Can adults really expand their palate, and how is skeletal expansion different from simply moving the teeth?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, Renata Nehme shares her personal experience with MARPE and answers common questions about adult palatal expansion, airway health, tongue space, and treatment planning.

She explains:

✨ How MSE and customized MARPE appliances work
✨ Why miniscrews are used to create skeletal expansion
✨ The difference between opening the midpalatal suture and tipping the teeth
✨ How appliance design, screw placement, and activation rate may affect treatment
✨ When techniques such as piezo-assisted expansion may be considered
✨ Why expansion of the upper jaw must be coordinated with the lower arch
✨ How a narrow palate can affect tongue posture, suction, swallowing, nasal breathing, and sleep
✨ Where myofunctional therapy and tongue-tie treatment may fit into the process

Renata also discusses how CBCT imaging helps providers evaluate palatal anatomy and customize treatment. Drawing from her own expansion journey, she shares the changes she noticed in tongue space, swallowing, nasal airflow, and oral rest posture.

Adult expansion is not a one-size-fits-all procedure. Age, skeletal anatomy, bone quality, airway concerns, oral function, and treatment goals must all be considered when deciding between MARPE, orthodontic movement, surgically assisted expansion, or jaw surgery.

This conversation also reinforces the importance of addressing function alongside structure. Expansion may create additional space, but the tongue and oral muscles must learn how to use that space effectively to support long-term stability.

🎧 Press play for a practical introduction to adult palatal expansion and the questions every patient should ask before beginning treatment.

#BeautyOfBreathing #AdultPalatalExpansion #MARPE #MSE #PalatalExpansion #AirwayHealth #AirwayOrthodontics #NasalBreathing #TonguePosture #MyofunctionalTherapy #SleepDisorderedBreathing #InterdisciplinaryCare

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ABOUT OUR HOST:

Renata Nehme RDH, BSDH, COM®, OMS™ has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2010. In 2016, when she was introduced to the world of "Myofunctional Therapy" she immediately knew that was her calling, especially when she learned that it encapsulated many of her passions- breastfeeding, the import of early childhood development, and airway health. 

In 2021 Renata founded Airway Circle with the intention of creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of like-minded health professionals who share the same passion for learning and giving in the dental health and airway space. 

Myo Moves - Become a Patient: www.myo-moves.com


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Airway Circle we offer a safe and supportive space for like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate and share information regarding airway-related issues and whole-body health.

Become a Member Today and have immediate access to hundreds of lectures with world-renowned professionals. ...

What happens when an orthodontist becomes the jaw surgery patient?

In this episode of the Airway Answers Podcast, Nicole Goldfarb speaks with orthodontists Dr. Brian Hockel and Dr. Bill Hang about Dr. Hockel’s personal experience undergoing maxillomandibular advancement surgery.

They explore:

✨ What motivated Dr. Hockel to pursue double jaw surgery
✨ How airway imaging helped guide his decision
✨ Why orthodontic preparation can significantly influence surgical outcomes
✨ The importance of creating adequate space for the tongue
✨ Why transverse expansion alone may not correct jaws that developed downward and backward
✨ How facial aesthetics, airway health, TMJ function, and oral posture should be considered together
✨ The role of myofunctional therapy before and after surgery
✨ Practical preparation and recovery insights from a clinician who became the patient

Dr. Hockel shares how years of treating airway patients shaped his expectations, preparation, and recovery. Dr. Hang explains why jaw surgery requires individualized planning and close collaboration among the orthodontist, surgeon, myofunctional therapist, and other members of the care team.

The conversation also highlights the value of recognizing airway and facial growth concerns early, before they progress into more complex problems that may require surgical intervention.

Dr. Brian Hockel is an orthodontist in Walnut Creek, California, whose work incorporates airway health, facial development, orthodontics, and orthotropics. Dr. Bill Hang practiced orthodontics for more than 50 years and is internationally recognized for his work involving facial growth, airway-focused orthodontics, and orthognathic surgery preparation.

