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In Today’s Edition:

• Tirzepatide Shows Promise in Sleep Apnea Treatment

• Industry Events [Updated]

• What happens to your body when you have sleep apnea? [Video]

5-minute read👇

Clinical Corner

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Key Takeaways🔑

Tirzepatide Shows Promise in Sleep Apnea Treatment

New research shows that a medication called tirzepatide could be a game-changer for patients with sleep apnea and obesity. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that this drug significantly improved breathing during sleep and helped with weight loss.

Breaking Down the Study

The researchers ran two year-long trials with patients who had moderate to severe sleep apnea and obesity. They split patients into two groups: those who used CPAP machines and those who didn't. Before starting, patients had about 50 breathing pauses per hour during sleep and were clinically obese.

The results were impressive. Patients who weren't using CPAP saw their breathing pauses drop by 25 events per hour, while those taking a dummy pill only improved by 5. CPAP users did even better, with 29 fewer events per hour compared to 6 with the dummy pill. These improvements are much better than what we usually see with regular weight loss programs, where losing 10% of body weight typically only reduces breathing pauses by 30%.

Patients also slept better, had lower blood pressure, and showed less inflammation in their bodies. Side effects were mostly mild stomach issues that patients could handle.

What This Means for Dental Sleep Treatment

For dental sleep professionals who make oral appliances, these findings matter because:

1. As patients lose weight, their mouth and throat shape will change, requiring appliance adjustments.

2. We need to plan for these changes when choosing what type of appliance to make.

3. We'll need to check patients more often to make sure their appliances still fit well.

Making It Work in Practice

To successfully treat patients who might use tirzepatide, dental sleep practices should:

• Keep in close contact with the doctors prescribing the medication

  • Share results with your referral network!

• Check appliance fit regularly

• Teach patients what changes to expect

The Bigger Picture

We've known for years that excess weight affects sleep apnea in two ways: it puts pressure on the throat and affects how throat muscles work during sleep. Tirzepatide seems to work so well because it helps reduce fat both around the neck and throughout the body.

Looking Forward

This new treatment could change how we help sleep apnea patients. To make it work best, dental sleep professionals need to:

• Work closely with weight loss specialists! Sleep has a bi-directional relationship with weight loss and would be so powerful for your severe patients!

• Keep clear records of patient progress. Share your results with your referral network!

While tirzepatide looks very promising, it's just one part of treating sleep apnea. Dental sleep professionals still play a crucial role in helping patients breathe better at night through properly fitted oral appliances and other modalities. Our ability to adapt to these new treatments will help us provide the best care possible for our patients.

Business of Sleep

📈Better businesses = more lives saved!

Social Media Marketing: A Data-Driven Approach for Dental Sleep Practices

Recent analysis from healthcare marketing firms shows dental practices using social media effectively gain 3-5 new patients per month through these channels alone. For dental sleep practices, this targeted approach has proven particularly valuable, as sleep apnea patients actively seek treatment information online.

The Data Behind Social Success

A 2024 healthcare marketing study revealed three key findings for dental practices:

• 82% of patients check online reviews before selecting a healthcare provider

• Practices posting 3-4 times per week see 2.5x more engagement than those posting sporadically

• Educational content receives 7x more shares than promotional posts

• Video content about sleep apnea gets 4x more engagement than static posts

Effective Platform Strategy

Research shows dental sleep practices succeed most with this focused approach:

Primary Platform (Month 1-3): Focus exclusively on Google Business Profile first. Practices report 40% increase in local search visibility within 90 days by posting weekly updates and responding to all reviews within 24 hours.

Secondary Platform (Month 4-6): Add Facebook, concentrating on educational content about sleep apnea. Practices spending 15 minutes daily on engagement see average response rates increase by 60%.

Content That Converts

Data from successful dental sleep practices shows these topics generate the most patient inquiries:

• Sleep apnea symptoms and risks (85% engagement rate)

• Treatment options and comparisons (73% engagement rate)

• Patient success stories (68% conversion to consultations)

• Insurance and financing information (54% lead generation)

Time Management Reality

Most successful practices spend their social media time this way:

• 2 hours on weekend: Content creation and scheduling

• 15 minutes daily: Responding to comments and messages

• 1 hour monthly: Analyzing metrics and adjusting strategy

Measuring Real Results

Track these specific metrics:

• New patient consultations from social media

• Cost per new patient acquisition

• Post engagement rates

• Website traffic from social platforms

• Conversion rate from social visitor to consultation

Cost Considerations

Average monthly investment for successful practices:

• Staff time: 10-12 hours ($300-500 value)

• Content creation tools: $50-100

• Targeted advertising: $200-300

• Total monthly investment: $550-900

Expected return: $3,000-5,000 in new patient revenue

Implementation Plan

Week 1: Setup and Baseline

• Update Google Business Profile

• Take new office and team photos

• Document current patient acquisition numbers

Week 2-4: Content Development

• Create 12 educational posts about sleep apnea

• Film 2-3 short educational videos

• Develop response templates for common questions

Monthly Maintenance

• Schedule 3 posts per week

• Respond to all comments within 4 hours

• Review metrics every 30 days

• Adjust strategy based on engagement data

This targeted approach typically generates 2-3 new sleep apnea consultations monthly within the first 90 days, with results improving as the strategy matures.

Remember: Success in social media marketing comes from consistency and measurement, not perfection. Start small, measure carefully, and scale what works.

Something Sweet

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Industry Events

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Miscellaneous

😅P.S. … I forgot something

What happens to your body when you have sleep apnea?