Orthodontics, TMJ & Airway: Treat the Cause, Not the Bite | Dr. Drew McDonald

What if the malocclusion is the symptom, not the diagnosis? Orthodontist Dr. Drew McDonald explains why he looks at the joints and airway in every case, why he orders MRIs on children as young as six, and why treating at age four to six can prevent jaw surgery later.

In this episode:
- The orthodontic failures that changed how he practices
- Why disc displacement can stop the lower jaw from growing, and what it means for Class II cases
- Why 85% of maxillary growth is done by age five, and what that means for "age seven"
- 3D-printed expanders for young children
- Gut inflammation, adenoids, hypermobility and the retrusive jaw
- Why general dentists are the front line for airway and TMJ
Plus dental news: Patterson's $4.1 billion sale, a Texas court blocking the overtime rule, and the ADA's model workforce legislation.
Dr. Drew McDonald is an orthodontist in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he works alongside Dr. Brian Shaw on joint- and airway-focused and surgical cases. He previously practiced in Albuquerque, earned his DDS at Creighton University and completed his orthodontic residency at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

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