Airway Architect Ambassador Certificate Program
for Dentists
Program Overview:
The Airway Architect Ambassador Certification series is an advanced, interdisciplinary training program focused on addressing the critical issue of breathing disorders, a prevalent modern epidemic often linked to an overactive sympathetic nervous system and chronic inflammation. This series recognizes the complexity of breathing mechanisms, emphasizing the interconnectedness of various bodily structures and their roles in maintaining proper airflow.
Key Features of the Enhanced Series Overview:
- Holistic Approach to Breathing Disorders: The series underlines the importance of a comprehensive understanding of the airway, which extends from the nose tip to the lungs’ apex. It stresses the role of the upper airway, particularly above the epiglottis, in breathing disorders, highlighting areas like the mouth, neck, nose, base of the skull, diaphragm, and pelvis.
- Interdisciplinary Training: The certification targets a diverse team of professionals, including dentists, chiropractors, physical therapists, oral and myofunctional therapists, functional medicine practitioners, ENT specialists, and pulmonologists. This collaborative approach ensures a thorough understanding of the various aspects of airway function and their impact on overall health.
- Specific Focus Areas: Dentists will gain expertise in oral space development, tongue posture, and jaw positions. Simultaneously, other professionals will focus on rehabilitative aspects of the airway, ensuring a comprehensive treatment approach.
- Hands-On Training with VIVOS Appliances: Participants will receive hands-on experience with various VIVOS appliances, aiding in the practical application of learned concepts. This training is especially beneficial for dentists already familiar with these tools.
- Expert-Led Series: The series is hosted by Dr. Craig Pearson, an SOT chiropractor and certified Craniopath, and Dr. Bahar Esmaili, a dentist specializing in airway and TMJ issues. Both bring a wealth of experience, having worked with hundreds of patients using VIVOS appliances.
- Three-Level Certification Structure: The program is structured into three progressive levels, each offering deeper insights and advanced skills as participants move through their training. This structure allows for a gradual and comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. Please note that Level 3 will be offered by invitation only to select individuals who have completed both Levels 1 & 2.
- Focus on Integrative Care and Best Practices: A significant emphasis is placed on integrative care, combining the best practices from various disciplines. This approach is crucial for the success of clinical practices in treating breathing disorders effectively.
- Practical and Theoretical Balance: The series blends theoretical knowledge with practical application, ensuring that participants not only understand the concepts but are also adept at implementing them in real-world scenarios.
Overall, the Airway Architect Ambassador Certification series is a pioneering educational initiative that bridges the gap between multiple healthcare disciplines, fostering a more integrative and effective approach to treating breathing disorders and enhancing patient care.
Course Overview:
This foundational course is designed for dentists and chiropractors seeking to deepen their understanding of airway architecture and its impact on overall health. The training emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, blending dental and chiropractic perspectives to enhance patient care. Participants will explore the interconnectedness of various body systems, focusing on the alignment of the cranium, pelvis, and spine, and their influence on breathing and respiration.
Learning Objectives:
- Fundamentals of Airway Architecture: Understanding the basic concepts of cranium, pelvic, and spine alignment and their relation to mandibular position and inter-arch relationships.
- Beyond the Mouth – Orthopedic Connections: Learning to assess the entire body system, especially identifying and addressing pelvic mal-alignment in collaboration with chiropractic expertise.
- Identifying Dysfunctional Breathing Sources: Gaining skills to pinpoint the origins of compensations that contribute to dysfunctional breathing, distinguishing between issues above or below the neck.
- Breathing vs. Respiration: Understanding the differences and interconnections between breathing and respiration.
- Clinical Markers and Best Practices: Learning key clinical markers for effective diagnosis and implementing best practices in addressing airway and craniofacial issues.
- Structural Balance and Airway Function: Recognizing the need for balanced structural integrity and a stable foundation for optimal airway function and reduced breathing resistance.
- Patient Screening and Treatment Suitability: Acquiring the ability to screen patients for dental orthopedics and identifying suitable candidates for advanced treatments like VIVOS.
