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Oct / Nov 2017
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Treating Sleep Apnea Is a Moral Imperative Why I’ve Dedicated Years to Researching Sleep Medicine
I’m the type of person who’s constantly searching for new things to learn — new knowledge I can incorporate into my practice in order to provide the best care possible for my patients. To that end, around five years ago when I was looking for continuing education opportunities in my field, I discovered an area of health care that I didn’t know much about: sleep medicine. At the time, I hardly knew anything about sleep apnea. I hadn’t had any experience with the disorder myself, and I believed that none of my friends or family had either (although I know now that belief was almost certainly false). After doing some initial research, I became intrigued so I signed up for the course. I quickly learned that, far from being a niche disorder causing minor problems in a small group of individuals, sleep apnea is a dangerous epidemic across America, with millions and millions of people unknowingly suffering from this potentially fatal disorder. Make no mistake, the effects of sleep apnea kill millions of people, shaving 12 to 15 years off people’s lives. Even in nonfatal cases, it contributes to a wide array of massive health problems and quality-of-life issues. Up to 90 percent of sleep apnea cases are undiagnosed, and even among those that are diagnosed, only about 25 percent are successfully treated — about 40-50 percent of those patients who are put on CPAP (the most widely prescribed remedy for sleep apnea) cannot tolerate this treatment. I learned that a
properly constructed oral appliance can be effective in reducing or eliminating sleep apnea in mild and moderate cases of the condition, and can even help in more severe cases where a patient cannot (or will not) tolerate CPAP therapy. During class one day, the instructor paused and looked at us with a very solemn expression. “Now that you have this knowledge,” he said, “You can’t just go back and ignore this anymore. Now, you have an obligation to help.” I took his words very seriously. I immediately invested in some basic equipment and immersed myself in the world of dental sleep medicine, learning absolutely everything I could. With every new fact I learned about the disorder, I felt more and more that it was my moral imperative to help
curb this silent killer. It’s been one of my main focuses throughout the last five years.
Just recently, I achieved the “Qualified Dentist” designation from the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM), the premier organization in the field. Many dentists out there take a weekend course in sleep apnea and then declare themselves experts, but the Qualified Dentist title shows patients I’ve put in dozens of additional hours into mastering the intricacies of sleep medicine and oral appliance therapy. It’s more than just a badge to me. Not only that, but I’m embarking this month on a process that will eventually lead to the highest designation available: Diplomate status. Receiving this prestigious designation often takes almost two years. It requires 50 hours of continuing education in sleep medicine, the completion of a lengthy written examination, as well as extensive documentation and presentation of 15 cases of sleep apnea successfully treated with oral appliance therapy. It’ll be a ton of work, but it’s important to me that I truly provide the best care I can to each and every one of my patients. It’s vital to me that my patients have the capability to breathe easily and sleep well throughout the night, getting the rest they need to live full, happy, healthy lives.
“Now that you have this knowledge,” he said,“You can’t just go back and ignore this anymore. Now, you have an obligation to help.”
- Dr. Joel Nathanson
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Do More Harm Than Good? Do Kids’ Menus
Kids can be picky eaters. This is a fact recognized by parents and restaurants alike — hence the classic children’s menu featured at many restaurants around the country. These menus are virtually identical: chicken tenders, mac and cheese, grilled cheese, french fries, and so on. Kids’ menus are loaded with fried foods and cheap carbs. Some parents love the kids’ menu. It makes deciding on food easier. Or, at least, that’s what we tell ourselves. Kids’ menus are populated with foods practically every kid loves. But they have a dark side. Aside from poor nutrition, the kids’ menu changes the family dynamic. In an interview with Eater.com, television chef and host Alton Brown (who you may know from “Good Eats,” “Iron Chef America,” and “Cutthroat Kitchen”) said, “Never, ever, ever, ever, ever let your kid eat from the children’s menu at restaurants and never, ever, ever make your kid special food to allow them to avoid whatever the family is eating.”
of the children’s menu, you relinquish culinary control to your kids. The next time you go out as a family or you make a delicious meal at home, they are more likely to demand “their” food. This is a habit a child can quickly adopt — and a habit that’s tough to break. Kids are picky eaters because, as parents and adults, we let them be picky eaters. We perpetuate bad habits. But it doesn’t have to be this way. In a Mom.me article, Dr. Cara Natterson suggests kids eat what the rest of the family eats. For instance, let them indulge in the appetizer menu, then build up to the entrée menu and let them share and sample your food. Encourage culinary exploration. When you encourage your kids to avoid the children’s menu, you give them an opportunity to expand their flavor horizons. More importantly, it helps them make healthier choices that aren’t loaded with fat and empty carbs. Make going out to dinner a learning experience, and before you know it, the phrase “kids’ menu” will have disappeared from your family’s vocabulary.
Why? During his “Alton Brown Live!” tour, he explained that it comes down to control. By giving kids the option
Meet Dr. Leah Romay The Newest Addition to the Nathanson Dental Family!
