Ep.91, Two Problems. Two Solutions. One Team., Drs. David McIntosh, MD and Bill Harrell, DMD

In the longest episode in ASAP Pathway history 😄,  Dr. Stacy Becker welcomes back two highly respected guests: Dr. David McIntosh, an Australian ENT surgeon, and Dr. Bill Harrell, a board-certified orthodontist and dental sleep medicine provider. Together, they explore why the future of pediatric airway and sleep health depends on collaboration, better education, and a willingness to challenge long-standing professional paradigms. David and Bill share the story behind their partnership and the creation of the Airway Breathing Academy, an educational resource designed to help both parents and healthcare professionals navigate the complicated—and often contradictory—world of airway health.But this conversation goes much deeper.We discuss the relationship between nasal breathing, craniofacial growth, mouth breathing, sleep-disordered breathing, and orthodontic development. We challenge the idea that expansion alone can resolve every airway concern, examine the importance of evaluating tonsils and adenoids, and explore what CBCT imaging can—and cannot—tell us about a patient's airway.We also dive into the updated American Association of Orthodontists white paper, the interpretation of emerging research, and the dangers of oversimplifying complicated healthcare decisions on social media. David shares the moments that transformed his understanding of dentistry and orthodontics, while Bill explains why orthodontic education must look beyond tooth alignment to consider the nasal-maxillary complex and the bigger picture of function.One of the most important messages from this conversation? Mouth breathing is a symptom, not a diagnosis. And expansion is not a substitute for a comprehensive airway evaluation. We also discuss why some children have enlarged tonsils and adenoids, how clinicians can better communicate with families, and why debating which problem came first shouldn't delay helping the child in front of us. Because sometimes a child has two problems—and needs two solutions. Different specialties. Shared knowledge. One team working toward better outcomes for children.Learn more about David and Bill's educational initiative at airwaybreathingacademy.com.Dr. McIntosh IgDr. McIntosh FBDr. McIntosh LinkedINDr. Bill Harrell LinkedINDr. McIntosh YouTubeDr. Bill Harrell WebsiteCHAPTERS 📖00:00 Welcome to ASAP Pathway: Meet Drs. David McIntosh & Bill Harrell04:32 Why ENT–Orthodontic Collaboration Matters07:31 Introducing the Airway Breathing Academy12:24 Information vs. Knowledge: The Social Media Problem17:19 Why Expansion Doesn't Replace ENT Care25:07 David's Journey: What Dentistry Taught an ENT Surgeon33:02 Breaking Down Silos and Improving Patient Referrals36:21 CBCT, Nasal Anatomy & the Limits of Airway Imaging50:43 Sleep Fragmentation, Mouth Breathing & the AAO White Paper55:03 Why Nasal Breathing Matters Beyond Straight Teeth1:00:37 Mouth Breathing Is a Symptom, Not a Diagnosis1:04:43 Expansion, Tonsils, Adenoids & Misinterpreted Research1:12:49 Why Do Tonsils and Adenoids Become Enlarged?1:24:40 False Hope, Individualized Care & Helping Families1:32:20 Final Reflections, Resources & Three Random QuestionsLEARNINGS:💡1. Airway health requires collaboration. ENTs, orthodontists, dentists, and other healthcare professionals must understand one another's roles to provide comprehensive care.2. Information is not the same as knowledge. Social media can raise awareness, but oversimplified or inaccurate claims can leave parents confused about treatment options.3. Mouth breathing is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Identifying why a child is mouth breathing is essential before recommending treatment.4. Expansion is not a substitute for ENT care. Orthodontic expansion may address certain structural concerns, but it does not automatically resolve enlarged tonsils, adenoids, or other nasal obstructions.5. Craniofacial development and nasal breathing are connected. Understanding the nasal-maxillary complex can help clinicians recognize concerns that extend beyond tooth alignment.6. CBCT provides anatomical information, not a sleep diagnosis. Three-dimensional imaging can reveal structural findings, but a static scan cannot establish how the airway behaves during sleep.7. Screening tools have limitations. Questionnaires, imaging measurements, and sleep-study metrics must be interpreted appropriately rather than treated as interchangeable measures of severity.8. Enlarged tonsils and adenoids are more complicated than they appear. David discusses how immune responses, infections, and individual biological differences may contribute to lymphoid tissue enlargement.9. Don't let debates about cause and effect delay care. A child can have both an airway problem and a craniofacial problem, and each deserves an appropriate evaluation.10. Education empowers better decisions. The Airway Breathing Academy aims to give parents and professionals a more reliable starting point for understanding airway concerns and seeking coordinated care.This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. Don't miss this exciting launch into a world of knowledge and transformation.Because Kids Can't Wait...CLICK HERE To Find an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE To Become an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE FOR ASAP Pathway IN-PERSON COURSESCLICK HERE To See If Your Child Is At Risk!ASAP FREE GIFT AND E NEWSLETTERSUBCRIBE AND SHARE AT OUR OTHER PLATFORMS BELOW ⬇️ASAP YouTube ▶️ 🔗ASAP YouTube Music 🔗 ASAP on Spotify 🔗ASAP IHeartRadio ❤️🔗 ASAP Amazon Music 🎵🔗 ASAP Apple Podcast 🍎🔗ASAP Pathway MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, LEARNING and COURSES BELOW ⬇️ 🙌2026 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗2027 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗WANT TO BE A MEMBER IN ASAP Pathway? ASAP Membership Options BELOW: 🎉👇ASAP Immersion Membership🔗ORComprehensive ASAP Pathway Membership🔗

What if we're looking at the wrong measurements when we evaluate a child's airway, sleep, and overall health?And what if a beautiful orthodontic result doesn't necessarily mean we've improved how that child breathes—or how their brain functions?In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Drs. Stacy Tracey sit down with Dr. Eric Phelps, a board-certified orthodontist and dental sleep medicine provider, to challenge some of the long-standing paradigms in orthodontics, pediatric airway health, and sleep medicine.Eric's mission is rooted in something far deeper than dentistry.After losing his young son, Dane, and later navigating his wife Suzanne's life-threatening heart disease and heart transplant, Eric began looking at healthcare—and every child who enters his practice—through a different lens.Every child has infinite value. And every child deserves a healthcare team willing to look deeper.That perspective helped shape his passion for understanding the connections between craniofacial development, airway obstruction, sleep fragmentation, and brain health.In this episode, we dive into some of the most challenging questions facing our professions:Are we missing sleep-disordered breathing in children diagnosed with ADHD?Is AHI alone enough to evaluate the consequences of disrupted sleep?What is the difference between tooth-borne and skeletal expansion, and why does that distinction matter?Should successful orthodontic treatment be measured by straight teeth alone—or by improvements in