Target Audience:
- Dentists
- Chiropractors
Course Format:
- Interactive Lectures
- Case Studies
- Hands-on Workshops
- Collaborative Learning Sessions
Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, participants will have a comprehensive understanding of the foundational aspects of airway architecture and its relevance to dental and chiropractic practices. They will be equipped with practical skills and knowledge to identify, assess, and collaboratively treat patients with airway-related issues, enhancing their capacity to contribute to the patient’s overall health and well-being.
Course Overview:
Building upon the foundational concepts learned in the Level 1 Blueprint training, this advanced course delves deeper into the multidisciplinary management of airway disorders. It is tailored for dentists and chiropractors who are eager to expand their expertise in diagnosing and treating complex airway issues. This course emphasizes practical applications, advanced diagnostic techniques, and integrated treatment strategies.
Learning Objectives:
- Advanced Diagnostic Skills: Enhancing proficiency in identifying complex airway issues using state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and methods.
- Interdisciplinary Treatment Planning: Developing comprehensive treatment plans that incorporate both dental and chiropractic interventions for optimal patient outcomes.
- Customized Appliance Therapy: Gaining expertise in the selection and customization of dental appliances for airway management, understanding their biomechanical impacts.
- Chiropractic Adjustments and Airway Health: Exploring advanced chiropractic techniques that directly impact airway health, including spinal alignment and cranial adjustments.
- Management of Complicated Cases: Learning strategies to manage patients with multifaceted airway issues, including those with severe malocclusions, TMJ disorders, and chronic pain syndromes.
- Collaborative Patient Care: Strengthening inter-professional communication and collaboration skills for effective co-management of patients.
- Research and Case Studies: Engaging with the latest research, reviewing complex case studies, and applying evidence-based practices in airway management.
Pre-Requisite:
- Dentists and chiropractors who have completed Level 1 Blueprint training or possess equivalent foundational knowledge in airway architecture.
Course Format:
- Advanced Lectures
- Interactive Case Discussions
- Live Demonstrations
- Hands-on Training with Diagnostic Tools
- Patient Simulation Exercises
Outcomes:
Participants will leave this course with enhanced skills and a deeper understanding of advanced airway management techniques. They will be better equipped to diagnose and treat complex cases, collaborate effectively across disciplines, and contribute to the evolving field of integrated airway health care.
Course Overview:
The final hands-on portion is the culmination of the Airway Architect Ambassador Certification series, focusing on practical application and experiential learning. This intensive course is designed for dentists and chiropractors who have successfully completed Parts One and Two or possess equivalent expertise. Participants will engage in immersive hands-on experiences with VIVOS appliances, refining their skills in real-world scenarios.
Level 3 will be offered by invitation only to select individuals who have completed both Levels 1 & 2.
Learning Objectives:
- Advanced Appliance Techniques: Develop mastery in the application and adjustment of VIVOS appliances, understanding their impact on airway dynamics and craniofacial development.
- Clinical Decision-Making: Hone critical decision-making skills by assessing and addressing unique patient cases, considering the comprehensive approach learned in previous levels.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Strengthen collaboration skills by working alongside professionals from diverse backgrounds, integrating dental and chiropractic perspectives in a team-based environment.
- Advanced Patient Simulation: Engage in realistic patient simulations to apply theoretical knowledge, diagnose issues, and implement appropriate appliance therapy, fostering confidence in handling complex cases.
- Case Studies and Peer Review: Participate in in-depth case studies and peer-reviewed sessions, providing opportunities to learn from diverse experiences, refine techniques, and ensure adherence to best practices.
- Implementation of Integrative Care: Develop strategies for incorporating integrative care principles into everyday practice, promoting a holistic approach to patient management.
Pre-Requisite:
- Successful completion of Airway Architecture Part One and Part Two or equivalent advanced training in airway management for dentists and chiropractors.
Course Format:
- Intensive Hands-On Workshops
- Live Patient Demonstrations
- Interactive Case Discussions
- Collaborative Learning Modules
- Peer Review Sessions
Outcomes:
Upon completion of this hands-on training, participants will:
- Master Advanced Appliance Techniques: Possess advanced proficiency in utilizing VIVOS appliances for optimal airway management.
- Enhance Clinical Decision-Making: Develop advanced clinical decision-making skills to address intricate patient cases with confidence.
- Foster Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Strengthen collaboration skills to seamlessly integrate dental and chiropractic perspectives, contributing to a comprehensive patient care approach.
