, and viruses.

3. Keeps the mouth moist, aiding oral health.

4. Promotes proper facial and dental development.

5. Reduces snoring and sleep apnea, improving sleep.

6. Regulates air intake, ensuring the right amount of oxygen.

Objective Measures: PNIF's Role The study used the Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow (PNIF) meter to assess nasal airflow. OSA patients had lower PNIF values, indicating impaired airflow. Yet, these measurements during the day didn't match with night-time OSA metrics like the AHI.

The Subjective Aspect: NOSE Scale The study also used the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale. It measures patients' views on their nasal obstruction. As with PNIF, OSA patients reported higher NOSE scores, showing more obstruction.

Key Takeaways for Sleep Dentists

• PNIF and NOSE in Screening: Lower PNIF and higher NOSE scores show impaired nasal airflow in OSA patients. But these don't alone predict OSA severity or OA treatment outcomes.
  

• As Complements: PNIF and the NOSE scale are additional screening tools, not standalone OSA diagnostics.

• An Integrated Approach: Those additional tools provide objective and subjective nasal obstruction assessments. Which are required in the medical practice.

There is a close connection between nasal obstruction and OSA. These studies show the need to consider nasal health in OSA management. Using tools like PNIF and the NOSE scale can improve clinical choices, leading to better, tailored treatments for OSA patients.

Business of Sleep

📈Better businesses = more lives saved!

How Your Dental Practice Can Win Big at the Lead-Handling Game

The Hidden Treasure in Your Practice

You've got your dental marketing in place, ads out, and a top-notch website. Good. But the big question is: What do you do when those leads start calling? Your front desk might be your biggest asset.

Call handling is key to a dental practice's success. It's more than just answering the phone – it’s seizing opportunities.

A great marketing plan is useless if calls are missed or mishandled.

Brad Durham, a marketing expert, suggests answering on the second ring. It shows eagerness yet professionalism.

Beating the Competition

Stand out from your competitors. Answer calls always, even during lunch hours and busy times. Potential clients might call during their breaks – be ready.

Consider expanding your front desk team if you aren’t answering the phones. An extra person could mean catching more opportunities. It’s an investment, not just an expense.

Treat every call as potential for success. A caller asking about prices might be your next big case. Train your team to look for opportunities in each call.

The Sherlock Holmes Method

If calls are missed, investigate. Review your call logs. Who’s calling, who's answering, what's happening? Track and analyze calls – it guides your practice to success.

Your staff are more than employees; they're your reason for growth or failure. Motivate them, and if necessary, reassign roles for better results. The right team can turn potential into profit.

It's not all about flashy marketing or the latest tech. It's about valuing every opportunity, every call. Empower your team, refine your processes, and watch your practice grow – one call at a time! 📞🚀

Previous Editions:

👉 The Tools to Screen for OSA

👉 How Appliance Design Effect Treatment Outcomes

👉 The Most Common Sleep Disorders vs OSA

Something Sweet

🍭Stuff so sweet you might get a cavity..

Industry Events

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Miscellaneous

😅P.S. … I forgot something

Useful tips to help your patients start nasal breathing without the need for surgery!