function?Can EEG brain mapping, nasal airflow measurements, and other functional assessments help us better understand treatment outcomes?And why are healthcare professionals still arguing with one another when the real goal should be helping patients?Some of the ideas discussed are emerging, debated, or still being investigated—but the invitation is clear: Stay curious. Measure what matters. Be willing to learn from one another. And never lose sight of the child behind the diagnosis.Because improving healthcare isn't about proving which profession is right. It's about discovering what truly helps our patients.And sometimes, the greatest breakthroughs begin when we're willing to ask a different question.Dr Eric Phelps Website 🔗CHAPTERS: 📖00:00 Welcome to ASAP Pathway00:59 Meet Dr. Eric Phelps & Ordain Health02:28 Dane's Story: A Father's Loss and a New Purpose05:56 Dr. Christian Guilleminault's Influence on Pediatric Airway Care07:28 ADHD, Sleep Studies & the Need for Earlier Screening10:19 Skeletal vs. Tooth-Borne Expansion: Why the Difference Matters13:00 Challenging Orthodontic Paradigms and AHI18:53 A Life-Changing Lecture and the Problem With Professional Dogma21:02 Beyond Straight Teeth: Measuring Airway Function25:13 AHI, RDI, Brain Arousals & Sleep Fragmentation26:40 Suzanne's Heart Transplant and the Glymphatic Connection35:45 Connecting Psychiatry, Sleep Medicine & Orthodontics42:37 EEG Brain Mapping and Changes in Patient Function47:00 Treatment Confusion, Nasal Valve Development & Collaboration59:56 Looking Ahead: Humility, Hope and Honoring DaneLEARNINGS: 💡1. Look beyond straight teeth. A successful orthodontic result should consider breathing, sleep, and patient function—not just alignment.2. Screen beyond the ADHD diagnosis. Children with attention or behavioral concerns may also have sleep-disordered breathing that warrants evaluation.3. AHI doesn't tell the whole story. Respiratory-related arousals, sleep fragmentation, and RDI may provide additional information about disrupted sleep.4. Not all expansion is the same. Tooth-borne and skeletal expansion have different mechanical effects, and findings from one approach shouldn't automatically be applied to another.5. Nasal anatomy matters. Maxillary development and nasal valve function deserve consideration when evaluating children with breathing concerns.6. Measure function, not just anatomy. Sleep studies, nasal airflow testing, and other appropriate functional assessments can help evaluate outcomes.7. Brain mapping is an emerging area of interest. Eric discusses EEG changes observed in patients receiving multidisciplinary treatment, while larger studies are needed to establish clinical significance.8. Collaboration changes what's possible. Orthodontists, sleep physicians, psychiatrists, ENTs, and other providers can contribute different pieces of the same patient's care.9. Question established paradigms without abandoning evidence. New ideas deserve careful investigation, meaningful measurements, and honest discussion—not professional infighting.10. Never forget the child behind the diagnosis. Eric's experiences with Dane and Suzanne remind us that compassion, curiosity, and a willingness to keep searching for answers matter.This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. Don't miss this exciting launch into a world of knowledge and transformation.Because Kids Can't Wait...CLICK HERE To Find an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE To Become an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE FOR ASAP Pathway IN-PERSON COURSESCLICK HERE To See If Your Child Is At Risk!ASAP FREE GIFT AND E NEWSLETTERSUBCRIBE AND SHARE AT OUR OTHER PLATFORMS BELOW ⬇️ASAP YouTube ▶️ 🔗ASAP YouTube Music 🔗 ASAP on Spotify 🔗ASAP IHeartRadio ❤️🔗 ASAP Amazon Music 🎵🔗 ASAP Apple Podcast 🍎🔗ASAP Pathway MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, LEARNING and COURSES BELOW ⬇️ 🙌2026 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗2027 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗WANT TO BE A MEMBER IN ASAP Pathway? ASAP Membership Options BELOW: 🎉👇ASAP Immersion Membership🔗ORComprehensive ASAP Pathway Membership🔗

Nearly three years after their first conversation, Dr. Stacy welcomes back her friend, neurologist and sleep medicine specialist Dr. Anne Marie Morse, for a powerful discussion about growth, purpose, and why healthcare needs to change.Since their last episode, Dr. Anne Marie has expanded her mission far beyond sleep medicine. From screening thousands of students for sleep concerns to writing Communication in Healthcare, developing new technology, and launching UCAN (Unifying Care for Advancement Network), she's working to connect the fragmented pieces of healthcare. Dr Anne Marie shares the emotional encounter that changed her perspective on treating chronic illness, why she stepped away from prestigious leadership titles, and how she learned that our worth isn't defined by our credentials.Together, Drs. Stacy and Anne Marie explore why medical success isn't always the same as patient success, why clinicians need to become comfortable saying “I don't know,” and why treating a diagnosis is different from helping someone reclaim their life.They also discuss It All Matters (IAM), a vision for connecting health data, wellness, technology, and individualized care—along with the importance of communication, collaboration, and meeting patients where they are. Because healthcare shouldn't simply be about managing numbers or diagnoses.It should be about helping people live the lives they want to live.And nearly three years later, it's STILL DAMM Good Sleep—but the mission is bigger than ever.Great healthcare isn't just about treating disease. It's about understanding what matters to the person living with it.Visit DAMM Good SleepThe Book, "The Courage to Be Disliked"DAMM Good Sleep IgDAMM Good Sleep TikTokDr. Anne Marie Morse LinkedInCHAPTERS: 📖00:00 Welcome Back to ASAP Pathway02:19 Meet Dr. Anne Marie Morse: Three Years Later04:38 Beyond the Diagnosis: Restoring Hope and Identity11:22 Knowing Your Worth and Letting Go of Titles17:07 The Evolution of DAMM Good Sleep21:15 Introducing UCAN: Breaking Down Healthcare Silos26:32 It All Matters: Redefining Health and Wellness30:04 Putting Patients in Charge of Their Goals33:20 Wearables, Music and Personalized Sleep Solutions38:10 Meeting Patients Where They Are42:08 Why Communication Is Failing Healthcare44:04 The Power of Saying "I Don't Know"46:08 What Does Successful Treatment Really Look Like?50:40 UCAN: Connecting Patients With the Right Providers58:55 Authenticity, Purpose and the Human Side of MedicineLEARNINGS: 💡1. Treat the person, not just the diagnosis. Successful care should restore quality of life, identity, and function—not simply improve clinical numbers.2. Sleep health impacts more than sleep. Sleep and circadian health influence how we think, feel, function, and navigate daily life.3. Your titles don't define your worth. Growth sometimes requires stepping beyond credentials and embracing a bigger purpose.4. Healthcare needs fewer silos. UCAN aims to connect qualified providers, resources, and services so patients aren't left navigating care alone.5. Health and wellness aren't the same. Emotional, social, occupational, and personal well-being matter alongside medical diagnoses.6. Patients should help define success. Treatment goals should reflect what matters to each person—and evolve as their lives change.7. It's okay for clinicians to say 'I don't know.' Honesty, communication, and