Precision. Heritage. Innovation.

When it comes to fabricating the Open Loop Cricket (OLC), dentists worldwide trust Gergen’s Orthodontic Lab — the leading supplier of this revolutionary appliance.

With its three-dimensional developmental approach, the OLC is designed to:

• Decompress TMJ strain and correct cranial asymmetry.

• Improve airway tone and tongue function.

• Deliver lasting outcomes by working with the body’s natural cranial motion.

Why Partner with Gergen’s

• Legacy of excellence: David Gergen, CDT, worked closely with pioneers like Dr. Ricketts and is recognized as one of the most respected dental technicians in the world.

• Trusted collaboration: Official lab partner for Dr. Tim Adams and the American Sleep and Breathing Academy, ensuring fidelity to the OLC’s design.

• Global recognition: Showcased during international exchanges, including ASBA’s Phoenix Study Club featuring Dr. Gopal of Manipal College of Dental Sciences.

• Full-service workflow: From digital impressions to final delivery, Gergen’s Lab provides precision fabrication and expert guidance on every case.

Ready to Prescribe the OLC?

Download the Prescription Form for the Open Loop Cricket
Submit digital files and start cases with confidence, knowing your patients will benefit from the finest craftsmanship in dental sleep medicine.

Note for clinicians: Evidence for the OLC is emerging, with case reports and expert opinion guiding best practices. We encourage training and careful case selection for optimal outcomes.

 Read Dr. Tim Adam’s Intro. on the OLC to learn more introduction-to-the-open-loop-cricket

]]> https://gergensortho.com/open-loop-cricket-exclusive-fabrication-at-gergens-orthodontic-lab/feed/ 0 https://gergensortho.com/the-reason-dr-kravitz-joined-asba/ https://gergensortho.com/the-reason-dr-kravitz-joined-asba/#respond Thu, 23 Jul 2020 22:14:19 +0000 http://gergensortho.com/?p=36546 I am  Dr. Kravitz and have been wanting to expand my dental practice in these hard times. I also want to make sure I can offer a solution that will help my patients live a better and healthier life. This is why I joined the ASBA ( American Sleep and Breathing Academy ). I use Gergen’s orthodontic lab for all TMJ Splints, Bionators, functionals and retainers.

I recently visited the site Gergen’s website and realized they do sleep medicine. I spoke to David Gergen about the advancement in sleep medicine. I wasn’t surprised to find out David Gergen worked hand in hand with the Icon’s the founders of dental sleep medicine  Dr. Ricketts and Dr Spiegel.

During our conversation David answered all my questions plus more. This is why the ASBA has such and advantage. Not only does David have first-hand working knowledge of sleep medicine  he is still manufacturing appliances himself to make sure the Gergen’s quality remains  highest in the anywhere.

David not only gave me the confidence I needed to start offering sleep medicine, he also held my hand through the entire process. Sleep medicine in itself is another animal and they didn’t go over it  in dental school. I am writing this letter as pure gratitude to David Gergen and his incredible in-depth knowledge that he shared willingly. He also sent Phonetic Bite Dr Ricketts developed back in 80’s

Dr. Ricketts believed in taking a bite while the jaw naturally comes off the eminence. He originally did this using a numbering system. This is used to find the vertical and A.P

To find the vertical position have the patient sit straight up and count from 55-75. Make sure they count evenly and steady. You will be watching for their maximum vertical opening. Fives, eights, and nines are most common.

I learned along the way finding the A.P. distance using words was adopted. Originally the number 66 was used, but didn’t always work. Alternatively, the words Mississippi, Ohio, the “f” sound, is the most effective. When “n” is added, as in shun, it often gives the most protrusive position as well as the most vertical in a natural eminence.

Using these techniques will give you a high success rate in catching a proper phonetic sleep bite while keeping the jaw in a natural state.

