Airway: The Missing Link in Treatment Planning | Dr. Jeffrey Horowitz

What if the key to better dental treatment planning starts with looking beyond the teeth? In this archived webinar, Dr. Jeffrey Horowitz explores “Airway: The Missing Link in Treatment Planning” and explains why airway health and sleep-related breathing disorders deserve a place in comprehensive dental care. Introduced by Dr. Jennifer Bell, Dr. Horowitz shares insights from his experience in functional dentistry, orthodontics, TMJ, and airway management. He walks through practical ways dentists can recognize potential airway concerns, understand patient risk factors, and incorporate screening into their everyday diagnostic process. Topics include: - The connection between airway health, functional dentistry, and oral-systemic health - Recognizing signs and risk factors associated with obstructive sleep apnea - How tooth wear, bruxism, facial structure, and occlusion can provide important clues - Incorporating medical history, clinical observations, and CBCT imaging into airway screening - Understanding the importance of sleep studies and collaboration with medical providers - Treatment considerations, including oral appliance therapy and CPAP - Making airway assessment part of a more comprehensive treatment-planning approach Whether you're just beginning to explore airway dentistry or looking to expand your understanding of functional treatment planning, this presentation offers valuable clinical perspectives to consider in your practice. **Please Note:** This is a previously recorded webinar that we are making publicly available for educational purposes. **This webinar is not eligible for Continuing Education (CE) credit.** A special thank-you to Nierman Practice Management, our educational partner, for helping make this presentation possible. 📺 Make sure you subscribe to catch new episodes live every Wednesday at 8pm ET! 🌐 Check out our brand new website: https://dentistsintheknow.com 🌟 Stay up to date on all the latest dental trends when you follow the DINKs: https://fanflet.com/dinks/social 00:00 Welcome and Introduction 06:14 Dr. Horowitz’s Background and Airway Journey 09:04 Why Airway Matters in Dentistry 13:10 A Patient Story and Finding Your “Why” 18:07 Functional Dentistry and Oral-Systemic Health 22:10 Sleep Apnea and Common Risk Factors 24:12 Bruxism, Occlusion, and Airway Considerations 30:13 Comprehensive Diagnosis: Body, Face, and Function 32:57 The ABCs of Function and the Diagnostic Process 41:15 Why Breathing Takes Priority in Treatment Planning 43:21 The Prevalence of Sleep Apnea and the Undiagnosed Patient 52:47 Recognizing Airway Concerns in Children 58:32 The Health Effects of Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders 1:02:32 What Happens During Sleep Apnea 1:07:04 Airway Anatomy and Common Sites of Collapse 1:11:32 Understanding Apnea Severity and Oxygen Levels 1:17:32 Screening for Sleep Apnea 1:20:45 Screening Questionnaires: STOP and Other Tools 1:25:35 Clinical Airway Screening, Oral Exams, and CBCT 1:30:34 Pediatric Airway Concerns and Treatment Considerations 1:36:39 Why Screening and Referral Matter 1:39:39 Sleep Studies, CPAP, and Oral Appliance Therapy 1:40:59 The Oral Appliance Examination and Treatment Process 1:43:32 Selecting and Managing Oral Appliances 1:47:32 Additional Treatment Options 1:52:32 Key Takeaways and Building an Airway-Focused Practice 1:55:35 Resources and Closing