🎧 Hear an honest, clinician-to-patient perspective on what thoughtful jaw surgery planning can involve.

#AirwayAnswers #JawSurgery #OrthognathicSurgery #MMASurgery #AirwayOrthodontics #SleepApnea #MyofunctionalTherapy #FacialDevelopment #TonguePosture #TMJHealth #AirwayHealth #CollaborativeCare

Support the show

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Renata Nehme RDH, BSDH, COM®, OMS™ has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2010. In 2016, when she was introduced to the world of "Myofunctional Therapy" she immediately knew that was her calling, especially when she learned that it encapsulated many of her passions- breastfeeding, the import of early childhood development, and airway health. 

In 2021 Renata founded Airway Circle with the intention of creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of like-minded health professionals who share the same passion for learning and giving in the dental health and airway space. 

Myo Moves - Become a Patient: www.myo-moves.com


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Airway Circle we offer a safe and supportive space for like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate and share information regarding airway-related issues and whole-body health.

Become a Member Today and have immediate access to hundreds of lectures with world-renowned professionals. ...

How can a child’s earliest movements influence breathing, feeding, posture, and brain development?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, Renata Nehme speaks with pediatric chiropractor Dr. Kaleb Scroggin about primitive reflexes and their role in healthy childhood development.

They explore:

✨ How primitive reflexes support movement and neurological development
✨ The connection between reflex integration, muscle tone, and airway function
✨ Why crawling is an important developmental foundation
✨ How swaddling, footwear, walkers, and bouncers may affect natural movement
✨ Signs that could indicate a retained or underdeveloped reflex
✨ How gentle pediatric chiropractic care differs from adult adjustments
✨ Why collaborative care matters when supporting a child’s development

Dr. Scroggin explains that reflexes are only one part of a much larger picture. Developmental milestones, movement patterns, feeding, posture, nervous system function, and breathing must all be considered together.

The conversation also offers practical ideas for encouraging movement and sensory experiences through barefoot play, crawling activities, varied surfaces, and age-appropriate games.

Dr. Kaleb Scroggin is a board-certified pediatric chiropractor based in Savannah, Georgia. At Restoration Chiropractic, he focuses on pediatric neurodevelopment and supporting babies and families through pregnancy, birth, and early childhood.

This episode offers parents and healthcare professionals a fascinating look at how movement builds the brain and why the foundations established during infancy can influence whole-body health.

🎧 Listen to discover a new perspective on the relationship between reflexes, development, and the airway.

#BeautyOfBreathing #PediatricChiropractic #PrimitiveReflexes #ReflexIntegration #ChildDevelopment #AirwayHealth #Neurodevelopment #PediatricHealth #Crawling #MyofunctionalTherapy #WholeBodyHealth #CollaborativeCare

Support the show

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Renata Nehme RDH, BSDH, COM®, OMS™ has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2010. In 2016, when she was introduced to the world of "Myofunctional Therapy" she immediately knew that was her calling, especially when she learned that it encapsulated many of her passions- breastfeeding, the import of early childhood development, and airway health. 

In 2021 Renata founded Airway Circle with the intention of creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of like-minded health professionals who share the same passion for learning and giving in the dental health and airway space. 

Myo Moves - Become a Patient: www.myo-moves.com


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Airway Circle we offer a safe and supportive space for like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate and share information regarding airway-related issues and whole-body health.

Become a Member Today and have immediate access to hundreds of lectures with world-renowned professionals. ...

Where are you spending your attention, and is it moving you toward healing or keeping you focused on pain?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, Renata Nehme shares a thoughtful conversation with orthopedic massage therapist Caleb Davis about the relationship between attention, pain, emotional health, self-love, faith, and the body’s capacity for healing.

