The Paradigm Shift – Looking Beyond the Mouth

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Sleep disordered breathing ranges from upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and is a serious medical condition that adversely affects the upper airway and breathing during sleep.  Novel oral appliance therapy differs from conventional mandibular advancement devices and traditional palatal expansion as it is used to correct the nasopharyngeal airway through midfacial redevelopment in combination with mandibular correction for the oropharyngeal airway, in order to improve the upper airway.  Over 50 published studies have indicated that correction of sleep related breathing disorders is possible using this novel approach for non-surgical upper airway remodeling.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1. Understand normal craniofacial growth and development
2. Recognize the effects of Western culture on growth and development
3. Know the importance of nasal breathing facial and dental clues