Implementing Sleep, Airway and Myo to Restorative Dentistry Part 1

What do you actually do once you’ve screened a patient for airway or sleep-disordered breathing?

You suspect sleep apnea - but since we can’t diagnose it as dentists, how does that influence the care you provide?

What do you do with that information, and who should you be working with to help your patient?

And what if you want to implement airway into your practice—but you’re not in the right environment to do so?

In this episode, Dr. Aston Parmar joins Jaz to break down how to implement airway in everyday dentistry. Together, they explore what happens after screening, how it influences treatment planning, and how dentists can work with other professionals to deliver better care.

Protrusive Dental Pearl

Use the Mallampati Score as a quick chairside airway screen: have the patient open wide and stick out their tongue. Grade 1 = low risk; higher grades indicate greater Sleep-Disordered Breathing risk. 

⚠️ In TMD patients, limited opening can give falsely high scores. 

✅ Always interpret alongside history and full exam.

Key Takeaways

- Airway management is often overlooked in dental education.

- Sleep testing can significantly improve patient outcomes.

- Dentists should focus on airway health to enhance sleep quality.

- Collaboration with orthodontists can benefit patient care.

- Myofunctional therapy is crucial for both children and adults.

- Early intervention before age six is vital for nasal breathing.

- Tongue function plays a significant role in dental health.

- Breathing patterns can affect orthodontic stability.

- The Malampati score is a key indicator of sleep disorder risk.

- Upper airway resistance syndrome can be difficult to diagnose.

- Collaboration with myofunctional therapists enhances patient outcomes.

- Understanding airway health is essential for total body health.

- Inspiring the next generation of dental professionals is important.

Highlights of this episode:

00:00 Teaser

00:51 Introduction

04:03 Protrusive Dental Pearl: Mallampati Score

05:37 Meet Dr. Aston Parmar

09:51 Journey into Dentistry

17:10 Implementing Training in Practice

22:41 First Exposure to Airway Concept

30:18 South Wales Dental Sleep Clinic Model

30:21 Midroll

33:42 South Wales Dental Sleep Clinic Model

41:17 Myofunctional Therapy Explained

48: 51 Orthodontic Stability and Neutral Zone

54:52 Quickfire Screening Red Flags

01:02:55 Sleep Apnea Basics

01:04:23  Upper Area Resistance Syndrome (UARS)

01:08:53 Outro