They reflect on:

✨ Why physical pain and emotional experiences cannot always be separated
✨ How posture and movement may reflect a person’s internal state
✨ What it means to treat attention as a limited form of currency
✨ Why listening to pain may reveal more than attempting to silence it
✨ How practitioners can facilitate healing without taking power away from the patient
✨ Why self-love can support healthier choices without relying on guilt
✨ The connection between breathing, nervous system regulation, and emotional well-being
✨ How movement and social connection contribute to a healthier life
✨ Why healing is best supported in a calm, safe, parasympathetic state
✨ How faith, grace, hope, and trust can influence a person’s healing journey

Caleb explains that the “currency of appreciation” is the attention and mental energy we distribute throughout the day. Pain can consume much of that limited capacity, affecting relationships, productivity, movement, and quality of life. Learning to understand its message may help a person move toward greater awareness and appropriate support.

He also introduces orthopedic massage, an approach that combines gentle joint movement, massage principles, neuromuscular awareness, and patient-guided motion. His goal is not to force change but to help restore movement, reduce protective tension, and rebuild the nervous system’s trust in the body.

Caleb Davis is an orthopedic massage therapist practicing at Rise Health and Wellness in Richmond Hill, Georgia. His work brings together elements of Western medicine, holistic care, biomechanics, neurology, emotional health, and spirituality.

This episode is a meaningful reminder that caring for yourself is not selfish. When healing begins with compassion instead of punishment, healthier choices can become an expression of love rather than obligation.

🎧 Pause, breathe, and consider where your most valuable currency is being spent today.

#BeautyOfBreathing #CurrencyOfAppreciation #CalebDavis #OrthopedicMassage #SelfLove #MindBodyConnection #NervousSystemRegulation #Breathwork #ChronicPain #HolisticHealing #EmotionalHealth #FaithAndHealing #MovementIsMedicine

Support the show

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Renata Nehme RDH, BSDH, COM®, OMS™ has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2010. In 2016, when she was introduced to the world of "Myofunctional Therapy" she immediately knew that was her calling, especially when she learned that it encapsulated many of her passions- breastfeeding, the import of early childhood development, and airway health. 

In 2021 Renata founded Airway Circle with the intention of creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of like-minded health professionals who share the same passion for learning and giving in the dental health and airway space. 

Myo Moves - Become a Patient: www.myo-moves.com


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Airway Circle we offer a safe and supportive space for like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate and share information regarding airway-related issues and whole-body health.

Become a Member Today and have immediate access to hundreds of lectures with world-renowned professionals. ...

Could the airway be a missing piece in patients with brain fog, chronic pain, fatigue, and other complex symptoms?

In this Airway Circle conversation, Renata Nehme joins Dr. Cheng Ruan to explore the relationship between skull structure, nasal breathing, brain function, posture, and chronic disease. Drawing from integrative medicine and quantitative EEG brain mapping, Dr. Ruan shares how he investigates patterns that may otherwise remain disconnected.

The conversation explores:

✨ How quantitative EEG brain mapping measures patterns of brain activity
✨ Why sleep and breathing should be considered when evaluating cognitive and mental health symptoms
✨ The role of nasal breathing and the sinuses in nitric oxide production
✨ How airway obstruction may affect sleep quality, energy, attention, and memory
✨ Connections among bruxism, TMJ concerns, chronic pain, and sleep-disordered breathing
✨ Why forward head posture and fascial restrictions may be part of a larger compensatory pattern
✨ The overlap among airway concerns, POTS, dysautonomia, and connective tissue disorders
✨ How mold, sinus inflammation, and environmental exposures may complicate symptoms
✨ Why tongue volume may sometimes reflect medical conditions, not only limited oral space
✨ The importance of reconsidering the treatment plan when expansion, surgery, or myofunctional therapy does not resolve every symptom
✨ How emotional and generational experiences may influence the nervous system and physical health

Dr. Ruan emphasizes that complex patients rarely fit into a single diagnosis or treatment pathway. Although airway dysfunction may be an important contributor, clinicians must remain curious about neurological, structural, immune, environmental, metabolic, and emotional factors.