I highly suggest you join the ASBA and use Gergen Ortho for all Sleep and Ortho work

Orthodontic is a long-term investment and retainers turn to be the only method that keeps your teeth from going back to the original state. Ligaments and tissues of your mouth require some time to adjust to your teeth’s new position, and because ligaments are elastic in nature, they have a tendency to return to their older form, simultaneously taking the teeth along with them. Retainers work very well in maintaining the new position of the teeth and hence, we at Gergen’s Orthodontic Lab strongly recommend our patients to wear it after their orthodontic treatment.

On removal of braces, your orthodontist will automatically give you guidance on when and how to wear a retainer. While some of you might be asked to wear your retainer around the clock during the initial months, others might get the freedom to wear them at night only. But this entirely depends upon your case and amending the wearing routine should never be taken into account without consulting an orthodontist.

Delving deeper into the realm of retainers, Hawley retainers came into existence initially and are, therefore, known to be one of the oldest and most common types of the same. A combination of plastic and metal are used to prepare them and their primary goal is to stabilize your teeth’s position while the bone around them hardens. Hawley retainers are fragile and demand care as well as attention. They, however, are the best in the market place when it comes to retaining “literally” and can be removed as per convenience. Below mentioned are a few perks of using Hawley retainers:

• The style of the retainer is adjustable as well as removable. This makes it easy to customize to the patient’s needs.
• If the patient has not been able to wear the retainer regularly with commitment, then the orthodontic expert holds the ability to adjust this type of retainer easily.
• It’s a lot more durable in comparison to other types. And can be repaired upon breakage, unlike others which do not always hold the capacity of undergoing a repair and ultimately get replaced, only.
• Just like braces, Hawley retainers are available in an assortment of colors. One has the freedom to choose.

You need to brush your Hawley retainer twice a day to remove residual plaque. For additional refreshing, you can soak it in a mixture of antiseptic mouthwash and water.

Seeking help from Gergen’s Orthodontic Lab is a great way of retaining your beautiful smile for a lifetime. Contact us today to begin your new journey to a perfect smile. 

Over the previous decade, there’s been a critical ascent in awareness pertaining to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) along with the risks involved in the same.

In the event that the sheer number of people affected by this condition isn’t sufficiently alarming, it might come as a stun that even a portion of the top proficient competitors in the country who are respected on magazine covers and displayed on TV, experience the ill effects of sleep apnea. NFL players are hard hit by this condition, in particular.

What comes across as shock is the fact that a lot of present and previous NFL players do not even have the foggiest idea that they are living with this genuine issue. On the contrary, in cases where players know they have this problem too aren’t effectively seeking any treatment. One of the reasons behind not taking up treatment is that they are not aware of the options accessible to them. Most of them do not even know about the CPAP masks or oral appliances and even if they do, they find it extremely difficult to use them on a nightly basis.

What keeps these cases from getting diagnosed?

Regardless of the expanding knowledge and awareness about sleep apnea as of late, confusion about it still persists. In particular, there’s an absence of comprehension about the signs and warnings of the same. Wheezing, snoring, morning sickness and daytime sluggishness are the most common examples of sleep apnea that may appear to be innocuous in daily life. These, howbeit, at the same time come across as warning signals which should not be ignored at any cost. Regularly, this is the situation with people who live alone, as wheezing or rehashed stops in breathing may go undetected.

Problems caused by sleep apnea generally include:

1- Daytime sluggishness

2- Migraines

3- Irritation

4-Hormonal problems

5- Relationship issues

6- Drowsy driving habits

7- Fluctuating mood swings

8- Acute or mild depression

For NFL players with sleep apnea, these impacts can have negative results on the field as well, for example,

1- Postponed response times

2- Absence of vitality

3- Lack of concentration

4- Low energy

Beyond instant consequences, there are various other health risks that come handy with sleep apnea, if it is not treated properly at the right time. Some of these long-term issues include irregular heartbeat, blood pressure problems, risk of dementia, stroke and heart attack. Sleep apnea in worse cases may also result in sudden and early deaths. Gergens is open and   is the leading manufacture of the oral appliances contact us today.

