30
May
Airway Centered Dentistry
What is airway centered dentistry?
Airway centered dentistry sounds fancy. But in essence, it is with the understanding that airway and breathing is above all body systems not only for survival, but for optimal health. If we were to look at teeth and treat teeth harmoniously to optimize the airway, teeth will be in a better position, which will also result in a more esthetic facial profile, and at the same time help with overall health.
Until I delved into learning more about dental sleep medicine, I really had no understanding of the utmost importance of how having an optimal airway can affect so many body systems! The biggest impact of airway health is sleep. If poor airway can result in poor sleep, one can imagine the negative cascading consequences to the body of having a poor airway.
Common chronic symptoms and ailments such as sinus infections, TMJD, headaches, acid reflux, and even constipation could be linked to poor airway anatomy. Other more serious chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, anxiety and depression, all have strong breathing and sleep ties.
In the last 5 years, I have made it my mission to educate myself further, pass on my knowledge to my patients, and when appropriate provide treatment for my patients. The subject matter is multifactorial and complicated to say the least. If interested, I highly recommend Dr. Steven Park’s “Sleep Interrupted” and Dr. Felix Liao’s “6 Foot Tiger 3 Foot Cage”. Both authors have great perspectives of the subject from an ENT specialist and an airway-centered dentist’s point of view.
Please feel free to reach me through our website or call the office if you have any questions.
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Alan Ko, DMD
Alan Ko, DMD, studied Biology at Washington University in St. Louis (BA Magna Cum Laude), Dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania (DMD Magna Cum Laude, Dean’s Scholarship recipient, Louis I. Grossman Award in Endodontics, and Academy of General Dentistry Award Recipient), did his residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH)/Harvard Medical School (General Practice Residency and Clinical Instructor Massachusetts General Hospital), was a guest lecturer at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and Massachusetts General Hospital (General Practice Residency). Dr. Ko’s clinical focuses are craniofacial development in children, sleep/airway dentistry, TMD and occlusion, regenerative oral surgery, and reconstructive restorative/prosthetic dentistry, including Invisalign and dental implants. He is a member of the American Dental Association and Massachusetts Dental Society and has been named as Boston’s Top Dentists since 2012.
Brittany Bressler, DMD
Brittany Bressler, DMD, attended the University of New Hampshire-Durham (magna cum laude, studying psychology and pre-dental studies). Then, she attended Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, MA (Doctorate in Dental Medicine). At Tufts, she was the Vice President of the local chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists. Dr. Bressler has been named one of Boston Magazine’s Top Dentists for the last four years.
Saeed Kashefi, DMD, FAGD
Saeed Kashefi, DMD, FAGD, attended Harvard University (Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Literature and Creative Writing, cum laude), the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (doctorate, cum laude: He also won the JR Schmidt Fixed Prosthodontics Award), and the BWH/ Harvard-Wide General Practice Residency Program in Hospital Dentistry (residency and fellowship). He stayed on the BWH staff before taking over as clinician attending at the Massachusetts General Hospital, where he served for 16 years. Dr. Kashefi was also the Clinical Instructor at Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Dental Medicine during this time. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Hospital Dentists and Academy of General Dentistry.
Cristina Hantavis MS, CCC-SLP
Cristina Hantavis MS, CCC-SLP, is a licensed and certified Speech and Language Pathologist with extensive training in orofacial myology. She believes that oral health is deeply connected to our general health and takes a holistic approach that targets the whole body by working with the muscles of the face and mouth. Cristina previously worked in private and elementary school settings with children experiencing moderate to severe cognitive, linguistic, and behavioral challenges. She uses this experience to help children facing such issues in her current role.
David Goodman, DMD (retired)
David Goodman, DMD (retired), joined our practice in 1984. Our office was founded in 1975 by Dr. Carl DiGregorio, and since partnering with him, Dr. Goodman has been devoted to delivering exceptional dental care to Milford families. Although he retired in 2021, our practice still carries his philosophy of treating patients as whole people beyond just their teeth.