Can expanding the maxilla create more than just space for the teeth?

In the first episode of Airway Answers: Expanding Your Breath of Knowledge, host Nicole Goldfarb is joined by airway-focused orthodontist Dr. Richard Ting and airway-focused dentist Dr. Tracey Nguyen for an in-depth conversation about Maxillary Skeletal Expansion, commonly known as MSE.

They explore how MSE differs from traditional tooth-supported expansion and how widening the maxillary bone may also expand the nasal floor, create more room for the tongue, and support improved oral function and nasal breathing.

They also dive into:
✨ How MSE uses temporary anchorage devices to achieve skeletal expansion
✨ The difference between skeletal expansion and dental tipping
✨ When MSE may be considered for children, teenagers, and adults
✨ Factors that influence whether expansion can be completed nonsurgically
✨ When surgical assistance may provide a more predictable outcome
✨ How age, bone density, medical conditions, and individual anatomy affect treatment planning
✨ The roles of CBCT imaging, orthodontic correction, and patient compliance
✨ Why myofunctional therapy may be an important part of function and long-term stability
✨ The value of collaboration among dentists, orthodontists, surgeons, sleep professionals, and myofunctional therapists

This conversation demonstrates why expansion is not a one-size-fits-all treatment. Successful outcomes depend on an accurate diagnosis, careful appliance selection, realistic expectations, and a coordinated plan that considers structure, function, breathing, and dental alignment.

Dr. Richard Ting is an airway-focused and functional orthodontist practicing in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. He has extensive experience with MSE, TMJ-related concerns, Invisalign treatment, and structural approaches to orthodontic care. He also educates dentists and orthodontists interested in incorporating skeletal expansion into their practices.

Dr. Tracey Nguyen is an airway-focused dentist practicing near Washington, D.C. She was named one of the Top 25 Women in Dentistry and is a co-founder of ASAP, the Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway. Her work emphasizes research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a more comprehensive understanding of pediatric sleep-disordered breathing.

Nicole Goldfarb is a speech-language pathologist, Certified Orofacial Myologist, international speaker, and owner of the San Diego Center for Speech Therapy & Myofunctional Therapy. Her clinical interests include sleep-disordered breathing, restricted frenums, and their relationship to myofunctional disorders.

If you’re a dentist, orthodontist, myofunctional therapist, speech-language pathologist, sleep professional, or someone considering maxillary expansion, this episode offers a detailed look at what MSE can accomplish and what should be considered before treatment begins.

🎧 Listen in for a clearer understanding of how skeletal expansion may influence the maxilla, nasal airway, tongue space, and overall function.

#AirwayAnswers #BeautyOfBreathing #MSE #MaxillarySkeletalExpansion #PalatalExpansion #AirwayOrthodontics #AirwayDentistry #NasalBreathing #MyofunctionalTherapy #SleepDisorderedBreathing #InterdisciplinaryCare #AirwayCircle

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 if changing the way you breathe could improve how you sleep, move, focus, and feel?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, I’m joined by internationally recognized breathing instructor and bestselling author Patrick McKeown for a fascinating conversation about the science of functional breathing and his book, The Breathing Cure. Drawing from his own childhood experiences with asthma, nasal congestion, mouth breathing, and poor sleep, Patrick explains why breathing patterns deserve greater attention in both children and adults.

We also dive into:
✨ Why nasal breathing matters during rest, sleep, and physical activity
✨ How mouth breathing can influence sleep, concentration, stress, and exercise tolerance
✨ The important role of carbon dioxide in oxygen delivery, circulation, and airway function
✨ How breathing patterns may affect the autonomic nervous system and vagal tone
✨ The difference between a truly deep breath and simply taking a large breath
✨ Simple techniques involving slower breathing, relaxed exhalation, and gentle breath holds
✨ The connection among dysfunctional breathing, poor sleep, attention, and behavior in children
✨ How hormonal changes may influence breathing, pain perception, and sleep in women

This conversation is a powerful reminder that breathing is not only about taking in oxygen. How we breathe can influence our nervous system, sleep quality, physical performance, and overall well-being. Patrick offers practical ways to begin recognizing and improving dysfunctional breathing patterns.

Patrick McKeown is an international breathing instructor, author, and creator of the Oxygen Advantage® method. He has spent more than two decades teaching breathing re-education to healthcare professionals, athletes, and individuals worldwide. His books include the international bestseller The Oxygen Advantage and The Breathing Cure, which explores functional breathing strategies for adults, teenagers, and children.