There has been a great deal of inquiry concerning the security of utilizing CPAP machines in case you have been tested positive for coronavirus or are in danger of getting it. As every community and industry is looking for ways to support their society members through this emergency, we need to ensure you have the most updated information about the effect of COVID-19 on adults and children suffering from sleep apnea.

Can Sleep Apnea Make You Highly Susceptible to Coronavirus?

There is no immediate association between having rest apnea and having a higher danger of getting coronavirus. People with a higher chance of getting infected by this virus incorporate individuals who recently developed sleep apnea or those whose conditions are exacerbated by rest apnea. These categories usually consist of smokers, individuals with blood pressure issues, hypertension, and breathing issues such as COPD and asthma.

On the off chance that you moderate or just mild sleep apnea, or in case you have extremely obstructive sleep apnea and cannot endure or continue proceeding with what you have been provided with, consult your specialist immediately to know what can be done amidst this situation.
Oral appliance therapy, in general, is the most effective treatment available for this problem and the chances of it causing you any trouble during this time is very rare. However, in case of discomfort and inconvenience, removal of all these appliances should be looked forward to immediately until further instructions of the doctor.

If you are interested in learning more about oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea, contact us today

More than 40 former NFL players woke up early on Saturday, November 16, 2019 in an attempt to create a positive pathway for their health as opposed to responding to problems that may occur in the future. This was possible thanks to Living Heart Foundation (LHF) and the NFLPA’s Professional Athletes Foundation (PAF) health assessment at Anaheim Regional Medical Center where the retired athletes attended and went through several screening stations that used the latest techniques in identifying potential concerns.

Sleep is becoming more of a focal point in health each year, but not just how much sleep you get or at what times; the airway and what happens (or doesn’t happen) during sleep is now under the microscope.Every LHF/PAF health assessment for the former players contains an obstructive sleep apnea station that is overseen by Pro Player Health Aliance (PPHA) who chooses local highly qualified and experienced dental professionals who are American Sleep and Breathing Academy (ASBA) diplomates to conduct the screening for sleep disordered breathing. Dr. Bradley Eli, Dr. Alex Kalmanovich and Dr. Dian Olah we’re selected for this event and received spectacular feedback from the players.

Once former players complete a brief Epworth Sleepiness and STOP-BANG form to establish their risk for sleep disordered breathing, they have the option to accept a home sleep test (HST) which is administered by Ez Sleep Home Sleep Testing on site. Ez Sleep has 24/7 patient support, instructional videos/papers and a return shipping label for every patient who is tested. The results are interpreted by a board certified sleep physician who provides a diagnosis and treatment options.

Depending on the outcome of the HST report, the players are able to receive treatment with a CPAP or oral appliance therapy. Oral appliances are exclusively fabricated by Gergen’s Sleep Appliance Lab and sent back to the treating doctor in under two weeks. The PAF OSA program has effectively changed the lives of hundreds of former players who are now able to receive a better night’s sleep.

If you are interested in learning more about the OSA program, ASBA Diplomacy, PPHA, Ez Sleep In-Home Testing or Gergen’s Sleep Appliance Lab, please email skylar@myasba.com.

During OSA episodes, shallow or paused breathing can lead to reduced blood oxygen saturation, which is measured as an apnea hypopnea index (AHI) during sleep tests. Physicians agree that a high AHI degrades organ function over time, which can eventually contribute to premature death. Reduced energy during the day is another obvious result of poor sleep. Those with high AHI numbers are literally waking up several times per hour, making restorative sleep impossible. The goal of sleep apnea treatment is to reduce the AHI number to single digits, or even zero.

For current players, sleep apnea can translate into poor performance on the field, and a less healthy body. “Consider that NFL players seek out every edge they can to capitalize on what amounts to short and lucrative careers,” says David Gergen, CEO of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy (ASBA). “Proper sleep, and avoiding OSA, should be top of mind for current NFL players who are looking to improve their health and better their performance on the field.”

