U.S. Census Bureau Reports 62 Percent of Washington Adults Are Overweight, While 26 Percent of the Community is Obese
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions and has long been considered a dominating factor in as many as 50 percent of OSA patients (Laura Meinke, MD 9/11/2010). A 2012 CDC report in Washington state concluded 26 percent of adults are obese, while 62 percent are overweight. Dentists are attending dental CE courses with Sleep Group Solutions, to learn their role in the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea. The Seattle, Washington course is November 8-9th at the Hilton Seattle Airport and Conference Center, Dentists and Hygienists are encouraged to attend.
With an evident bilateral association between obesity and sleep disordered breathing (F Crummy, A J Piper and M T Naughton), screening patients who are obese or have high blood pressure, hypertension, diabetes, or who snore, are of utmost importance. “Neck circumference, which is a surrogate marker for obesity, is also predictive of OSA. Weight loss is also recommended as a treatment option for the management of OSA, but with limited success,” says Dr. Marty Lipsey, an instructor with Sleep Group Solutions, who is lecturing at the Seattle Dental Sleep Medicine seminar. Multiple arousals associated with OSA interrupt the endocrine system in such a way that many hormones associated with obesity, appetite and metabolism are affected. “Depending on the severity of the OSA, many cases can be effectively treated with an oral device, which keeps the airway open during sleep, allowing for airflow and oxygen.”
With the help of technology and continuing education, more dentists are beginning to treat Sleep Apnea effectively. Companies such as Sleep Group Solutions offer advanced acoustic imaging, home sleep testing, in office training, instrumentation, and seminars to raise awareness of OSA in the dental community. “Doctors are screening a lot of patients with OSA through our technology and home sleep testing devices. Awareness is definitely on the rise, and that’s the first step,” says John Nadeau, Vice President of Sleep Group Solutions. With a proven track record of success, education, and technology- the Sleep Group Solutions Protocol is quickly becoming a standard in many dental offices around the world.
For dentists looking to learn more about offering treatment for patients who snore or have sleep apnea, please learn more at a two-day lecture with Sleep Group Solutions.
About Dr. Marty Lipsey
Dr. Marty Lipsey, received his DDS degree from UCLA and a Master of Science from Northwestern University Dental School. Dr. Lipsey is the founder of Dental Sleep Med Systems, offering dental teams assistance in implementing and/or improving their dental sleep medicine practices, including electronic medical billing and successful insurance coding and processing. Dr. Lipsey is also a Sleep Group Solutions Instructor, and teaches Dental Sleep Medicine regularly.
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. SGS is the manufacturer of the Eccovision Systems Rhinometer and Pharyngometer, and offers Home Sleep Testing devices from Watermark Medical.