If you’ve stopped in to Nathanson Dental in the past few weeks, it’s likely you noticed a fresh face around the office: Dr. Leah Romay, our wonderful new associate dentist! We’re thrilled to add Dr. Romay to our team. Her energy, creativity, and passion have already proven invaluable since she joined us in August. “I first set my sights on dentistry in high school,” she says. “I have always loved science and the arts,” (Dr. Romay minored in studio arts in college!) She continues, “I knew I wanted to combine my two loves into a career that would allow me to use my skills and abilities to help people.” She worked tirelessly toward this goal through high school and at the University of Pittsburgh. Following her undergraduate education, she attended dental school and the University of Maryland, a prestigious program and the first dental school in the world. As a dental student, she was involved in many community service endeavors and was President of the Gamma Pi Delta Prosthodontic Honors Society, Vice President of the Maryland Student Chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists, Secretary of the Prosthodontic Interest Group, and Member of the
Gorgas Odontological Honors Society. Following dental school, she completed one year of residency training with a focus on prosthodontics and implants. We’ve loved having her around, and she’s enjoyed her first two months at Nathanson Dental greatly. “The office has state-of-the-art equipment and the facilities are beautiful,” she says, “which allows us all to do our best work.”
“The other side of the equation is that all of the staff are so friendly and excellent at engaging our patients,” she says. “That’s a huge factor in providing the best dental care possible – everyone here is very committed.” With a special focus in prosthodontics – crowns, bridges, implants, removable partials and dentures, or any prosthetic tooth or gums – Dr. Romay is an expert at making smiles more beautiful than ever before, as well as optimizing their natural function and health. Outside of work, you can find Dr. Romay cooking, baking, or seeking out new knowledge. “I started out making all kinds of cakes and pastries,” she tells us. “Now, I like all different types of cooking.” Her latest interesting creation? Handmade pasta. “It was worth all of the time I spent,” she says. “I’d definitely do it again.” Next time you’re in the area, stop by and say hello to Dr. Romay. She loves hearing from her new patients. We look forward to working with her for the years to come.
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Gatsby’s DC Fireworks New Year’s Eve Yacht Party! Win VIP tickets
We’re Here to Help 22 Million Americans Suffer From Sleep Apnea
October 1 to December 29
We spend about a third of our lives sleeping, yet, according to the Sleep Apnea Association of America (SAAA), over 22 million Americans aren’t getting the oxygen they need during sleep. Sleep apnea is a serious condition that causes breathing problems during the night. Breathing will either become intermittent, restricted, or stop completely. Besides being a nuisance, causing inadequate sleep and constant fatigue throughout your day, sleep apnea can lead to all sorts of problems, contributing to heart disease, elevated blood pressure, diabetes, and even an increased risk of cancer. Recent studies show that those with severe sleep apnea may be up to three times more likely to die prematurely, according to WebMD. Without treatment, this risk only increases. The scariest part about sleep apnea is that most people suffering from it haven’t got a clue that they have it. Since they usually don’t fully wake up when experiencing an apnea event, they usually have no memory of it. Of those 22 million Americans suffering from sleep apnea, the SAAA estimates that as many as 80 percent of cases go undiagnosed. Luckily, Dr. Nathanson is a passionate advocate for testing, diagnosing, and treating this life-threatening condition. Along with our team of experts, he’ll do everything he can to determine whether or not you suffer from sleep apnea, and use cutting-edge sleep medicine technologies and treatment to give you the good night’s sleep you deserve. Don’t live life in an exhausted fog, risking your health every time you rest your head at night. Let all of us at Nathanson Dental get to the root of the problem and help you to find the solutions that will let you rest easily.
Train Your Brain!
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Inside
THIS ISSUE
Treating Sleep Apnea Is a Moral Imperative Page 1 Do Kids’ Menus Do More Harm Than Good? Page 2
Meet Dr. Romay, Our New Dentist Page 2
We’re Dedicated to Treating Sleep Apnea Page 3
Office Giveaway Page 3
5 Fascinating Facts About Fall Page 4
5 Fascinating Facts About Fall
2. Fall babies tend to be impressive. Not only does the world’s most common birthday, October 5, land in fall, but those babies have built an impressive resume. The British Department for Education found that they tend to do better in school and also tend to live longer. 3. Weight gain is most common in the fall. It’s not only the Halloween candy or Thanksgiving turkey. Researchers believe it’s primarily caused by lower levels of vitamin D. As the days shorten and temperatures drop, we tend to get less sun. It’s another reason to be careful about diet and exercise this season.
4. Autumn is good for the economy. “Leaf peeping,” which is a slang term for fall foliage tourism, is more than just a funny name. It’s also a $3 billion industry in New England alone. So, if you thought winter and summer were the only seasons that brought along seasonal tourism spikes, you thought wrong. 5. People fall in love more in the fall. Men and women’s testosterone levels tend to spike in the autumn, which makes women even more attractive to men than in the summer months. A data study on Facebook also found that more people change their relationship status from “single” to “in a relationship” during the fall than any other season.
The end of summer doesn’t have to signal an end to fun. How about sweater weather, Halloween parties, and football season? The list goes on and on. In fact, fall might be the most interesting season of them all. Here are five facts you probably didn’t know about the season. 1. It was originally called “harvest.” The reasons for that should be fairly obvious. In a world that was far more agricultural, the season was defined by the harvesting of crops. It’s also a reference to the harvest moon, which was essential to farmers during the season. The name “fall” is used almost exclusively in America.
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