Dr. Cheng Ruan is a board-certified internal medicine physician, author, international speaker, and founder of the Texas Center for Lifestyle Medicine. His East-meets-West background has shaped an integrative approach that combines conventional medicine, lifestyle medicine, technology, and root-cause investigation.

This episode challenges healthcare professionals to move beyond isolated symptoms and examine how the skull, airway, brain, nervous system, and entire body may influence one another.

🎧 Open the door to a broader clinical perspective and explore what may be hiding beneath a complex diagnosis.

#AirwayCircle #ChengRuan #SkullBrainConnection #AirwayHealth #BrainHealth #SleepDisorderedBreathing #NasalBreathing #FunctionalMedicine #IntegrativeMedicine #BrainMapping #Dysautonomia #POTS #ChronicPain #MyofunctionalTherapy #InterdisciplinaryCare

Support the show

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Renata Nehme RDH, BSDH, COM®, OMS™ has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2010. In 2016, when she was introduced to the world of "Myofunctional Therapy" she immediately knew that was her calling, especially when she learned that it encapsulated many of her passions- breastfeeding, the import of early childhood development, and airway health. 

In 2021 Renata founded Airway Circle with the intention of creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of like-minded health professionals who share the same passion for learning and giving in the dental health and airway space. 

Myo Moves - Become a Patient: www.myo-moves.com


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Airway Circle we offer a safe and supportive space for like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate and share information regarding airway-related issues and whole-body health.

Become a Member Today and have immediate access to hundreds of lectures with world-renowned professionals. ...

What happens after a hypoglossal nerve stimulator is implanted, and what if the device alone does not fully resolve a patient’s sleep apnea?

In the second half of Nicole Goldfarb’s conversation with Dr. Pat McBride, they explore the realities of living with Inspire therapy, including programming, monitoring, side effects, combination treatment, and long-term follow-up.

They take a closer look at:

✨ Why some patients benefit from combining Inspire with an oral appliance
✨ How the tongue moves when the hypoglossal nerve is stimulated
✨ Why nasal breathing and lip closure may influence treatment outcomes
✨ Whether stimulation can affect the teeth or bite over time
✨ How patients gradually increase stimulation levels at home
✨ Why symptom improvement should eventually be confirmed with another sleep study
✨ Potential concerns such as tongue soreness, dry mouth, headaches, coughing, or disrupted sleep
✨ How dental trays may reduce irritation as the tongue moves across the teeth
✨ What patients should know about airport screening, X-rays, and MRI compatibility
✨ How newer bilateral stimulation systems may differ from Inspire
✨ Why untreated insomnia, restless legs, iron deficiency, or vitamin D deficiency may limit success
✨ The importance of annual device checks and long-term clinical follow-up

Dr. McBride explains that utilization data can show whether the patient is turning the device on and which settings are being used, but it does not directly reveal the patient’s apnea level each night. Symptoms, clinical evaluation, and follow-up sleep testing remain important for determining whether treatment is adequately controlling the condition.

She also emphasizes that sleep apnea often has multiple contributing factors. A patient may have airway obstruction along with insomnia, periodic limb movements, nutritional deficiencies, or other sleep disorders. Implanting a device without examining these additional concerns may leave the patient feeling that treatment has failed.

The central message is clear: hypoglossal nerve stimulation is not a “set it and forget it” therapy. Successful outcomes require careful adjustment, active listening, comprehensive sleep care, and ongoing maintenance.

🎧 Continue beyond the basics and learn what truly goes into making hypoglossal nerve stimulation work for the individual patient.

#AirwayAnswers #AirwayCircle #PatMcBride #HypoglossalNerveStimulation #InspireTherapy #SleepApnea #ObstructiveSleepApnea #SleepMedicine #CombinationTherapy #NasalBreathing #OralApplianceTherapy #RestlessLegSyndrome #MyofunctionalTherapy #PatientCenteredCare

Support the show

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Renata Nehme RDH, BSDH, COM®, OMS™ has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2010. In 2016, when she was introduced to the world of "Myofunctional Therapy" she immediately knew that was her calling, especially when she learned that it encapsulated many of her passions- breastfeeding, the import of early childhood development, and airway health. 

