David Gergen, CDT

At the bench

David worked as the personal technician to some of the best-known names in orthodontics, building appliances to their designs and learning how they think about a case. That is where the lab’s habit of working with the prescriber, rather than just filling the prescription, comes from.

He has taught orthodontic technicians at the Arizona Institute of Technology, has been on the Arizona State University sports and medicine team since 1991, and contributed an overview of clasps to Dr. Daniel Grob’s article on modern retention. His work with Dr. A. Paul Serrano in the late 1980s grew into the Serrano fixed retainer. At ASBA meetings he teaches the Ricketts phonetic bite registration.

Dental sleep medicine

David ran his first sleep training program for dentists in 2011 and went on to teach oral appliance fabrication and bite registration at courses across the country. When Medicare narrowed its coverage in 2012 to the Herbst-type appliance, Gergen’s was one of two laboratories in the country able to fabricate it for Medicare patients.

In 2013 the American Sleep and Breathing Academy (ASBA) asked him to build its dental division, and he now serves as the Academy’s CEO. The ASBA is a non-vendor, evidence-based education organization for dentists and physicians who treat sleep disorders.

Pro Player Health Alliance

In 2012 David founded the Pro Player Health Alliance with former NFL players to bring sleep apnea screening and treatment to retired players. Through its Tackling Sleep Apnea events, Gergen’s provided oral appliances to qualified former players.

“I believe by spreading awareness we can save lives.”