If you’re a dentist, myofunctional therapist, speech-language pathologist, dental hygienist, healthcare professional, athlete, parent, or anyone interested in improving sleep and well-being through better breathing, this episode is filled with practical insights you can begin applying right away.

🎧 Tune in and discover how small changes in your breathing patterns may create meaningful changes throughout your body.

#BeautyOfBreathing #TheBreathingCure #PatrickMcKeown #OxygenAdvantage #FunctionalBreathing #NasalBreathing #BreathingExercises #SleepHealth #AirwayHealth #MyofunctionalTherapy #SportsPerformance #AirwayCircle

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 if getting enough hours of sleep doesn’t necessarily mean your body is receiving the deep, restorative sleep it needs?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, I welcome neurologist and sleep educator Dr. Stasha Gominak for a fascinating conversation about the potential connections among vitamin D3, B vitamins, the gut microbiome, and sleep quality. She shares how treating patients with chronic headaches led her to investigate sleep more deeply and reconsider the role nutritional deficiencies may play in the body’s ability to rest and repair.

We also dive into:
✨ Why someone can remain asleep throughout the night but still miss important stages of deep sleep
✨ The roles of slow-wave and REM sleep in healing and restoration
✨ How Dr. Gominak’s work led her to investigate vitamin D and B-vitamin status in patients with poor sleep
✨ The proposed relationship among vitamin D, the intestinal microbiome, and B-vitamin production
✨ Why sleep apnea may occur in young, healthy patients who do not fit the traditional profile
✨ How pregnancy, hormones, headaches, chronic pain, and digestive concerns may intersect with disrupted sleep
✨ Why vitamin D supplementation should be guided by appropriate testing and individualized care
✨ How sunlight, outdoor exposure, and circadian rhythms may influence sleep and overall health

This conversation offers a different way of thinking about sleep. Rather than focusing only on how long someone sleeps, Dr. Gominak encourages us to consider whether the brain and body are moving through the restorative stages required for repair, healing, and healthy function.

Dr. Stasha Gominak earned her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and completed her neurology residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, a Harvard-affiliated teaching hospital. After years of practicing neurology and treating patients with headaches and sleep concerns, she focused her work on exploring the relationships among vitamin D, the microbiome, and sleep. She is the creator of the RightSleep® method and now provides private coaching while teaching clinicians how to apply her approach.

If you’re a dentist, myofunctional therapist, dental hygienist, sleep professional, physician, or someone interested in the connection between nutrition and restorative sleep, this episode offers plenty to consider.

🎧 Listen in for a thought-provoking look at how vitamins, gut health, and sleep may be more closely connected than we realize.

#BeautyOfBreathing #VitaminD3 #BVitamins #SleepHealth #RestorativeSleep #GutMicrobiome #SleepMedicine #AirwayHealth #MyofunctionalTherapy #CircadianRhythm #WholeBodyHealth #AirwayCircle

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 if your sleep study says everything is normal, but you still wake up exhausted?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, I welcome Dr. Steven Park for an eye-opening conversation about Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome, commonly known as UARS. Drawing from his experience as both a sleep specialist and someone who has UARS himself, Dr. Park explains how subtle breathing resistance can repeatedly disrupt sleep without causing the obvious pauses in breathing or oxygen drops commonly associated with obstructive sleep apnea.

We also dive into:
✨ How UARS differs from obstructive sleep apnea
✨ Why traditional sleep studies may overlook flow limitation and subtle sleep disruption
✨ Common UARS symptoms, including fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, headaches, TMJ pain, digestive concerns, and cold hands and feet
✨ Why UARS is often seen in younger, thinner patients and may be more common in women
✨ How smaller jaws, restricted oral space, nasal obstruction, and altered craniofacial development can affect breathing
✨ The relationship between fragmented sleep, chronic stress, and an overactive nervous system
✨ Why effective treatment may require collaboration among sleep physicians, ENTs, dentists, orthodontists, and myofunctional therapists

This conversation challenges the idea that a “normal” sleep study always means healthy sleep. UARS may not meet the conventional criteria for sleep apnea, but its repeated disruptions can prevent the body from reaching the deep, restorative sleep it needs.

Dr. Steven Park is board-certified in both otolaryngology and sleep medicine. He is an ENT surgeon, sleep physician, speaker, blogger, and author of the bestselling book Sleep Interrupted: A Physician Reveals the #1 Reason Why So Many of Us Are Sick and Tired. His work helps people better understand the connections among breathing, sleep, and whole-body health.

If you’re a dentist, myofunctional therapist, speech-language pathologist, dental hygienist, orthodontist, sleep professional, or someone searching for answers despite a “normal” sleep study, this episode offers an important perspective you won’t want to miss.