In 2021 Renata founded Airway Circle with the intention of creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of like-minded health professionals who share the same passion for learning and giving in the dental health and airway space. 

Myo Moves - Become a Patient: www.myo-moves.com


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Airway Circle we offer a safe and supportive space for like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate and share information regarding airway-related issues and whole-body health.

Become a Member Today and have immediate access to hundreds of lectures with world-renowned professionals. ...

Can the way we breathe, chew, swallow, and rest our tongue influence how the face and jaws develop?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, Renata Nehme connects with Ukrainian dentist Dr. Maryanna Gayduk for an important conversation about mouth breathing, orofacial function, and the responsibility dental professionals have to recognize early signs of dysfunction.

Their discussion explores:

✨ What orofacial myofunctional therapy is and how it supports breathing, chewing, swallowing, and oral rest posture
✨ Why the resting position of the tongue and lips matters
✨ How mouth breathing may influence facial and jaw development
✨ Why healthy patients should still be screened for airway and functional concerns
✨ Common signs dental professionals may observe before patients recognize a problem
✨ How dysfunctional muscle patterns may contribute to orthodontic relapse
✨ Why structural treatment and muscle retraining often need to occur together
✨ The relationship between a narrow maxilla, nasal breathing, and mandibular position
✨ Why exercises alone may not correct a significant skeletal deficiency
✨ The value of collaboration among dentists, orthodontists, ENTs, and myofunctional therapists

Dr. Gayduk shares how her interest in airway health and myofunctional therapy grew after noticing mouth breathing in her grandsons. Her personal experience with childhood mouth breathing also inspired her to learn more and help families recognize these patterns earlier.

Renata explains that form and function continuously influence one another. Oral habits and muscle patterns can shape developing structures, while the existing skeletal anatomy determines how a person is able to breathe, chew, swallow, and position the tongue. This is why individualized, interdisciplinary treatment is so important.

Dr. Maryanna Gayduk is a Ukrainian dentist with more than 25 years of clinical experience. Her work includes endodontics and care involving the broader stomatognathic system. She remains committed to educating her community about dental health, airway awareness, and early identification of functional concerns.

Whether you are a parent or healthcare professional, this conversation encourages you to look beyond the teeth and observe the person as a whole.

🎧 Look a little closer and discover how everyday functions may be shaping lifelong health.

#BeautyOfBreathing #MaryannaGayduk #FormFollowsFunction #MyofunctionalTherapy #MouthBreathing #OralRestPosture #AirwayHealth #JawDevelopment #NasalBreathing #OrthodonticRelapse #PediatricAirway #InterdisciplinaryCare

Support the show

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Renata Nehme RDH, BSDH, COM®, OMS™ has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2010. In 2016, when she was introduced to the world of "Myofunctional Therapy" she immediately knew that was her calling, especially when she learned that it encapsulated many of her passions- breastfeeding, the import of early childhood development, and airway health. 

In 2021 Renata founded Airway Circle with the intention of creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of like-minded health professionals who share the same passion for learning and giving in the dental health and airway space. 

Myo Moves - Become a Patient: www.myo-moves.com


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Airway Circle we offer a safe and supportive space for like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate and share information regarding airway-related issues and whole-body health.

Become a Member Today and have immediate access to hundreds of lectures with world-renowned professionals. ...

What happens when orthodontic treatment changes the structure, but the muscles continue following the same dysfunctional patterns?

In this special Straight Talk conversation, Dr. Steffen Decker and Renata Nehme explore why orthodontics and myofunctional therapy are most effective when they work together. Teeth, jaws, muscles, breathing, and oral function are interconnected, and treating only one part may limit long-term stability.