a clear plan can build greater patient trust.8. Managing a condition is an ongoing journey. Sleep and airway needs can change with age, hormones, lifestyle, and other health factors.9. Credentials don't always equal competency. Matching patients with clinicians who have the right expertise is essential to collaborative care.10. Human connection is part of healing. Listening, kindness, authenticity, and helping patients feel seen can be just as meaningful as clinical interventions.This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. Don't miss this exciting launch into a world of knowledge and transformation.Because Kids Can't Wait...CLICK HERE To Find an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE To Become an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE FOR ASAP Pathway IN-PERSON COURSESCLICK HERE To See If Your Child Is At Risk!ASAP FREE GIFT AND E NEWSLETTERSUBCRIBE AND SHARE AT OUR OTHER PLATFORMS BELOW ⬇️ASAP YouTube ▶️ 🔗ASAP YouTube Music 🔗 ASAP on Spotify 🔗ASAP IHeartRadio ❤️🔗 ASAP Amazon Music 🎵🔗 ASAP Apple Podcast 🍎🔗ASAP Pathway MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, LEARNING and COURSES BELOW ⬇️ 🙌2026 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗2027 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗WANT TO BE A MEMBER IN ASAP Pathway? ASAP Membership Options BELOW: 🎉👇ASAP Immersion Membership🔗ORComprehensive ASAP Pathway Membership🔗

What if forward head posture, chronic neck pain, morning headaches—or even the way someone sleeps—isn't simply a musculoskeletal problem? What if the body is compensating because it's trying to breathe?In this episode of the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Dr. Stacy sits down with chiropractor Dr. Kameron Smith to explore the connection between airway health, sleep, posture, pain and chiropractic care.Kameron's interest in airway began while performing Department of Transportation physicals and recognizing how many drivers were at risk for sleep apnea. Then it became personal. Despite being young, fit and not fitting the stereotypical sleep apnea patient, Kameron was experiencing fatigue, morning headaches and concerning nighttime oxygen readings.His own diagnosis changed the way he began looking at his patients—and eventually his own daughter.Together, Dr. Stacy and Kameron discuss how forward head posture, neck tension, mouth breathing and unusual sleep positions may sometimes be clues that the body is compensating to breathe.They also explore pediatric airway screening, craniofacial growth and development, and why simply correcting posture may miss the bigger question:Why is the body compensating in the first place? Most importantly, this conversation is a call for greater collaboration between dentists, chiropractors and other airway-focused providers.Because sometimes the posture isn't the problem. It's the clue.Dr. Kameron Smith WebsiteDr Kameron Smith LinkedInCHAPTERS: 📖00:00 Welcome to ASAP Pathway00:57 Meet Dr. Kameron Smith02:23 Kameron’s Journey Into Chiropractic03:54 The Patients Who Changed His Perspective04:17 DOT Physicals & Recognizing Sleep Apnea05:53 Kameron’s Own Sleep Apnea Story07:20 Getting Diagnosed & Starting CPAP07:45 Headaches, Neck Pain & Sleep08:31 Could Forward Head Posture Be an Airway Compensation?09:03 Recognizing the Same Signs in His Daughter12:00 Looking Beyond Symptoms in Children16:00 What Chiropractors Are—and Aren’t—Taught About Airway21:01 What Should Chiropractors Look For?24:00 Recognizing Airway Patterns in Adults & Children26:02 Function, Compensation & the Body28:00 What Sleep Position May Be Telling Us32:41 The Body Will Do What It Has to Do to Breathe34:16 What Does Future Collaboration Look Like?35:35 Why Kameron Wants Airway Screening in Preschools36:14 Building a Network of Airway-Aware Chiropractors37:19 What Could Pediatric Airway Screening Include?38:42 Early Intervention, Growth & Development40:27 A Call for Dentists & Chiropractors to Collaborate41:01 Three Random Questions With Kameron45:43 How to Connect With Dr. Kameron Smith47:01 Closing ThoughtsKEY LEARNINGS: 💡1. Posture may be compensation. Forward head posture and neck tension may sometimes be clues that the body is trying to maintain airflow.2. Look beyond the stereotype. Kameron was young and fit but still experienced sleep apnea, fatigue and morning headaches.3. Ask about sleep. Headaches, fatigue, neck pain and poor sleep may warrant further airway screening or referral.4. Personal experience changes perspective. Kameron’s own sleep apnea diagnosis changed how he began evaluating his patients.5. Children compensate too. Mouth breathing, forward head posture and unusual sleep positions deserve a closer look.6. Don’t just correct posture—ask why. A compensation may be serving a purpose, so understanding the driver matters.7. Sleep position can be a clue. The way someone positions their head or body during sleep may sometimes relate to breathing.8. Earlier screening creates opportunity. Recognizing airway concerns in childhood may allow providers to intervene during growth and development.9. Dentists and chiropractors should collaborate. Each profession sees different pieces of structure, posture, function, breathing and development.10. Build an airway-aware healthcare network. Better communication and referral between providers can help patients receive more comprehensive care.This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. Don't miss this exciting launch into a world of knowledge and transformation.Because Kids Can't Wait...CLICK HERE To Find an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE To Become an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE FOR ASAP Pathway IN-PERSON COURSESCLICK HERE To See If Your Child Is At Risk!ASAP FREE GIFT AND E NEWSLETTERSUBCRIBE AND SHARE AT OUR OTHER PLATFORMS BELOW ⬇️ASAP YouTube ▶️ 🔗ASAP YouTube Music 🔗 ASAP on Spotify 🔗ASAP IHeartRadio ❤️🔗 ASAP Amazon Music 🎵🔗 ASAP Apple Podcast 🍎🔗ASAP Pathway MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, LEARNING and COURSES BELOW ⬇️ 🙌2026 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗2027 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗WANT TO BE A MEMBER IN ASAP Pathway? ASAP Membership Options BELOW: 🎉👇ASAP Immersion Membership🔗ORComprehensive ASAP Pathway Membership🔗

What if some of the most powerful tools for healing are already inside your own body?In this episode of the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Dr. Stacy sits down with Dr. Matt Bayes, a primary care sports medicine physician, non-surgical orthopedist, and regenerative medicine doctor whose work focuses on orthobiologics—the use of a patient’s own cells to support healing and recovery. Dr. Bayes breaks down PRP (platelet-rich plasma), stem cells, bone marrow aspiration, adipose-derived cells, and ultrasound-guided regenerative procedures in language patients and healthcare providers can understand.He explains how platelets act as important messengers in the body’s healing process, how stem cells participate in tissue repair, and how these therapies may be used for certain ligament, tendon, cartilage, joint, and musculoskeletal injuries. But this conversation is also about knowing when regenerative medicine is—and isn’t—the right answer. Dr. Bayes and Dr. Stacy discuss the importance of diagnosis and case selection, including situations where surgery remains the appropriate treatment. The discussion also bridges medicine and dentistry as Dr. Stacy explores the growing role of regenerative