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Happy Monday! On this day (August 28th, 1963) The historic speech that was a call to end racism in the United States was given in front of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington, a political rally organized by human and political rights groups. Over 200,000 people gathered in Washington DC to demand jobs and equality for African-Americans. The I Have a Dream speech by Dr. King became a symbol of the American civil rights movement and is one of the most recognizable speeches in recorded history.

In today’s edition:

⚖️ Sleep vs Obesity

👃 Obesity and Sleep Disorder Breathing

💉 Link Between Obesity, Sleep, and Diabetes

📖 Winning Online Reviews [Guide]

Clinical Corner

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

🔑 Key Takeaways

1/ A Scientometric Review of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Obesity

What happened & Why it matters: 

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a disruptive sleep disorder, has surged with the global rise in obesity. As breathing becomes irregular during sleep, OSA has been linked to grave health conditions, notably heart disease and diabetes.

With the US reporting a 41.9% adult obesity rate, the OSA-obesity connection is undeniable. Increased obesity compounds airway issues during sleep, especially given OSA's association with cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.

Practical Takeaways:

1. Obesity's Role: Obesity affects more than just body size. It can narrow airways, diminish lung volume when lying down, and alter neuromuscular control, increasing OSA risks.

2. Emerging Concerns: OSA often goes unnoticed or is misdiagnosed in specific groups, like pregnant women and obese children.

3. Treatment Landscape: There's a gap in our knowledge. Few studies directly compare treatments like oral appliances and myofunctional therapy, particularly concerning their cardiovascular and metabolic impacts.

4. What's Needed: Cross-disciplinary research is essential. From cardiology to immunology, collaboration can unveil more about OSA treatments, early detection tools, and strategies for those at heightened risk.

2/ Understanding Weight & Sleep-Disordered Breathing

What Happened & Why It Matters:

A significant, long-spanning cohort study from July 1989 to January 2000 examined how weight changes affect sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) severity. The spotlight was on 690 employed residents of Wisconsin who underwent evaluations for SDB twice, with a 4-year interval between the tests.

The key revelation? Weight plays an unmistakable role in SDB severity. More specifically, for every 10% weight gain, there's a substantial 32% increase in the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), a measure that captures the occurrence of apnea and hypopnea events during sleep.

But why should dental specialists care? With the evident connection between SDB and body weight, dental interventions for sleep apnea using oral appliances or therapies can now be further tailored, considering patients' weight factors.

🦷 Practical Takeaways:

1. 📈 Weight Gain: A 10% surge in weight leads to an alarming 32% bump in AHI. More worryingly, this same weight gain magnifies the risk of moderate-to-severe SDB by a staggering 6-fold.

2. 📉 Weight Loss: On the brighter side, a 10% weight reduction corresponds to a promising 26% drop in the AHI.

3. 💡 Implication: The study underlines a crystal-clear message for specialists: Even slight weight management can significantly combat SDB. Implementing programs or advising patients on modest weight control can both manage existing SDB and curtail new occurrences.

Dentists, as frontline health advisors, have a newfound responsibility. Emphasizing weight management, alongside specialized treatments, can offer a more holistic solution for sleep apnea sufferers.

3/ Sleep Apnea: The Scale Tells a Tale⚖️

The Happenings & Why Your Drill Should Care:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obesity have long been sleep partners, but here's the twist: What happens when these obese patients go through major weight loss surgery?

A prospective study peered into the post-op nights of 25 severely obese patients who underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) - and the insights are anything but a yawn. After shedding a whopping average of 44.9 kg (ranging from 18-103 kg), the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) plummeted from a troublesome 61.6 to a mere 13.4.

As you lean in with your oral appliances and therapies, remember that the weight factor now plays a massive role in tailoring treatments for sleep apnea.

📌 Practical Dental Takeaways:

1. 🛏️ Sleep Patterns: Post-LAGB, patients weren't just lighter; their sleep was deeper with enhanced REM and stages III & IV sleep. Your dental interventions can align with these newfound sleep patterns for maximized efficacy.

2. 😴 Daytime Drowsiness: The Epworth Sleepiness Scale recorded a slide from 13 to a low 3.8, meaning fewer coffee breaks and more active days for patients. Monitoring this change can refine how you approach treatment adjustments.

3. 🌬️ Less CPAP: With weight shedding, the nasal continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) demand reduced dramatically. If your patient's hitting the gym and the salad bar, it might be time to reassess their CPAP reliance.

4. 🌟 Whole-Patient Benefits: Beyond just a silent night, LAGB gave patients a renewed lease on life with improved metabolic health, better quality of life, a boost in body image, and even reduced symptoms of depression.

So, Dentists, next time your sleep apnea patient mentions hitting the weight loss track, give them a thumbs up. The scale, it seems, holds a prescription for their sleep woes. 🦷🌙

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Business of Sleep

📈Better businesses = more lives saved!

Dental Sleep's Guide to Winning Online Reviews

Gone are the days when your dental reputation's reach was limited to a community and local paper. The digital age has not just arrived; it's thriving, and it's all about online reviews. Whether you're treating sleep apnea with cutting-edge oral appliances or innovative myofunctional therapies, your reputation is increasingly living online. Here's the lowdown:

📊 By The Numbers:

• 92% of consumers peek at online reviews before committing. Yep, before they even set foot in your clinic. 🦷👀

• Believe in word-of-mouth? Cool. But 84% trust online reviews just as much.🤳

• Oh, and 9 out of 10 folks scan online reviews before picking a business.

🔍 How to Glow in the Google Galaxy:

1. Google My Business (GMB) is Your BFF: Start by setting up a business profile. It's not just about gathering reviews, but the algorithm also loves those who play the game. The result? You end up at the top of the search, smiling down on competitors. 😇

2. Text Requests Post-Treatment: Old-school feedback forms? Pass. Text your patients with a polite ask and a direct link. Saves everyone's time, and it's all digital. 📱

3. Automation Station: Take #2 a bit further.. think bigger than manual texts. Automate those review request texts with software. No more forgotten follow-ups, and you’ll always have your finger on the pulse. 🤖

4. Stay Alert: Monitor your reviews. The good, the bad, the troll-y. Know what's being said and use it as a tool for improvement or as a feather in your cap. 🧐

5. Engage, But Wisely: Respond to genuine feedback. Highlight great reviews (with permission) and handle negatives with class. Fake reviews? Contact the platform's admin. 🤝

6. Email Power: Not just texts! Craft engaging, visually appealing emails with CTAs. They have a longer shelf life and can reach more folks. 💌

7. Last but GOLD: The ultimate way to win reviews? Provide a stellar patient journey. From their first call to their last appointment, make it memorable.

💡 Pro-tip: If tech isn't your forte, there are tools to simplify this. Look for platforms that combine communication needs - think VoIP phones, messaging, automation, and review monitoring, all in one.

Something Sweet

🍭Stuff so sweet you might get a cavity..

This made our week this week and we wanted to share!

Miscellaneous

😅P.S. … I forgot something

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