They examine:

✨ Why structure cannot be separated from muscle function
✨ How the resting posture of the lips and tongue influences the teeth
✨ Why healthy oral function can support orthodontic retention
✨ The connection between nasal breathing, jaw growth, and airway development
✨ Why a tongue-tie release should be considered a process, not an isolated procedure
✨ The importance of preparation, post-procedure care, and whole-body support
✨ How myofunctional therapy can be adapted for younger children
✨ What patients can work on while undergoing palatal expansion
✨ Why chewing and swallowing may need to be retrained after structural changes
✨ The importance of evaluating both transverse and front-to-back jaw deficiencies
✨ Why early orthodontic intervention can take advantage of a child’s natural growth

Renata also shares her personal experience with adult palatal expansion and the improvements she noticed in nasal breathing, sleep, facial balance, and tongue space. Her story illustrates why straight teeth alone do not necessarily reflect adequate jaw development or optimal function.

Dr. Decker explains how a narrow or underdeveloped upper jaw can restrict the lower jaw from moving forward. Addressing the upper jaw early may create an opportunity for healthier mandibular growth, improved facial development, and a more favorable airway.

This conversation reinforces a central message: orthodontic appliances can create structural opportunity, but muscles and oral function must learn how to use and maintain that new space.

For orthodontists, dentists, myofunctional therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other airway-focused professionals, this episode offers a compelling look at what becomes possible when disciplines share knowledge and coordinate care.

🎧 Follow the connection from structure to function and discover why collaboration may be one of the most important tools in airway-centered treatment.

#AirwayCircle #SteffenDecker #RenataNehme #MyofunctionalTherapy #AirwayOrthodontics #PalatalExpansion #EarlyOrthodontics #JawDevelopment #NasalBreathing #TongueTie #OrthodonticRetention #InterdisciplinaryCare #AirwayHealth

Support the show

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Renata Nehme RDH, BSDH, COM®, OMS™ has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2010. In 2016, when she was introduced to the world of "Myofunctional Therapy" she immediately knew that was her calling, especially when she learned that it encapsulated many of her passions- breastfeeding, the import of early childhood development, and airway health. 

In 2021 Renata founded Airway Circle with the intention of creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of like-minded health professionals who share the same passion for learning and giving in the dental health and airway space. 

Myo Moves - Become a Patient: www.myo-moves.com


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Airway Circle we offer a safe and supportive space for like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate and share information regarding airway-related issues and whole-body health.

Become a Member Today and have immediate access to hundreds of lectures with world-renowned professionals. ...

Prepare to be guided through the enigmatic nexus of orthodontics, myofunctional therapy, and airway health as we host Dr. Steffen Decker in a revelatory session. His insights illuminate the essential harmony between structural and muscular aspects of dental care, a synergy paramount for staving off orthodontic relapse and optimizing long-term outcomes. As we navigate the intricacies of tongue tie diagnoses and the impact of breathing on our dental and overall health, Dr. Decker underscores the momentous influence of proper airway function and the transformative effects it can have from infancy through adulthood.

In a candid discussion, we scrutinize the complexities of childhood sleep apnea and the role myofunctional therapy plays in its management. Dr. Decker elucidates the challenges professionals face in this nuanced field, advocating for early, comprehensive interventions. We traverse the landscape of orthodontic devices and treatments, exploring innovations like the IEP appliance and the potential of metal printing in dental alignment. By advocating for a blend of traditional and cutting-edge techniques, Dr. Decker champions a multidisciplinary approach in pediatric care, one that promises to reshape the future of dental health.

Closing with a testament to the power of collaboration, we celebrate the collective wisdom and passion that fuel advancements in our field. The excitement for future breakthroughs and the bonds forged amongst peers lend this conversation an air of optimism. Dr. Decker and I share our enthusiasm for the upcoming convergence of minds in Vienna this October, a testament to the perpetual journey of learning and discovery in the pursuit of holistic health solutions. Join us for an episode that not only informs but inspires, as we embrace the beautiful, breath-focused narrative of modern dental care.

