Naomi Hirsch

A Vivos Integrated Provider Series presented by The Vivos Institute    Within airway-centered dentistry, success comes from restoring both structure and function. Frenectomies address restriction; myofunctional therapy (Myo) restores coordination and strength. Together, they create the foundation for airway balance and long-term health.    Why Frenectomies and Myo Must Work Together  A frenectomy frees movement, but without retraining, the muscles continue compensating. Re-attachment, mouth breathing, or persistent dysfunction can occur if the patient’s tongue and orofacial muscles are not retrained through Myo.   The Ideal Sequence  Pre-Frenectomy Myo: builds awareness and prepares tissues.  Frenectomy: performed using a scalpel or DEKA Laser for precision and comfort.  Post-Frenectomy Myo: prevents re-attachment, stabilizes function, and reinforces nasal …

A Vivos Integrated Provider Series presented by The Vivos Institute For Vivos Integrated Providers, airway health depends on balanced structure and function. Among the many contributors to compromised sleep and breathing, tethered oral tissues (TOTs)—tight lingual, labial, or buccal frenums—remain an underrecognized source of airway dysfunction. How Oral Tethers Influence Airway Function A restricted tongue sits low in the mouth, collapsing backward during sleep and reducing airway space. This triggers mouth breathing, inflamed tissues, and constricted palatal growth—perpetuating airway resistance and oxygen desaturation. In Children and Adults Children: Narrow palates, restless sleep, and hyperactivity symptoms. Adults: Snoring, bruxism, morning fatigue, …

A Vivos Integrated Provider Series presented by The Vivos Institute  As a Vivos Integrated Provider, you already understand that oral structures influence breathing, sleep, and systemic health. Yet one of the most overlooked anatomical limitations in airway-centered dentistry remains the humble frenum.  A frenectomy may seem like a minor procedure—but functionally, it can transform oral posture, tongue mobility, and airway stability across all ages.    The Functional Release Blog Series  This five-part educational series from The Vivos Institute is designed for Vivos Integrated Providers who want to deepen their understanding of frenectomies within the context of airway, sleep, and functional dentistry.  This series includes:  What Is a Frenectomy and Why It Matters More Than You Think  The …

Over the last few weeks, we’ve walked through a series of practical steps to help you prepare for 2026 with confidence and clarity. Each post focused on a key area that supports your airway-centric goals: Scheduling with Intention — Using blocks of time and repetition to create habits that protect patient experience and provider balance. Team Training — Building competence and confidence through ongoing learning, reinforcement, and recognition. Patient Flow — Following the 3-Visit Flow to create consistency, predictability, and stronger case acceptance. Marketing with Purpose — Aligning education, outreach, and digital presence with your schedule so patients know you …

You can have the best scheduling system, the most consistent patient flow, and the most well-trained team—but if patients don’t know you exist, your growth will stall. That’s where marketing with purpose comes in. In airway-focused dentistry, marketing isn’t about gimmicks or empty promotions; it’s about building awareness, creating trust, and helping patients understand that real solutions exist for their sleep and breathing challenges. Why Marketing Matters for Airway Practices Marketing isn’t just about filling your schedule—it’s about education. Many patients don’t even realize their dental or health concerns are tied to airway issues. Your role as a provider is …

Your schedule may be the roadmap, and your team the engine, but patient flow is the vehicle that moves patients through care. Without a consistent process, patients can fall through the cracks, case acceptance can stall, and valuable time is wasted. At Vivos, we train providers on a 3-Visit Patient Flow for VIPs that ensures consistency, clarity, and momentum from the very first interaction. Revisiting this flow in 2026 is essential for meeting your airway-centric goals. The 3-Visit Flow Visit 1: Consultation & Records This visit sets the tone. Patients are often learning about airway and sleep treatment for the …

If your schedule is the roadmap, your team is the engine that drives you toward your airway-centric goals. Even the most intentional calendar will fall flat without a team that’s confident, aligned, and fully equipped to deliver. That’s why revisiting team training is one of the smartest investments you can make in 2026. Why Training Matters Every Year Airway care is complex, and expectations can shift quickly. Over time, even the most talented teams develop habits that need refreshing. Training ensures: Consistency in patient experience across every appointment. Confidence in explaining treatment, financials, and follow-up steps. Efficiency in record-taking, documentation, …

In airway-focused dentistry, your schedule is more than just a calendar of appointments—it’s a roadmap to reaching your goals. Whether you’re aiming to help more patients each month, increase case acceptance, or protect time off for yourself and your team, scheduling with intention is one of the most effective ways to set your practice up for success in 2026.  Why Scheduling Matters   A well-structured schedule allows you to: Align with lab turnaround times so patients don’t experience delays.  Reduce bottlenecks and improve the flow of care. Free up time for new consultations and case starts. Protect your personal and …

In Part 1 of this series, we explored Steps 7–5 (Ruin, Effect, and Fear of Worsening) — the stages where the doctor leads by identifying dental clues, screening, and explaining the risks of doing nothing. In Part 2, we covered Steps 4–3 (Need for Change and Demand for Improvement) — the stages where the patient takes ownership, recognizing that they don’t want to live with their condition and asking, “What can we do about it?” Now, in Part 3, the responsibility shifts back to the doctor. Once the patient has asked for a solution, it is your role to guide …

In Part 1 of this series, we covered Steps 7–5 (Ruin, Effect, and Fear of Worsening) — the stages that are the doctor’s responsibility. At that point in the journey, the provider is leading the conversation by showing patients what they may not realize, screening for sleep issues, reviewing results, and explaining risks if untreated. Now, we move into Steps 4 and 3: Need for Change and Demand for Improvement. These are the stages where the responsibility begins to shift to the patient. The doctor has shown the problem and explained the risks. Now it’s the patient’s turn to process, reflect, and express their desire to change. Step 4: Need …

Patients often come into a dental office not realizing how a dentist could possibly help with their sleep issues. They may think of sleep apnea or poor sleep as strictly a medical concern, not connected to oral health. That’s why it’s important to guide patients through a structured awareness journey. In this first part of our series, we’ll focus on Steps 7–5 (Ruin, Effect, Fear of Worsening) — the stages that are the doctor’s responsibility. These steps are about uncovering what the patient doesn’t know, showing them what you see, and helping them understand why it matters. Step 7: Ruin …