In this issue:
A Letter to Dr. John Tucker
John,
Thank you for the excellent Glidewell program “Dental Sleep Medicine: Overcoming the Challenges to Successful Implementation,” which taught me and my staff how to become better involved in dental sleep medicine. I knew I had sleep problems because my wife tells me I snore, and I have also had trouble staying awake at the wheel for my entire adult life. Twenty-five years ago, I drove off a highway onto the grassy median and broke my drivetrain. Thankfully, I wasn’t hurt, but it did propel me to research more about these symptoms and their potential causes.
Last year, the GEMPro Wellness Monitor (Glidewell Direct; Irvine, Calif.) tests that you introduced in your class confirmed that I have a problem. Having purchased the GEMPro at the 2019 Glidewell Symposium, I am now sending myself through the entire program and giving my staff the opportunity to take the GEMPro home, too, so they will go through the screening sequences and will receive the appropriate corrective appliances if they have symptoms. I want the entire staff to be knowledgeable about the protocol, procedure and payment processes. Once we are all familiar with the treatment path, then we can start helping the many patients in our practice who also suffer from sleep-related breathing disorders.
I am so grateful to you and Glidewell for providing these classes, which are so informative and educational. Just like you, I am motivated to make screening for sleep-related breathing disorders a regular part of my practice because I have the problem myself, and that concern propels me to help others.
Sincerely,
Richard W. Leong, DDS
Melbourne, Florida
The GEMPro Wellness Monitor, available at glidewelldirect.com, is a device used to screen for the likelihood of obstructive sleep apnea in patients. This screening tool is used for the detection of airway issues and nighttime bruxism by measuring parafunctional electromyographic (EMG) activity, heart rate, oxygen saturation, body position and snore sounds.
Investing in your team is essential to successfully implement products like the GEMPro into your practice. Signing up for a course with Glidewell Clinical Education (glidewellcecenter.com) can help you and your staff learn how to best serve your patients through dental sleep medicine.
Dear Richard,
I am excited that you found our program to be engaging, but more importantly, that it has impacted you personally. Having your team use the GEMPro as well is a winning idea that will enable them to speak firsthand to your patients about the experience. You are well on your way to successfully screening patients for sleep-related breathing disorders. The GEMPro is an excellent way for you to monitor patient progress objectively. I have found that patients enjoy seeing the results of their treatment. It also provides excellent documentation for you to share with physicians.
While the GEMPro is excellent for screening, it is important to remember that we need a medical diagnosis before treating a patient. Alternatively, the Silent Nite® Sleep Appliance (Glidewell) is available with an “Informed Consent” legal document that enables dentists to prescribe the appliance as a provisional device until the patient can be evaluated by a sleep physician. For example, SleepTest.com is a very user-friendly platform for your patients to use when looking to obtain a diagnosis by a board-certified sleep doctor. In order to get reimbursed for this treatment, Pristine Medical Billing works diligently on your behalf with an integrity and honesty that benefits both you and your patients.
I can’t wait to hear about your progress. I am hopeful that, with the help from the GEMPro tests and educational opportunities at Glidewell, you will now be able to sleep peacefully and feel safer on the road. Thank you for being motivated to help yourself and your patients.
Sincerely,
John H. Tucker, DMD