- Apply Integrative Care Principles: Implement integrative care principles into practice, ensuring a holistic and effective approach to airway health management.
- Contribute to Research and Advancements: Gain the knowledge and skills to actively contribute to the evolving field of integrated airway health care through participation in research and advancements.
The Hands-On Ambassador Training is the final step in becoming a certified Airway Architect Ambassador, equipping participants to make a significant impact in treating breathing disorders through advanced, integrative, and hands-on approaches.
Bahar Esmaili, DDS
Dr. Esmaili grew up in Iran and immigrated to the United States when she was 20 years old to peruse her dream of becoming a doctor. Since graduating with honors from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine in 2009, she has completed numerous advanced Continuing Education courses in the fields of craniofacial pain, TMJ disorder, and airway development, and currently focuses her clinical practice on the connection between oral and whole-body health.
She holds the prestigious position of being one of 24 North American consultants with 3M as part of the Council of Innovative Dentistry. She also serves as a member of educational committee at American Academy of Craniofacial Pain (AACP).
More than just a practitioner, she is a passionate educator and goes out of her way to help her patients understand the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’ of the issues for which they’re seeking help. She is a certified personal trainer, specializing in posture corrective and is passionate about interconnectedness of the human body – from head & neck posture to jaw joint alignment to facial muscle tonicity to gait. In light of her profound realization that straight teeth cannot functional on crooked faces, she is on a mission to enlighten practitioners of all kinds of their ability to impact compensatory mechanisms that ultimately lead to the breakdown of our bodies and our health. She is eager to inspire patients and professionals alike to join her on her journey.
Craig Pearson, DC
Dr. Craig Pearson was born and raised near Port Elizabeth, on the south-east coast of South Africa. He attended high school at Woodridge College. Following graduation, he spent a year in New Zealand on Rotary Youth Exchange. Returning to South Africa he attended the University of Port Elizabeth and graduated in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree, majoring in Chemistry and Biochemistry. In 1988, he completed an honors degree in Organic Chemistry. Dr. Pearson served in the South African Air Force for two years, attaining the rank of 1st Lieutenant.Following three years in the workforce as a chemist, Dr. Pearson attended Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport, Iowa. He graduated with a doctorate in chiropractic, magna cum laude, in 1997. He is a member of Pi Tau Delta academic fraternity, and was a Presidential Scholar.
Dr. Pearson has practiced in Boulder since 1997. He has an advanced certification in Whiplash Trauma from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego and uses chiropractic techniques taught at Palmer College, with an emphasis on Sacro Occipital Technic™– SOT® taught by Sacro Occipital Research Society International (SORSI). Dr. Pearson was President of SORSI in 2013 and is a Certified Craniopath (CC).
Dr. Pearson has served multiple terms on the Colorado Chiropractic Association(CCA) Board, and as President of the CCA in 2021. He is currently serving as the Chair of the Legislation Committee.
He loves animals and respects their inherent intelligence and so became certified by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association. He no longer maintains the separate license in Colorado. His English Bull Terrier, Yezi, joins him at the office every day.
Dr. Pearson is now a U.S. citizen and he and the wife of 27 years, Claire, have made Boulder County their home.
He played rugby as his primary sport for about 25 years and shared his knowledge as head coach of the Boulder Men’s Rugby Club in the late nineties and early 2000’s. He enjoys his personal time cycling, golfing, skiing, traveling and keeping fit with his wife.
Program Dates
Level 1
March 15 & 16, 2024
May 17 & 18, 2024
Level 2
August 2 & 3, 2024
Level 3
November 15 & 16, 2024
(by invitation only)
Start Time
8:00AM MT
Location
THE VIVOS INSTITUTE®
7001 Tower Rd, Ste B
Denver, CO 80249
Credit
36 Total CE Units Available
Contact
ce@thevivosinstitute.com
(720) 534-4258
Visitor Information
Directions to The Vivos Institute®
The Vivos Institute®
7001 Tower Rd, Ste B
Denver, CO 80249
Hotel Information
Courtyard by Marriott Denver Airport
Embassy Suites by Hilton
IHG Staybridge Suites
Tru by Hilton Denver Airport Tower Rd.
Days Inn
Courtyard by Marriott Denver Airport