approaches such as PRF in TMJ care and considers how her own experience with regenerative medicine is influencing the direction of her dental practice. And beneath all of it is a wonderfully simple message: Movement is medicine. Curiosity makes us better clinicians. Collaboration improves patient care. And sometimes the best way forward is to work with the healing capacity the body already possesses.Email Dr Matt Bayes: [email protected]. Matt Bayes IGCHAPTERS:📚00:00 Welcome to ASAP Pathway01:01 Meet Dr. Matt Bayes02:35 From Pediatrics and the Navy to Sports Medicine05:07 Discovering PRP and Orthobiologics08:00 What Are PRP and Stem Cells?11:54 How Stem Cells Support Tissue Healing17:50 Dr. Stacy’s Personal Experience With Regenerative Medicine21:11 How Regenerative Medicine Has Evolved25:41 Who Is a Candidate for Orthobiologics?31:28 Movement Is Medicine35:20 Connecting Regenerative Medicine to TMJ Care43:36 Curiosity, Collaboration & Becoming a Better Clinician53:32 What Can PRP and Stem Cells Actually Treat?57:29 Why Listening to Patients Matters1:01:00 Teaching the Next Generation of Healthcare Providers1:07:17 How to Connect With Dr. Matt Bayes1:10:19 Three Random Questions With Dr. BayesLEARNINGS:🎓PRP uses the body’s own platelets to support the healing process. PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. Blood is drawn and processed in a centrifuge to concentrate platelets, which Dr. Bayes describes as important coordinators of the body's healing response. Those platelets release signals involved in recruiting and activating cells that participate in tissue repair. Stem cells and PRP aren't the same thing—but they work within the same healing system. Dr. Bayes explains that stem cells are found throughout the body and participate in repairing and remodeling tissue. In his practice, mesenchymal stem cells are of particular interest because of their relationship to tissues including cartilage, ligament, tendon, muscle and bone.Regenerative medicine may occupy an important space between conservative care and surgery. For appropriately selected patients, orthobiologics may offer another option when traditional conservative treatments aren't enough but major surgery isn't yet necessary or desirable. As Dr. Bayes describes it, there can be an important therapeutic space between “nothing” and surgery.Regenerative medicine cannot—and should not—treat everyone. One of the strongest messages in the episode is the importance of case selection. A major tear, severe deformity, advanced structural problem or other condition may require surgery. Dr. Stacy shares how Dr. Bayes evaluated her son's knees, determined regenerative medicine wasn't appropriate, and referred him for the surgical care he needed.The diagnosis has to come before the treatment. Shoulder pain isn't automatically a rotator cuff problem, just as joint pain doesn't automatically mean someone needs an injection. Dr. Bayes emphasizes combining the history, physical examination and appropriate imaging—including ultrasound, X-ray or MRI—to establish the diagnosis before deciding whether an orthobiologic treatment is indicated.A patient's overall health influences healing. Age alone doesn't determine whether someone will respond well. Dr. Bayes discusses factors such as disease severity, body weight, smoking, alcohol use, metabolic health, sleep, activity and management of underlying medical conditions when considering expectations and potential outcomes.Movement really is medicine. You don't need the perfect workout, gym membership or exercise clothes to benefit from movement. Walk the dog. Take the stairs. Stand while working. Do ten squats. Go outside and play. The message is simple: doing something is better than doing nothing, and maintaining movement is foundational to longevity and quality of life.Curiosity may be one of the most important characteristics of a great clinician. Dr. Bayes argues that what separates excellent clinicians isn't simply IQ—it's curiosity. Great healthcare providers continue asking questions, learning from other disciplines, seeking mentors, attending continuing education and remaining willing to change what they do as evidence and technology evolve.Great healthcare requires collaboration—and knowing your lane. The goal shouldn't be for one provider to do everything. Dr. Bayes describes building a network of surgeons, physicians, therapists, chiropractors, trainers and other professionals so patients can be directed to the person best equipped to help them. Collaboration isn't a weakness; it's part of responsible patient care.Sometimes the most powerful thing a healthcare provider can do is listen. Dr. Stacy and Dr. Bayes discuss how dramatically the patient experience changes when a clinician sits down, makes eye contact, asks questions and genuinely listens. Patients increasingly arrive informed and prepared to advocate for themselves. Better communication can improve not only the patient's experience but the clinician's ability to understand what is actually happening.The overarching message of this episode: Medicine is changing. Dentistry is changing. Regenerative therapies are creating new possibilities—but the real advancement isn't simply a new procedure. It's combining science, curiosity, ethics, movement, listening and collaboration to help people function better and improve their quality of life.This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. Don't miss this exciting launch into a world of knowledge and transformation.Because Kids Can't Wait...CLICK HERE To Find an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE To Become an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE FOR ASAP Pathway IN-PERSON COURSESCLICK HERE To See If Your Child Is At Risk!ASAP FREE GIFT AND E NEWSLETTERSUBCRIBE AND SHARE AT OUR OTHER PLATFORMS BELOW ⬇️ASAP YouTube ▶️ 🔗ASAP YouTube Music 🔗 ASAP on Spotify 🔗ASAP IHeartRadio ❤️🔗 ASAP Amazon Music 🎵🔗 ASAP Apple Podcast 🍎🔗ASAP Pathway MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, LEARNING and COURSES BELOW ⬇️ 🙌2026 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗2027 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗WANT TO BE A MEMBER IN ASAP Pathway? ASAP Membership Options BELOW: 🎉👇ASAP Immersion Membership🔗ORComprehensive ASAP Pathway Membership🔗

In this episode of the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Dr. Stacy sits down with Dr. Pedro Cuartas, founder of the Collaborative Airway Management Summit (CAMS) and Clinical Director of South Louisiana Dental Sleep Medicine, for a conversation about what may be one of the biggest missing pieces in airway healthcare: collaboration.With so many patients still undiagnosed, how do we actually make a meaningful dent?The answer, he believes, isn't simply more education. Knowledge without implementation doesn't change patient care.Dr. Stacy and Pedro discuss why physicians, dentists, ENTs, nurse practitioners, PAs, sleep specialists and other healthcare providers need practical systems for screening, referral, treatment and—perhaps most importantly—communication.They also explore why sleep apnea treatment doesn't have to be an either/or decision. CPAP, oral appliance therapy, Inspire, weight management, positional therapy, lifestyle changes and other approaches may sometimes work together as combination therapy, creating a treatment plan built around the individual patient rather than forcing the patient into a single treatment box.The conversation expands into women and children who may be missed by