While childhood sleep disordered breathing is underdiagnosed, awareness is increasing. A childs growth and development are directly related to the quality of sleep. The quality of sleep may be related to the level of airway compromise, which may be related to the growth and development of the maxilla and mandible. We recognize the high levels of malocclusion in children, but we often miss the connection to how unhealthy the child may be. This course will connect the dots from airway compromise to the everyday medical symptoms that children and parents are struggling with, to the treatment options that exist to help these families. The dental team is uniquely positioned to evaluate and treat children through collaboration as young as 3 years old to improve their overall health, growth and development. Attendees will be able to understand the role of an orofacial myofunctional therapist, understand how myofunctional guidance appliances work, and understand how to develop a child’s airway through collaboration. Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: identify the differences between nasal and mouth breathing; understand the relationship between a childs airway and sleeping; and understand the relationship between sleep disorder breathing and early childhood growth and development. The most common medical symptoms of ADHD, bedwetting, bruxism, ear infections, night terrors, digestive issues, and more will be discussed as they relate to airway compromise and sleep disruption.

This course is a continuation of Childhood Sleep Disordered Breathing: The Dental Team's Role. An unhealthy and untreated child will grow into an unhealthy teen who will grow into an unhealthy adult. This course will explore the expansive orthodontic opportunities available to GP's including expanders, clear aligners and braces. The techniques presented will be airway health based and collaborative care with the medical community will be introduced. Many teens and adults present with associated symptoms such as malocclusion, sleep disordered breathing, bruxism, TMD, fatigue, gastroesophageal reflux, weight gain, cardiovascular and cognitive issues among others. The rationale for using expansive orthodontic techniques for comprehensive oral health will be explored and the connection to overall health will be shown with clinical case presentations. This course will offer insight into the expansive orthodontic techniques available to our TMD patients. Finally, this course will give confidence to the dental team in establishing an airway health focus for comprehensive dental care in their practices.

TMD patients exist in every dental practice. TMD symptoms are as numerous and variable as the current treatment options are. This course will explore the difference between treating the TMD symptoms and treating the causes of the TMD with sound orthodontic principles. GP orthodontic techniques to treat mild, moderate or severe TMD symptoms will be shown for both teen and adult patients. This course will be clinical case based and should give GP's confidence to offer orthodontic solutions to their TMD patients.