What All Dentists Should Know About Airway (w/Dr. Jeff Rouse) [Ep.70]

Dr. Jeff Rouse is an educator and clinician who has practiced with the likes of Drs. Frank Spear and Gregg Kinzer.  He is now a Resident Faculty Member at Spear Education and maintains a private practice in prosthodontics in San Antonio, TX.  He has a unique professional journey and understands more about airway and orthodontics than many orthodontists.  We discuss that and much more, including:How Jeff’s background in restorative dentistry helped him gain a better understanding of how orthodontic treatment, especially treatment involving extraction of permanent teeth, led to the breakdown of the dentition and airway issues later in life.Why Jeff started doing orthodontics when he was practicing as a general dentist and how that led to an “ortho first” approach to patient care.How Jeff developed and the curriculum for airway dentistry at Spear Education.Why GPs and prosthodontists are more open to the impact of airway on malocclusion than most orthodontists.Why orthodontists are resistant to incorporating airway-focused treatment into their practice (and it has nothing to do with evidence/literature!).Jeff’s message to orthos who are opposed to intervening earlier than 7yo to address anatomy that can lead to airway compromise.The primary causes of airway obstruction in young children (HINT: It’s not genetics!)Why orthodontic residents are not treating young children during their training.What recent studies in the otolaryngological literature say is a “normal” palatal width.The flaws with the studies that say Phase I is ineffective and often unnecessary.What is within the dentist’s/orthodontist’s scope of practice when it comes to airway.The role that anatomy plays in obstruction of nasal breathing.Why watchful waiting is supervised neglect.What orthodontists would learn if they had to look at all their cases 20 years out of treatment.Whether or not extractions cause airway issues.How heart rate variability can be used to determine sleep-related breathing issues.A new referral pattern for the future to help remove some of these obstacles.Jeff’s advice to young orthodontists.LINKS:-AAO Website on age to begin orthodontic treatment: https://aaoinfo.org/orthodontics-for-children/