Connecting Heads

Working Towards a Common Goal

May 17, 2020 at 11:13 am 3 comments

This excellent Zoom Presentation on Facebook, 17 May, Sunday 07.00 Queensland time & Saturday 16,May, 22.00 UK.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9Fwtbnsioc

Dr David McIntosh, ENT surgeon, associate professor, Queensland, Australia, and Dr Bill Harrell, Orthodontist with an interest in Dental Sleep Medicine, Alabama,USA, discussed the roles which each of them could perform to improve a patient’s airway. This integrative approach to treatment has been completely overlooked as dentistry and medicine advanced but along separate pathways.

The connection between a compromised airway and health issues has been recognised for many years. Dr McIntosh recalls that Joe, the fat boy, in Charles Dickens’ Pickwick Papers, presents with a sleep disturbance which later became known as “obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome”.

Sleep disorder breathing (SDB) results in lowered blood oxygenation leading to reduced brain activity.

During nasal breathing nitric acid from the paranasal sinuses is added to the air. This substance has a multitude of roles in the working of the body and one of significance is its affect on the growth hormone. Mouth breathing misses out on this most important compound.

Methods of treatment were discussed and the role of CPAP together with Oral Advancement Therapy was found to be a good combination as it reduced the reliance on the CPAP machine, which many patients find uncomfortable or impractical on a full time basis.

The message was:

– Screen routinely for Sleep Disordered Breathing.

– Correct the airway early & establish nasal breathing – 50% of facial growth is completed by the age of 5, 80% by 8 & 90% by 12-14.

– Medicine and Dentistry should be working together to fulfil these goals.

It’s time to put the mouth back in the body.

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