For dental continuing education company, Sleep Group Solutions, every day is sleep apnea awareness day. For the rest of the world, the American Sleep Apnea Association lists Sleep Apnea Awareness day as April 18.
This week, media outlets across the country are running special programing and raising awareness of sleep disorders, as well as many dental offices across the country are offering free sleep apnea screenings. Sleep Group Solutions is offering dentists incentives to learn ‘Sleep’, including free dental continuing education credits, as well as dental sleep medicine courses at a substantial discount. Sleep Group Solutions is also raising awareness by sharing the top 10 signs you may have sleep apnea.
With over 80 million people undiagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), it's assumed more physicians would implement greater OSA treatments in their practices. Interestingly enough, dentists are among the small group of practitioners stepping up, to take on the sleepy killer, OSA. "In sleep apnea chronic, low oxygen levels in the blood stress brain and heart function," explains Dr. Michael Hnat, a Pittsburgh area dentist who screens and treats patients for sleep apnea in his general dentistry practice, Progressive Dental Solutions.
"Research indicates that 90% of individuals with the disease are still undiagnosed. Dentists qualified in sleep medicine can custom fabricate a simple device worn over the teeth that keeps the tongue from blocking the airway allowing for adequate breathing and oxygen levels while asleep," comments Dr. Hnat on his OSA treatment method. Sleep apnea is a dangerous disorder with serious side effects, which span from heart attack to death. Dr. Hnat emphasizes the importance of getting screened by a general dentist or sleep doctor as the first line of defense. Sleep Group Solutions and Dr. Hnat have composed a list of the top 10 sleep apnea symptoms and signs to look for.
Top 10 signs you may have OSA:
-Snoring
-Daytime fatigue and sleepiness
-Obesity
-Hypertension (high blood pressure)
-Repeated awakenings during sleep
-Depression
-Irritability
-Morning headaches
-Decreased concentration, focus and memory loss
-Rapid or irregular heartbeat
In an effort to get more dentists to offer this life saving treatment to patients, Sleep Group Solutions offers free webinars, and 2-day live CE seminars at a discounted price. "The more dentists that can offer treatment options, the better. We (SGS) offer free webinars, as well as CE seminars on the topic to teach a proper sleep protocol to dentists,” says Rani Ben-David, President of Sleep Group Solutions. Dentists are encouraged to log onto SleepGS.com to view a free webinar, or to register for a course in Dental Sleep Medicine.
For individuals who suffer, or have symptoms of sleep apnea, testing is encouraged. Patients can log on to SleepTest.com to take an online sleep test, or to find a sleep medicine dentist near them.
About Sleep Group Solution
Sleep Group Solutions is an airway diagnostic technology company serving the needs of physicians and dentists interested in screening, diagnosing and treating sleep apnea and other upper airway disorders. Sleep Group Solutions offers the latest screening and diagnostic equipment solutions for patients with allergy, sinus congestion, rhinitis, deviated septum, nasal polyps, snoring and sleep apnea. SGS offers the most comprehensive dental sleep medicine CE seminars in the industry focused on teaching dentists the protocols needed to make the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea part of their practice. Sleep Group Solutions offers sleep study interpretation, oral appliances (Norad Boil & Bite, Respire), online directory 1800SleepLab.com and online marketing for CPAP Intolerant patients (1800Sleeptest). SGS is the manufacturer of the Eccovision Systems Rhinometer and Pharyngometer, and offers Home Sleep Testing devices from Watermark Medical.