traditional sleep apnea metrics, hormonal changes and midlife sleep, pediatric airway intervention, weight and craniofacial risk factors, and the importance of looking backward in a patient's story to understand how they arrived at their current health.Pedro also shares the vision behind CAMS: bringing healthcare providers from different disciplines into the same room, allowing them to learn from one another, understand each other's treatment options and ultimately return home equipped to build collaborative airway “ecosystems” in their own communities.Because the goal isn't simply to diagnose sleep apnea.It's to make sure the patient has somewhere to go next.The goal isn’t for one profession to “own” the airway. The goal is to build an ecosystem around the patient where providers communicate. Because when healthcare truly becomes collaborative, the dead ends no longer have to exist.CAMS FB PageCAMS Summit RegistrationDr Pedro Cuartas LinkedInDr Pedro Cuartas’ PracticeCHAPTERS: 📖00:00 Welcome to ASAP Pathway00:50 Meet Dr. Pedro Cuartas03:42 How Pedro Found Dental Sleep Medicine05:07 “What Did You Do to My Patient?”07:10 Why Dental School Historically Missed Airway & Sleep09:00 The 80% Undiagnosed Problem10:00 Knowledge Without Implementation Isn't Enough11:00 The Vision Behind the CAMS Summit14:00 Giving Healthcare Providers a “Now What?”17:00 Why Sleep & Airway Care Still Falls Through the Cracks20:00 Building CAMS: Collaboration Over Competition23:17 Expanding Airway Collaboration Into Midlife Health27:12 Hormones, Sleep & Pedro's Unexpected Midlife Story31:00 Why Every Specialty Belongs in the Airway Conversation40:00 Understanding the Pain Points of Medical Providers44:00 Creating Better Referral & Treatment Pathways47:00 Building Local Airway Healthcare Ecosystems49:20 Why Combination Therapy Matters50:30 A Real Patient Example: CPAP + Oral Appliance + Weight Management52:30 Going Back in the “Airway Time Machine”55:00 Patients May Have to Help Connect Their Providers56:00 Why Continuity of Care Matters58:00 Communication Can Build Better Healthcare Relationships1:01:00 Be Your Own Advocate—Without Becoming the Doctor1:04:02 Who Should Attend CAMS?1:05:42 Three Random Questions With Pedro1:08:07 Closing ThoughtsLEARNINGS: 💡Knowledge needs implementation. Education only changes care when providers know how to screen, refer, treat, and follow up.Dentistry belongs in the airway conversation. Dentists are uniquely positioned to recognize signs of sleep-disordered breathing and help connect patients to care.No more dead ends. A diagnosis should lead to a clear next step—not leave patients wondering where to go or what to do.Sleep treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. CPAP, oral appliances, Inspire, weight management, positional therapy, and other options can sometimes be used together.Collaboration improves care. Physicians, dentists, ENTs, sleep specialists, and other providers each bring an important piece of the puzzle.Communication closes the loop. Referrals, treatment updates, efficacy testing, and follow-up should be shared across the patient’s healthcare team.Look beyond the stereotype. Women and children may present differently and can be missed by traditional sleep apnea screening and metrics.Weight isn’t the whole story. Craniofacial anatomy, airway development, sleep quality, and other factors can contribute to OSA risk.Earlier intervention may change the trajectory. Pediatric airway care gives providers an opportunity to recognize risk factors before they become larger adult problems.Patients need an airway healthcare ecosystem. The goal is a connected community of providers where patients always have a pathway forward.This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. Don't miss this exciting launch into a world of knowledge and transformation.Because Kids Can't Wait...CLICK HERE To Find an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE To Become an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE FOR ASAP Pathway IN-PERSON COURSESCLICK HERE To See If Your Child Is At Risk!ASAP FREE GIFT AND E NEWSLETTERSUBCRIBE AND SHARE AT OUR OTHER PLATFORMS BELOW ⬇️ASAP YouTube ▶️ 🔗ASAP YouTube Music 🔗 ASAP on Spotify 🔗ASAP IHeartRadio ❤️🔗 ASAP Amazon Music 🎵🔗 ASAP Apple Podcast 🍎🔗ASAP Pathway MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, LEARNING and COURSES BELOW ⬇️ 🙌2026 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗2027 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗WANT TO BE A MEMBER IN ASAP Pathway? ASAP Membership Options BELOW: 🎉👇ASAP Immersion Membership🔗ORComprehensive ASAP Pathway Membership🔗

 In this episode of the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Dr. Stacy sits down with dental sleep medicine expert Crystal May, Vice President of Dental Sleep Medicine at Happy Sleep, for a wide-ranging conversation about why sleep screening needs to become a routine part of healthcare—and why dentistry may be one of the best places to start.Crystal shares her 20-year journey through dentistry, medical billing, practice ownership, sleep medicine, technology, and implementation. She also shares something much more personal: despite being a young, fit woman who didn’t fit the stereotypical picture of a sleep apnea patient, Crystal was eventually diagnosed with a sleep-related breathing disorder after years of nearly daily headaches. For dental professionals, the message is refreshingly simple: you do not need to build an entire dental sleep medicine program to make a difference. Start by screening. Adding just a few questions to the medical history may identify patients who have been suffering silently for years. They also explore sleep quantity versus sleep quality, hormones and metabolism, simple sleep-hygiene strategies, night-to-night variability in testing, oral appliance therapy, and Crystal’s current work to bridge the longstanding divide between medicine and dentistry.Because better sleep isn't simply about getting through the night. It is about giving the body and brain the opportunity to heal, regulate, recover—and thrive.Crystal May LinkedInHappy Health LinkedInEmail Crystal May:  [email protected]: 📚00:00 Welcome to ASAP Pathway with Crystal May02:44 Crystal’s 20-Year Journey Into Dental Sleep Medicine05:33 The Sleep Course That Changed Everything06:24 Why Sleep Medicine Is So Difficult to Implement09:44 The Real Problem: Implementation10:36 Why Every Dentist Should Be Screening for Sleep14:16 Sleep Screening Doesn't Have to Be Complicated18:32 Three Questions Dentists Can Start Asking Monday20:58 Crystal’s Daily Headaches—and Her Sleep Apnea Diagnosis23:42 Why “Mild” Sleep Apnea Doesn't Mean Mild Symptoms29:25 How Oral Appliance Therapy Changed Crystal’s Life33:21 Sleep Isn't Wasted Time: Why Quality Sleep Matters37:22 Beyond AHI: RDI, RERAs and Sleep Disorders in Women45:04 Why an Old Negative Sleep Test May Not Tell Today's Story47:53 Sleep Hygiene: Simple Ways to Improve Your Sleep56:25 Bridging Medicine and Dentistry with Happy Sleep59:48 The Problem With One-Night Sleep Testing1:04:06 How Physicians, Dentists and Patients Can Get Involved1:08:04 The Final Call to Action: Just Start Screening1:10:23 Dawn or Dusk? Three Fun Questions with CrystalLearnings: 🎓Sleep screening should become a routine part of dentistry. Dentists and hygienists are uniquely positioned to identify potential sleep problems because they see patients regularly, examine the craniofacial and oral structures, and already collect detailed health histories. Screening does not require building an entire dental sleep medicine practice.Start with three simple questions: tiredness, snoring and headaches. Crystal recommends daytime tiredness, snoring and headaches as easy conversation starters. These common symptoms can help dental teams identify patients who may benefit from further sleep evaluation.Stop normalizing exhaustion. Many people assume being tired, relying on caffeine, waking unrefreshed or living with frequent headaches is simply part of being busy. Crystal's own experience demonstrates how symptoms can become someone's “normal” even when an underlying sleep disorder is contributing to them.Sleep apnea doesn't have a “look.” Crystal did not fit the stereotype of the older, overweight male with sleep apnea. The conversation emphasizes that women, younger people, fit individuals and even children can experience sleep-related breathing disorders—which is why screening should not be based on appearance alone.