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Several years back, when I began my journey in dental sleep medicine, I quickly identified that it is a calling for me to propel this field. I am to do so by using all that I have in me for the rest of my life. I understood that the best approach to fulfilling this calling is by doing decent and good old fashioned hard work with research, lecturing, mentoring continuing education, and creating my on intellectual property innovations. I was destined to make a change for the better. However, Little did I expect that it would lead me to the successful outcomes of where I am today. Meeting David Gergen and immersing myself with the Amercian Sleep and Breathing Academy have made me conclude that there’s divine intervention.
First, saying how incredible and nice so many Academy members have been to me is truly an understatement. This Academy is so positive and inspiring. The current board is looking to shape and improve all of dental sleep medicine. Their support, clinical experience and skills are priceless. Recently, I taught at Academy’s study club in Phoenix along side Dr’s. Timothy Adams, Diana Batoon and David Gergen. The amazing caliber of the topics taught ranged from correcting facial and cranial distortions, to expansion and quantum physics and to pediatric sleep medicine treatment options; and, that proved to all who attended that dentists have the ability to change and improve the world with dental sleep medicine. What was also so remarkable is that David Gergen was able to educate on the amazing orthodontic appliances that he’s been making for over 4 decades ! To him, he goes so far back, as he had the privilege to work with some of the world’s most respected and renowned orthodontists like Dr. Robert Ricketts and Dr. Paul Serrano as well as several others doing Crickets with loops, OC’s and Rickonators, etc. When combining those appliances with myofunctional therapy, thorough assessments of fascia (ankyloglossia), breathing (Buteyko), neurology, pH and biotensegrity, the sky is the limit on what we dentists can do to help our patients. It’s truly been an honor and privilege teaching along with these stellar intellectuals at the meeting. Moreover, it’s an honor for me to be the one to announce the next meeting coming up in 2025. It will continue the saga and have more advanced discussions alongside with excellent reviews.
Dave has referred me so many incredible people, too. From both NFL and NBA Hall of Famers, to celebrities from Hollywood, I was reminded of how down to earth, genuinely nice & friendly, and humble great people can be. I mean, these are people who have reached the pinnacle and were on top of their careers. The struggles and obstacles that they must all have met and overcame to be at that highest level is very noteworthy to me. Plus, they all know the value of loyalty, friendship and respect. Bottom line, they have character. They know how to leave every interaction they have with dignity and radiant light. I observed and confirmed that there are for sure several people in dental sleep medicine who can learn a thing or two from these giants. I also wanted to add how much Dave is a legend in his own right. He ran next to Carl Lewis for 100 m growing up and did professional boxing. How cool is that !
What also is amazing is regarding the sleep apnea cases I’ve done recently for veterans with Dave’s Herbst PDAC appliance. I have the honor to take care of real war-time heros, some who are double amputees and notably disabled for their service in the military. Although I’ve used Silibant phonetics bite methods in the past, it’s nothing like getting the exact specifics that comes from the creator of that bite method himself, that of Dr. Ricketts. There’s nothing in comparison. Dr. Ricketts had passed down his exact techniques to Dave. Dave then showed me all of Rickett’s pearls, like using the word “SHUN” in addition to counting the numbers, looking for 5’s, 6’s and 9’s. The clinical outcomes are nothing short of incredible. Most of them come back with AHI below 5 and such outstanding improvement on their oxygen saturation levels. Just the other day, a veteran with AHI of 49 and oxygen desaturating down to 78, had his post sleep test done and now with AHI of 2.7 and minimum oxygen at 91. These are the real, life changing, and life impacting treatment outcomes working with Dave. Again, I am so honored to have the opportunity to give it my all to help those veteran heros and give my personal thanks to them.
Dave has also told me several times that he must have came back from the dead for me. I now completely understand that. I feel that God sees my heart and knows that I simply want to help the world and to propel this field the best I can. I never thought that I would be meeting and connecting to all the great people from legends to celebrities, and Dave has connected me to so many of them. Coming back, I feel that Dave has been given the blessing of knowing who his true friends are, too.
Next, I want to express how unbelievable it is to work along side some of the world’s most remarkable and renowned physicians for projects to better our world. Dr.’s Patricio Reyes, Virend Somers, and Neal ElAttrache have all worked with me and are committed to new studies and research to improve and and advance the field of dental sleep medicine. WOW, how awesome is that ! I can’t express how wonderful it feels just to be in the same room talking with these giants. The sheer number of accomplishments, for example, that Dr. Reyes has done for Alzheimer’s, PTSD, concussions, and mental health, I’m simply blown away. Dr. Somers, as a famous cardiologist at Mayo, also leads the way for studies that will impact the NFL. And, Dr. ElAttrache, having done so many amazing things for Olympians and athletes, I am simply in awe of all of them. Furthermore, they even all told me how important it is to stay away from dorsal fin sleep appliances and to teach how magnificent the Herbst appliances are in dental sleep medicine: particularly involving the synovial fluid and TMJ anatomy and physiology. They all get the science behind that, and how important it is to spread evidence based findings. Again, it is my honor to work with these healthcare legends in conducting new research and important projects to advance sleep medicine.
Additionally, I have had the privilege to meet in person all the great lab technicians at Gergen’s Dental Lab. Their skills and experience just impressed me to no end. But more importantly, the humbleness and kindness of each of David’s team members displayed to me was not only extremely professional, but also simply impactful. I’ve been to so many labs in my life, and it is truly a gem in a haystack to see the quality of their craftsmanship and hard work ethic, which all of them have.
Finally, it truly is about divine intervention. I believe that it’s the perfect timing, the ideal place and what the universe has yet to unfold which will all have deep reason, meaning and purpose for me and my life. If I can be a simple instrument for the power of positivity, I will channel all that energy with hard work, synergistic motivation, and be carrying a team of people with me to improve and change the world.