Implementing Sleep, Airway and Myo to Restorative Dentistry Part 1 – PDP262
Protrusive Dental PodcastShow Notes
What do you actually do once you’ve screened a patient for airway or sleep-disordered breathing? You suspect sleep apnea—but since we can’t diagnose it as dentists, how does that influence the care you provide? What do you do with that information, and who should you be working with to help your patient? And what if you want to implement airway into your practice—but you’re not in the right environment to do so? In this episode, Dr. Aston Parmar joins Jaz to break down how to implement airway in everyday dentistry. Together, they explore what happens after screening, how it influences treatment planning, and how dentists can work with other professionals to deliver better care. https://youtu.be/wGbgbW8muUI Watch PDP262 on YouTube Protrusive Dental Pearl Use the Mallampati Score as a quick chairside airway screen: have the patient open wide and stick out their tongue. Grade 1 = low risk; higher grades indicate greater Sleep-Disordered Breathing risk. ⚠️ In TMD patients, limited opening can give falsely high scores. ✅ Always interpret alongside history and full exam. Key Takeaways Airway management is often overlooked in dental education. Sleep testing can significantly improve patient outcomes. Dentists should focus on airway health to enhance sleep quality. Collaboration with orthodontists can benefit patient care. Myofunctional therapy is crucial for both children and adults. Early intervention before age six is vital for nasal breathing. Tongue function plays a significant role in dental health. Breathing patterns can affect orthodontic stability. The Malampati score is a key indicator of sleep disorder risk. Upper airway resistance syndrome can be difficult to diagnose. Collaboration with myofunctional therapists enhances patient outcomes. Understanding airway health is essential for total body health. Inspiring the next generation of dental professionals is important. Highlights of this episode: 00:00 Teaser 00:51 Introduction 04:03 Protrusive Dental Pearl: Mallampati Score 05:37 Meet Dr. Aston Parmar 09:51 Journey into Dentistry 17:10 Implementing Training in Practice 22:41 First Exposure to Airway Concept 30:18 South Wales Dental Sleep Clinic Model 30:21 Midroll 33:42 South Wales Dental Sleep Clinic Model 41:17 Myofunctional Therapy Explained 48: 51 Orthodontic Stability and Neutral Zone 54:52 Quickfire Screening Red Flags 01:02:55 Sleep Apnea Basics 01:04:23 Upper Area Resistance Syndrome (UARS) 01:08:53 Outro Want more? Check out Airway Dentistry with Jeff Rouse – PDP229 🦷 Ergonomics Day – Dentistry Without Back Pain! Join us Saturday, 13th June, Heathrow with Dr. Anikó Ball, world-leading ergonomics expert! Learn proper posture, positioning, and techniques to prevent back problems while practicing dentistry. 💺 Hands-on workshop with a mobile dental chair 📸 Live camera demo on a big screen 💻 Can’t attend in person? Join online with live stream & replay 🎟 Early bird tickets even include a full event video! 👉 Grab your spot now! #PDPMainEpisodes #CareerDevelopment #OrthoRestorative This episode is eligible for 1 CE credit via the quiz on Protrusive Guidance. This episode meets GDC Outcome C AGD Subject Code: 730 – Oral Medicine, Oral Diagnosis, Oral Pathology Aim: To provide a practical, data-driven framework for identifying airway-related risks, understanding myofunctional therapy, and integrating sleep screening into routine dental assessment. Dentists will be able to – Recognize key airway and sleep-related risk factors during routine dental examinations. 2. Understand the role of myofunctional therapy in improving airway function and orthodontic stability. 3. Apply simple chairside screening methods to identify patients who may require further airway assessment.
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