“Mild” sleep apnea doesn't necessarily mean mild symptoms. A diagnostic category doesn't always reflect how significantly disrupted breathing is affecting someone's quality of life. Patients with so-called mild disease may still experience substantial fatigue, headaches, fragmented sleep and other symptoms.AHI may not tell the whole story—especially in women. Crystal explains that her AHI alone would have fallen within normal limits, while her RDI was in the 16s. Looking at RERAs and breathing disturbances that fragment sleep helped identify what AHI alone would have missed. After treatment, her RDI dropped to approximately two and her symptoms dramatically improved.Sleep quantity is not the same as sleep quality. Sleeping eight or even ten hours does not guarantee restorative sleep. If breathing disruptions repeatedly fragment normal sleep architecture, the body may not get the recovery it needs regardless of how much time is spent in bed.Treating sleep can create a positive ripple effect throughout health. Better sleep gave Crystal more energy to exercise, make healthier choices and reduce her dependence on caffeine. The episode also explores sleep's relationship with hormone regulation, appetite, metabolism and overall ability to function during waking hours.Simple habits can support better sleep—but symptomatic patients still need evaluation. Consistent sleep and wake times, a dark sleeping environment, morning sunlight and reducing nighttime screen stimulation are practical strategies discussed in the episode. But good “sleep hygiene” should not substitute for appropriate testing when symptoms suggest an underlying sleep or breathing disorder.The future of sleep medicine requires medicine and dentistry to work together. Neither profession needs to do everything. Sleep specialists can diagnose disease and prescribe treatment while dentists can screen, recognize oral and craniofacial risk factors, evaluate dental candidacy and provide appropriate oral appliance therapy. Breaking down the silos between the professions could allow far more patients to be identified and treated. The overarching message:We don't have to solve everything at once. Start by screening. It's the least we can do—and it could change the trajectory of someone's life.This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. Don't miss this exciting launch into a world of knowledge and transformation.Because Kids Can't Wait...CLICK HERE To Find an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE To Become an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE FOR ASAP Pathway IN-PERSON COURSESCLICK HERE To See If Your Child Is At Risk!ASAP FREE GIFT AND E NEWSLETTERSUBCRIBE AND SHARE AT OUR OTHER PLATFORMS BELOW ⬇️ASAP YouTube ▶️ 🔗ASAP YouTube Music 🔗 ASAP on Spotify 🔗ASAP IHeartRadio ❤️🔗 ASAP Amazon Music 🎵🔗 ASAP Apple Podcast 🍎🔗ASAP Pathway MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, LEARNING and COURSES BELOW ⬇️ 🙌2026 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗2027 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗WANT TO BE A MEMBER IN ASAP Pathway? ASAP Membership Options BELOW: 🎉👇ASAP Immersion Membership🔗ORComprehensive ASAP Pathway Membership🔗

Season Six of the ASAP Pathway Podcast starts with the three ASAP Pathway co-founders together at the table: Drs. Stacy, Tracey, and Michelle—and this one gets personal. What actually happens to women’s sleep when hormones begin changing? Why does obstructive sleep apnea become much more prevalent in women around midlife? Why can women feel exhausted, foggy, anxious, achy, restless and simply say, “I don’t feel like myself anymore”—yet still have a sleep study that doesn’t look particularly alarming? And what do estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, jaw pain, clenching, TMD, airway anatomy and even heart health have to do with one another? The founders dive into the changing conversation around perimenopause and menopause, including why traditional sleep apnea screening may fail to identify many women. They discuss the limitations of relying only on oxygen desaturations and AHI, and explain RERAs—respiratory effort-related arousals—events that may repeatedly fragment sleep without necessarily meeting the traditional definition of apnea.The conversation also looks forward: new ASAP Pathway education, expanded MARPE training, restorative and clear-aligner planning, mentorship, Immersion, community support and where the founders see the education evolving next. It’s funny, candid, occasionally vulnerable and full of the kind of conversation that happens when three friends, clinicians and founders start connecting the dots.Because sometimes the symptom isn’t the diagnosis—and sometimes “I just don’t feel right” deserves a much deeper look.Dr Tracey Nguyen IGDr Michelle Weddle IGDr Stacy Becker IGCHAPTERS: 📚00:00 Season 6 Begins With the ASAP Founders01:39 Women, Sleep & the Midlife Health Shift03:38 Why Sleep Apnea Changes for Women After 4005:09 Hormones, Menopause & Women’s Health07:54 Are Women Being Treated for Symptoms Instead of Causes?09:15 Dr. Stacy Shares Her Personal Heart Health Journey12:41 Why We Have to Read Research Differently14:38 Hormone Replacement Therapy & the Changing Conversation16:31 Progesterone, Cortisol & Sleep17:04 Why Traditional Sleep Apnea Testing Can Miss Women20:41 What Are RERAs?23:51 Perimenopause, TMD & Poor Sleep24:39 Estrogen, Joint Pain & the TMJ25:40 When Anatomy Becomes a Bigger Risk Factor28:32 What Does a Constricted Bite Look Like?31:20 The TMD “Discovery Phase”32:05 Weaners vs. Phase Two TMD Treatment33:53 Proper Oral Rest Posture & Clenching37:45 Why Sleep and Function Still Matter40:32 Why Hormones Belong in Airway Screening42:17 What’s Coming Next From ASAP Pathway43:19 Expanded MARPE Hands-On Training45:50 Planning the Final Result Before You Start47:45 How ASAP Pathway Education Is Evolving49:17 What Is ASAP Immersion?53:01 Three Random Questions With the Founders1:02:08 Closing ThoughtsLEARNINGS: 🎓Women may experience sleep-disordered breathing differently than men. Traditional screening tools and scoring systems often emphasize characteristics more commonly associated with male obstructive sleep apnea, including oxygen desaturation and certain demographic risk factors. The founders discuss why that can leave symptomatic women unidentified.Hormonal changes may help explain why sleep problems increase around midlife. The episode discusses the dramatic hormonal transition occurring during the perimenopausal and menopausal years and how those changes may affect sleep, airway