🎧 Tune in to discover why subtle breathing resistance can have a profound effect on sleep, health, and quality of life.

#BeautyOfBreathing #UARS #UpperAirwayResistanceSyndrome #AirwayHealth #SleepMedicine #SleepDisorderedBreathing #MyofunctionalTherapy #AirwayDentistry #SleepApnea #Insomnia #RestorativeSleep #AirwayCircle

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 if a patient’s sleep problems involve much more than a compromised airway?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, guest host Nicole Goldfarb welcomes triple board-certified sleep specialist Dr. Jerald Simmons for an eye-opening conversation about the complex connections among breathing, sleep, behavior, oral function, and whole-body health.

They also dive into:
✨ How sleep-disordered breathing may contribute to night terrors, sleepwalking, and sleep talking
✨ The connection between obstructive breathing and nighttime acid reflux
✨ What dreams, nightmares, and changes in dream recall may reveal about sleep
✨ Why fatigue, hyperactivity, bruxism, and headaches should not automatically be attributed to airway dysfunction
✨ How narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movements, and other sleep disorders can coexist with obstructive breathing
✨ Why wearable sleep data should be interpreted within the context of a comprehensive sleep evaluation
✨ The role of myofunctional therapy before and after a tongue-tie release

This conversation is an important reminder that airway dysfunction is only one piece of the sleep puzzle. When providers focus exclusively on the airway, they may overlook other conditions contributing to a patient’s symptoms. Accurate diagnosis and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential before recommending treatment.

Dr. Jerald Simmons is triple board-certified in clinical neurophysiology, psychiatry and neurology, and sleep medicine. He is the founding director of Comprehensive Sleep Medicine Associates and the Sleep Education Consortium. He specializes in identifying and treating both common and subtle sleep disorders in children and adults, including obstructive sleep apnea, Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome, narcolepsy, parasomnias, and periodic limb movements.

Nicole Goldfarb is a speech-language pathologist, Certified Orofacial Myologist, international speaker, and owner of the San Diego Center for Speech Therapy & Myofunctional Therapy. She has a special interest in sleep-disordered breathing, restricted frenums, and the relationship between oral function and airway health.

If you’re a dentist, myofunctional therapist, speech-language pathologist, dental hygienist, orthodontist, or healthcare professional working with sleep and airway patients, this episode will encourage you to look beyond the most obvious diagnosis.

🎧 Tune in for a deeper understanding of what your patients’ sleep symptoms may be telling you.

#BeautyOfBreathing #AirwayHealth #SleepMedicine #SleepDisorderedBreathing #MyofunctionalTherapy #AirwayDentistry #TongueTie #UARS #SleepApnea #PediatricSleep #InterdisciplinaryCare #AirwayCircle

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 if the signs you see in the mouth could reveal what is happening while someone sleeps?

In this episode of the Beauty of Breathing Podcast, I sat down with Beth Sohail, RDH and myofunctional therapist, for a foundational conversation about sleep, breathing, and oral function. Beth explains why dental professionals are uniquely positioned to recognize warning signs that may point to sleep-disordered breathing and other airway concerns.

We also dive into:
✨ How breathing and oral function influence sleep quality
✨ The connection between bruxism, TMD, occlusion, and sleep
✨ What dental hygienists should look for during routine appointments
✨ How myofunctional therapy and Buteyko breathing may support patients
✨ Why collaboration among dental, airway, sleep, and bodywork professionals matters

This conversation is a wonderful introduction for anyone who wants to better understand how sleep affects the entire body and why airway health deserves a place in every dental conversation.

Beth has more than 15 years of experience as a registered dental hygienist and is the owner of MyoFunctional Associates of Georgia. She has worked as a myofunctional trainer and Buteyko coach for more than six years and has studied sleep and occlusion throughout her dental career. Her personal search for answers to her own and her son’s sleep and mental health challenges ultimately led her to myofunctional therapy and breathing education.

Beth works collaboratively with airway-focused dentists, ENTs, and body therapists throughout the Atlanta area, helping patients receive more comprehensive and coordinated care.

If you’re a dental hygienist, dentist, myofunctional therapist, speech-language pathologist, or healthcare professional interested in sleep and airway health, this episode is a great place to start.

🎧 Watch the replay and let me know your biggest takeaway in the comments!

#BeautyOfBreathing #Sleep101 #SleepHealth #AirwayHealth #MyofunctionalTherapy #DentalHygiene #AirwayDentistry #ButeykoBreathing #Bruxism #TMJ #SleepDisorderedBreathing #AirwayCircle

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. ...