What's Air Got to Do With It?
Sunday, April 16
9 AM - Noon
3 CDE Credits – DDS, DH, DA
About the Course
Dentistry has become more aware of breathing issues and how they relate to the hard and soft tissue damage we see in the office every day. An overview of breathing mechanics and how it relates to the patients in our dental chair will be shared, as well as breathing techniques and screening questions. Many times, myofunctional therapy also enhances the airway and numerous studies have shown its efficacy in assisting sleep apnea patients. A discussion of how tethered oral tissues can affect the airway along with a walk through of an objective chairside exam will be given. Be able to take your knowledge back to the office Monday morning and implement it in your exams.
This session will enable participants to:
- Understand how the vagal system impacts the airway
- Screen for airway disfunction in their patient exams
- Recognize intra and extraoral signs of tethered oral tissues (TOTs) and the effects they have on the airway
- Screen for tethered oral tissues
- Implement some easy airway exercises
Speaker
Kathleen Elder, R.D.H., C.O.M.
Patricia Brinkman-Falter, B.S.D.H., R.D.H., M.S., P.H.R.D.H., C.O.M.
Kathleen M. Elder, RDH, ECP II, COM, opened Digits & Spots Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy in 2003 She was a clinical dental hygienist for 33 years with experience in periodontal, orthodontic and general dental practice settings. A pioneer in the field of orofacial myofunctional therapy, she has been an IAOM Board Certified Orofacial Myologist since 2008, the first COM in Kansas. She presently serves on the Board of Examiners of the IAOM, and served as both the local arrangements chair and Meeting Co-chair for the 2022 IAOM Convention, held here in KC. Kathleen works in a team approach with other health care professionals to meet the orofacial needs of all ages. Therapy goals include the neurological integration and functional stability of the tongue in the roof of the mouth, along with a closed lips, nasal breathing posture.
Conflict of Interest: None reported
Patricia Brinkman-Falter has been a practicing dental hygienist “longer than she's been on the planet” and has found her passion in orofacial myology. She loves the energy and positive relationships she's formed with her own patients. She fought alone to have the Nebraska board of dentistry declare Myofunctional therapy part of the practice of dental hygiene. After 18 sleepless months of having her ROH license in jeopardy and thousands of dollars later, she won. Brinkman-Falter also won ADHA's 2015 Irene Newman award for her efforts. In April 2020 her article, Myofunctional Therapy: Enhancing your Dental Hygiene Career, was the first article on myofunctional therapy ever published in Access magazine by ADHA. The same year, she successfully led a talented group of hygienists to update ADHA's policies on myofunctional therapy, the first update since 1992. She was subsequently awarded the Rose Van Norman Award for Prevention by the International Association of Orofacial Myology. Brinkman-Falter speaks on a variety of topics across the country. As the soft tissue expert in the dental practice, she's always looking for ways to help educate the dental team. Her own specialty practice, Nebraska Myofunctional Specialties, includes tongue ties, airway, craniofacial development, TMJD and tongue thrust, all of which directly affect occlusion, periodontal disease and caries experience. She raised her children on a farm in south central Nebraska and currently resides with her husband in Lincoln, where they enjoy their eight beautiful grandchildren.
Conflict of Interest: None reported