stability, mood, pain and overall health.A normal-looking AHI does not necessarily mean someone is sleeping well. Women may experience repeated breathing-related arousals without dramatic oxygen drops. Looking only at the apnea-hypopnea index can miss important sleep fragmentation.RERAs matter. A respiratory effort-related arousal is a breathing-related event that causes the brain to arouse from sleep without necessarily meeting the traditional criteria for apnea or hypopnea. Repeated arousals can severely affect sleep quality even when oxygen levels appear relatively stable.TMD and sleep should often be evaluated together. When a woman presents with jaw pain, clenching, grinding or TMD—particularly during a period of hormonal change—the founders encourage clinicians to ask about sleep rather than treating the jaw as an isolated problem.Hormonal transitions can change how much compensation the body can tolerate. A bite or airway anatomy that caused few noticeable problems earlier in life may become more symptomatic as hormonal protection changes. The anatomy may not suddenly be different—the body's ability to compensate for it may be.Tooth wear can provide clues that the bite and function deserve closer evaluation. Progressive wear of the front teeth, chipping, heavy tooth contact or patients naturally moving their lower jaw forward because it “feels better” may provide clues that their current bite deserves further investigation.A TMD appliance can be part of the diagnosis—not just the treatment. Drs. Tracy and Michelle describe using an appliance as a discovery phase: decompressing the joint, reducing symptoms and finding where the patient functions comfortably before deciding whether orthodontic or restorative changes are actually necessary.Function may ultimately determine whether treatment remains stable. Anatomy matters, but so do nasal breathing, posture, oral rest posture and daytime clenching habits. Proper oral rest posture discussed in the episode includes lips together, tongue at the roof of the mouth, teeth slightly apart, nasal breathing and a relaxed posture.Healthcare increasingly requires the patient to become an informed advocate. One of the strongest themes throughout this founders’ conversation is that symptoms should not simply be dismissed because someone doesn't fit the traditional picture of disease. Ask questions. Look deeper. Understand your hormones, sleep, cardiovascular health and other risk factors—and find clinicians willing to connect the pieces.This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. Don't miss this exciting launch into a world of knowledge and transformation.Because Kids Can't Wait...CLICK HERE To Find an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE To Become an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE FOR ASAP Pathway IN-PERSON COURSESCLICK HERE To See If Your Child Is At Risk!ASAP FREE GIFT AND E NEWSLETTERSUBCRIBE AND SHARE AT OUR OTHER PLATFORMS BELOW ⬇️ASAP YouTube ▶️ 🔗ASAP YouTube Music 🔗 ASAP on Spotify 🔗ASAP IHeartRadio ❤️🔗 ASAP Amazon Music 🎵🔗 ASAP Apple Podcast 🍎🔗ASAP Pathway MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, LEARNING and COURSES BELOW ⬇️ 🙌2026 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗2027 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗WANT TO BE A MEMBER IN ASAP Pathway? ASAP Membership Options BELOW: 🎉👇ASAP Immersion Membership🔗ORComprehensive ASAP Pathway Membership🔗

What happens when dentistry and physical therapy stop working separately? In this episode of ASAP Pathway: The Podcast, Dr. Stacy Becker welcomes airway-focused physical therapist Dr. Jenny Hobson for an eye-opening discussion about the powerful relationship between posture, breathing, TMJ, craniofacial development, and airway health. Dr. Hobson shares her unique journey training under legendary TMJ expert Dr. Mariano Rocabado and explains why successful airway treatment often requires much more than orthodontics, surgery, or oral appliances alone. Together they explore how mouth breathing, forward head posture, dysfunctional swallowing, poor body mechanics, and altered breathing patterns can influence everything from chronic pain and TMJ disorders to sleep quality and long-term health.Topics include:Why dentists and physical therapists need to collaborateHow posture changes occlusion and jaw functionWhy some patients still can't breathe through their nose after surgeryThe role of breathing retraining and functional rehabilitationMouth breathing, CO₂ tolerance, and Buteyko breathingWhy tongue posture and negative pressure matterPediatric airway development and parent involvementThe importance of gait, movement, diaphragm function, and whole-body alignmentPractical strategies clinicians can immediately apply with patientsIf you've ever wondered why some patients continue to struggle despite excellent dental treatment or why airway medicine requires a whole-body approach—this episode is a must-listen.To get in touch with Dr. Jenny Hobson:Dr. Jenny Hobson: IGDr. Jenny Hobson: FBDr. Jenny Hobson: YouTubeDr. Jenny Hobson: LinkedInDr. Jenny Hobson: Link TreeSchedule FREE 15 min Consult with Dr. Jenny HobsonSchedule 25 min Virtual Consult with Dr. Jenny HobsonSchedule 50 min Virtual Consult with Dr. Jenny HobsonDr. Jenny Hobson's Podcast with Mariano Rocabado, PT (The Breathing Lab - Episode #28 | Meet the Pioneers of Craniofacial Therapy)Dr. Jenny Hobson's Podcast: The Breathing Lab - Episode #10 | My Mentor and TMJ ExpertCHAPTERS: 📖00:00 Welcome to ASAP Pathway01:25 Meet Dr. Jenny Hobson03:30 Training with Dr. Mariano Rocabado06:20 Why Neck Position Changes Your Bite08:10 Breaking Down Healthcare Silos 10:15 The Whole-Body Connection to Airway Health12:00 Why Some Patients Can't Breathe After Nasal Surgery15:15 Retraining the Nose After Surgery18:15 Buteyko Breathing & Air Hunger Explained21:35 How PTs Work with Dentists and Orthodontists25:00 TMJ, Clenching & Airway Compensation28:30 Why Walking, Posture & Movement Matter33:45 Forward Head Posture and Airway Development37:45 The Uplocker, Tongue Posture & Functional Therapy45:40 Parents Are the Most Important Part of Treatment50:00 Teaching the Correct Swallow52:00 Airway Education for Healthcare Professionals55:30 Three Fun Questions with Dr. Jenny HobsonLearnings: 💡Airway health requires a team approach. Dentists, physical therapists, ENTs, speech therapists, myofunctional therapists, and physicians all bring unique expertise that improves patient outcomes.Posture directly affects jaw position. Forward head posture changes occlusion, increases joint loading, and can contribute to TMJ dysfunction and chronic pain.Breathing is a learned function. Many patients continue mouth breathing even after surgery because they never relearn how to use their nose effectively.Structure and function are equally important. Opening the airway anatomically is only part of treatment—patients must also retrain breathing, swallowing, and muscle function. Mouth breathing changes the entire body. Poor breathing mechanics affect posture, neck muscles, diaphragm function, rib position, and overall movement.Physical therapists offer an important missing perspective. Manual therapy, breathing retraining, posture correction, and functional movement complement dental and airway treatment.CO₂ tolerance matters. Learning to tolerate normal carbon dioxide levels through breathing retraining can improve nasal breathing and reduce overbreathing.Tongue posture creates stability. Proper tongue suction and oral posture help support