Meanwhile, many former players who used to throw around their weight to great effect on the field, are often obese after retirement and have avery high incidence of sleep apnea.

“When a player’s athletic career ends, the level of exercise is reduced dramatically while caloric intake often remains high,” adds Andre Collins, Executive Director of the Professional Athletes Foundation and NFLPA Director of Former Players Services. “This could lead to obesity, along with other serious comorbidities.”

Much like the growing awareness surrounding brain trauma and its effects, the problem of poor sleep is gaining traction in the public eye. The NFLPA’s Professional Athletes Foundation, The Living Heart Foundation and Pro Player Health Alliance [PPHA]) work together with former NFL players to make the problems associated with poor sleep known to the public.

Players are eager to talk about OSA because they see the benefits of oral appliance therapy (OAT),

The goal is toeducate former player members and their families with the knowledge needed to tackle this tough subject and live the healthiest life possible.”

Super Bowl Champion and All Pro offensive lineman, Derek Kennard, went a long way toward living a healthier life when OSA treatment lowered his AHI from 72 to 2. He used some of the extra energy from radically improved slumber to work out more often, eventually losing a whopping 145 pounds.

All pro and two-time MVP runner up, Roy Green, who started at wide receiver most of his career and for a few years started on both sides of the ball, had three heart attacks and two strokes before being treated with an oral appliance for OSA. Since beginning the treatment, he has had no further heart attacks or strokes. With an AHI that went from 32 to 7 since using the Herbst Appliance, the 60-year-old Green says he feels better than he has in decades.

Green and Gergen have spread the word about OSA through Pro Player Health Alliance, holding free public awareness events in cities across the United States. Green’s extensive connections, along with his involvement in PPHA, has brought hundreds of former players, to try much-needed OSA treatment.

Players who take their health to heart should not overlook the vital component of proper sleep in a healthy lifestyle. If you are interested in learning more about the sleep program, contact the PAF’s Laura Stefanow at 800.372.2000.

The key point of distinction of course is what drives medical care in the United States is reimbursement. The story for CPAP in the reimbursment arena since competitive bidding became an issue has slowly restricted access to care and fed a consolidation of providers. Fewer providers to provide care and the care they can afford to provide is less personal which results in lower compliance rates which results in lower reimbursement. January 1 2016 CMS cut CPAP reimbursement by 25%. Will this affect a diagnosed OSA patients ability to get great care of course it will.

On the other side of the ledger Oral Appliance therapy has not been a focus for CMS. The OAT program has been way underfunded. This has made access to oral devices for sleep apnea difficult for medicare patients. Dentists were not finding it easy to provide care for these patients because reimbursement was so low. January 1 2016 CMS raised reimbursement for OAT to $3700 in jurisdiction B (see attached EOB) If you don’t know your jurisdiction for medicare I have also added a map for your use.

I expect that this will increase access to care significantly. I feel it indicates a trend and perhaps insurers are ready to consider higher compliance rates and better return on sleep therapy dollars. After all the dental team sees the patient at minimum every six months which is a much better way to manage a lifelong condition with severe health implications.

Ribbon cutting ArrowHead Sleep Center

Date: Tuesday January 26, 2016

Location:  10:00 am ArrowHead Health Centers Glendale, AZ 

Fundraiser: Time: 7PM until 10 PM

Location: Padre Murphys Irish Pub, 4338 W Bell Rd, Glendale, AZ 85308

Sponsors: ArrowHead Pro Sleep, Gergens Orthodontic, Koala Sleep Centers, Redirect Health, ZQuiet, Budweiser, American Sleep and Breathing Academy

CHARITIES: Phoenix Police Foundation and 100 Club of Arizona Public Safety Officers

Speakers: Az Attorney General, Mark Brnovich (pronounced “Burn-O-Vich”)

Alberto Gutier, Director of Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS)

 Arrowhead Pro Sleep Grand Opening Flyer

“Because it takes a Team to be successful in Sleep Apnea” – David Gergen

David Gergen with Roy Green, Mark Walczak and Dr Kevin Meuller