________________________________________________________________________________________________
ABOUT THE GUEST. 

Dr. Steffen  Decker is a  Specialist Orthodontist BDS, MAS in Lingual Orthodontics, Kois Recognized Specialist, Program Director MSc in Dento-facial Orthodontics and MSc in Clear Aligner Orthodontics

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Support the show

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Renata Nehme RDH, BSDH, COM® has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2010. In 2016, when she was introduced to the world of "Myofunctional Therapy" she immediately knew that was her calling, especially when she learned that it encapsulated many of her passions- breastfeeding, the import of early childhood development, and airway health.

In 2021 Renata founded Airway Circle with the intention of creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of like-minded health professionals who share the same passion for learning and giving in the dental health and airway space.

Myo Moves - Become a Patient: www.myo-moves.com


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Airway Circle we offer a safe and supportive space for like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate and share information regarding airway-related issues and whole-body health.

Become a Member Today and have immediate access to hundreds of lectures with world-renowned professionals. ...

What if treating sleep apnea did not require wearing a CPAP mask every night?

Nicole Goldfarb speaks with Dr. Pat McBride about hypoglossal nerve stimulation, an implantable treatment designed for carefully selected patients with obstructive sleep apnea who cannot tolerate or do not benefit from CPAP therapy.

Often described as a “pacemaker for the airway,” the device monitors the breathing cycle and stimulates the hypoglossal nerve during inhalation. This moves the tongue forward to help prevent it from collapsing into and obstructing the airway during sleep.

Their discussion includes:

✨ How hypoglossal nerve stimulation works
✨ The components and placement of the Inspire implant
✨ How stimulation coordinates with inhalation and exhalation
✨ Why the device must be individually programmed
✨ What happens during the healing and activation process
✨ Which patients may qualify for treatment
✨ Why CPAP intolerance or failure must be documented
✨ How central sleep apnea and airway collapse patterns affect candidacy
✨ The qualification process for adolescents with Down syndrome
✨ Why drug-induced sleep endoscopy is required before implantation
✨ How lingual tonsils and other soft-tissue obstructions may influence outcomes
✨ Why hypoglossal nerve stimulation may be one part of combination therapy

Dr. McBride emphasizes that this is not a universal replacement for CPAP. Careful testing, appropriate candidate selection, airway evaluation, and individualized programming are essential. A treatment that works exceptionally well for one person may not address every contributing factor in another.

Dr. Pat McBride has spent more than 40 years working across dentistry, respiratory medicine, and sleep medicine. Her interdisciplinary experience has helped shape clinical care models used by physicians and dentists worldwide.

This conversation offers a detailed look at an important option for patients who continue to struggle with obstructive sleep apnea despite conventional treatment.

🎧 Airway Circle members can access the full conversation and continue learning about this evolving approach to sleep apnea care.

#AirwayAnswers #AirwayCircle #HypoglossalNerveStimulation #InspireTherapy #SleepApnea #ObstructiveSleepApnea #CPAPAlternative #SleepMedicine #AirwayHealth #DrugInducedSleepEndoscopy #DownSyndrome #CombinationTherapy #PatMcBride

Support the show

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Renata Nehme RDH, BSDH, COM®, OMS™ has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2010. In 2016, when she was introduced to the world of "Myofunctional Therapy" she immediately knew that was her calling, especially when she learned that it encapsulated many of her passions- breastfeeding, the import of early childhood development, and airway health. 

In 2021 Renata founded Airway Circle with the intention of creating a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of like-minded health professionals who share the same passion for learning and giving in the dental health and airway space. 

Myo Moves - Become a Patient: www.myo-moves.com


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Airway Circle we offer a safe and supportive space for like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate and share information regarding airway-related issues and whole-body health.

Become a Member Today and have immediate access to hundreds of lectures with world-renowned professionals. ...