the airway, stabilize the jaw, and improve swallowing function.Children benefit from consistent parent involvement. Long-term success depends on daily habits practiced at home, not just what happens during office visits.Airway treatment extends beyond the mouth. Healthy gait, rib mobility, diaphragm mechanics, and whole-body alignment all influence breathing efficiency.Functional rehabilitation can improve surgical outcomes. Patients who receive breathing retraining and functional therapy after ENT procedures often achieve better long-term nasal breathing. Great clinicians never stop learning. Dr. Hobson's career illustrates the importance of continually expanding knowledge across disciplines to better serve patients.This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. Don't miss this exciting launch into a world of knowledge and transformation.Because Kids Can't Wait...CLICK HERE To Find an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE To Become an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE FOR ASAP Pathway IN-PERSON COURSESCLICK HERE To See If Your Child Is At Risk!ASAP FREE GIFT AND E NEWSLETTERSUBCRIBE AND SHARE AT OUR OTHER PLATFORMS BELOW ⬇️ASAP YouTube ▶️ 🔗ASAP YouTube Music 🔗 ASAP on Spotify 🔗ASAP IHeartRadio ❤️🔗 ASAP Amazon Music 🎵🔗 ASAP Apple Podcast 🍎🔗ASAP Pathway MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, LEARNING and COURSES BELOW ⬇️ 🙌Join The Practice Breakfast Club! ☕️🔗2026 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗WANT TO BE A MEMBER IN ASAP Pathway? ASAP Membership Options BELOW: 🎉👇ASAP Immersion Membership🔗ORComprehensive ASAP Pathway Membership🔗

What if Dentists are uniquely positioned to identify chronic disease before symptoms ever appear? In this conversation, Dr. Stacy Becker welcomes fellow ASAP Pathway member, educator and airway pioneer Dr. Kimberly Santiago for a deep dive into the evolving role of dentistry in airway health, craniofacial development, sleep medicine, and whole-body wellness.From breastfeeding struggles and tongue-tie misconceptions to cranial development, TMJ health, pediatric airway intervention, and the future of diagnostic technology, this episode challenges traditional silos in healthcare and asks an important question: What if dentistry has always been medicine — we just forgot?Dr. Santiago shares her journey from traditional restorative dentistry to becoming a craniofacial respiratory orthopedist focused on optimizing nasal breathing, jaw development, and sleep quality beginning as early as infancy — and even before birth. Together, Drs. Becker and Santiago discuss:Why adult sleep apnea often begins in childhoodThe difference between making room for teeth and making room for breathingWhy early intervention may protect neurocognitive developmentThe relationship between oral health and cardiovascular diseaseHow dentists and hygienists can become frontline healthcare screenersWhy anatomy alone is not enough and function matters just as muchThe emerging technologies helping clinicians better understand nasal physiology and airway functionWhy comprehensive treatment planning requires collaboration across disciplinesThis conversation isn't simply about dentistry. It's about changing the trajectory of health before disease ever has the chance to take hold.Dr. Kimberly Santiago WebsiteDr. Santiago IGDr. Santiago FBTIkTok:  @airsyncwellnessEmail:  [email protected] 📖00:00 Introduction to Dr. Kimberly Santiago02:15 Buying a Practice at 25 and Building a Vision05:10 From General Dentistry to Airway Medicine08:45 Breastfeeding Challenges That Changed Everything12:30 Why Personal Experiences Drive Clinical Passion16:00 Dentistry's Role in Whole Body Health18:20 Structure, Function, and Behavior: A New Diagnostic Model21:15 Looking Beyond Teeth: Comprehensive Airway Evaluations24:00 Anatomy vs Physiology in Airway Treatment27:00 The Wellness Bus and New Brain Technologies 31:00 Neuroplasticity, ADHD, and Brain Health34:00 Evidence-Based Medicine vs Clinical Experience37:15 Why Hygienists Are Saving Lives40:00 Oral Bacteria, Inflammation, and Cardiovascular Disease43:00 Protecting the Brain Through Craniofacial Growth45:30 Why Speed of Expansion Matters50:00 Expansion for Teeth vs Expansion for Breathing53:00 Why Nasal Breathing Grows the Face56:00 Looking for Root Causes Instead of Symptoms58:00 Ozone Therapy, Tonsils, and Preserving Anatomy01:03:00 Educating Communities and Raising Awareness01:08:00 Sleep Apnea Is a Disease, Not a Syndrome01:12:00 The Future of Comprehensive Dentistry01:17:00 Final Thoughts and TakeawaysKEY LEARNINGS 💡Dentistry is much bigger than teeth. The mouth is connected to cardiovascular health, sleep, inflammation, neurological function, and systemic disease.Adult sleep apnea often begins decades earlier. Many adult airway problems originate during infancy and childhood growth and development.Structure and function must be evaluated together. A beautiful CBCT means very little if physiology and breathing function are poor.Not all expansion is the same. Creating room for teeth and creating room for breathing are not necessarily the same treatment goal.Nasal breathing is a developmental force. The tongue, nasal breathing, and chewing all influence facial growth and craniofacial development.Earlier intervention often requires less intervention. Helping children at ages two and three may reduce the need for more aggressive therapies later.Dentists are frontline healthcare providers. The dental office may identify hypertension, inflammation, sleep disorders, reflux, airway issues, and cardiovascular risk before anyone else does.Hygienists are essential to healthcare screening. A dentist cannot build an oral-systemic program without a hygiene team that understands the mission.Clinical experience matters alongside literature. Today's observations often become tomorrow's research studies.Healthcare cannot continue to operate in silos. Dentists, physicians, ENT physicians, myofunctional therapists, sleep physicians, and orthodontists all play a role in improving outcomes.Technology is rapidly changing airway medicine. Functional measurements, nasal airflow testing, and physiologic data are helping clinicians personalize treatment like never before.Sleep apnea deserves to be treated like the disease it is. Minimizing sleep-disordered breathing delays diagnosis and treatment for millions of patients.The goal is health span, not simply lifespan. Living longer means very little if patients spend decades surviving rather than thriving.The future of medicine will focus on prevention. The greatest healthcare victories may happen years before symptoms ever appear.This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. Don't miss this exciting launch into a world of knowledge and transformation.Because Kids Can't Wait...CLICK HERE To Find an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE To Become an ASAP Pathway ProviderCLICK HERE FOR ASAP Pathway IN-PERSON COURSESCLICK HERE To See If Your Child Is At Risk!ASAP FREE GIFT AND E NEWSLETTERSUBCRIBE AND SHARE AT OUR OTHER PLATFORMS BELOW ⬇️ASAP YouTube ▶️ 🔗ASAP YouTube Music 🔗 ASAP on Spotify 🔗ASAP IHeartRadio ❤️🔗 ASAP Amazon Music 🎵🔗 ASAP Apple Podcast 🍎🔗ASAP Pathway MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, LEARNING and COURSES BELOW ⬇️ 🙌Join The Practice Breakfast Club! ☕️🔗2026 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗WANT TO BE A MEMBER IN ASAP Pathway? ASAP Membership Options BELOW: 🎉👇ASAP Immersion Membership🔗ORComprehensive ASAP Pathway Membership🔗