Dr. Derek Mahony is an orthodontist and educator who has practiced clinical orthodontics for 36 years.  He and I engage in a fascinating conversation about early treatment, including: 

• How Derek became aware of the role that interceptive orthodontics can play in facilitating the normal growth and development of the craniofacial complex.
• Why he is so passionate about the value of early orthodontic treatment.
• The challenges Derek faced in the early 1990s practicing in Sydney, Australia.  
• Derek’s PhD research on malocclusion and airway including what he concluded regarding the impact of mouth breathing on the growth and development of the face and dental arches, and which skeletal patterns have the highest incidence of airway compromise.
• Why so few orthodontists understand the true benefits of interceptive orthodontic treatment.
• The reasons why the orthodontist, not the pediatrician, should serve as the quarterback for the treatment of children with sleep-disordered breathing.
• Where the academics get it wrong when it comes to the role of the dentist/orthodontist in managing breathing issues in young children.
• Why Begg and Tweed deviated from their teacher, Edward Angle, regarding their approach to extracting teeth.
• The importance of tongue space.
• How a transverse deficiency can exist in the absence of posterior crossbite.
• How Derek approaches the treatment planning of preadolescent patients.
• The app Derek has his pediatric patients use to help determine if they are snoring at night.
• Why and how Derek uses CBCT to enhance his diagnostics and treatment.
• Why some patients continue to mouth breathe and/or snore after adenotonsillectomy, and how Derek addresses this issue.
• Derek’s appliances of choice for correction of deficient maxillary and mandibular growth.
• How Derek retains his interceptive treatment cases.

LINKS:

-PSQ: (https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Pediatric-Sleep-Questionnaire_fig1_347054293)

-SnoreLab Snoring App: (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/snorelab-record-your-snoring/id529443604)

-Zoghi Fairest 6 Airway Screening Tool: https://www.zaghimd.com/_files/ugd/fd6d92_fc77ddac6e9b43ebaf6b21fd078c8789.pdf?index=true

-DOC YouTube Channel: (https://www.youtube.com/@delukeorthodonticcoaching)

-OrthoTown articles: Part 1 (https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/orthotown/orthotown-june-2023/index.php?startid=54#/p/54); Part 2 (https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/orthotown/orthotown-november-2023/index.php?startid=52#/p/52) 

-The Ortho Coach Website: www.TheOrthoCoach.com
-Reach Dr. Mike by email:  [email protected]