Episode 50 of the Airway First podcast is now out! You can catch this and all other episodes on Apple, SoundCloud, Podbean, RSS, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. And don't forget to check us out on YouTube!
My guest today is Dr. Brock Rondeau. Dr. Rondeau is a General Dentist who has dedicated his practice to providing Orthodontic, Orthopedic, Snoring & Sleep Apnea, and TMJ services for his dental patients in his London, Ontario, Canada office.
Dr. Rondeau treats many patients with orthodontic snoring, sleep apnea, and TMJ problems. His patients are delighted when they find a solution to their headaches, earaches, neck aches, dizziness, fainting, pain behind the eyes, difficulty swallowing, clicking, and locking jaw problems. Many of these problems can be related to jaw problems. And in many cases, the lower jaw is not in the correct position in relation to the upper jaw, which causes muscle spasms with resultant painful symptoms.
Dr. Rondeau works closely with other healthcare to try and resolve these problems for patients. He believes that in most cases, when several practitioners are working together, the results are better for the patient. He has personally trained more than 24,000 dentists throughout his career.
He is also the seminar creator and author of Early Orthodontic Treatment for Children.
You can find out more about Dr. Rondeau at ortho-tmj.com.
Nightguards move the jaw back and they don't prevent grinding...they encourage it. ~ Dr. Brock Rondeau
Show Notes:
WHAT IS TMJ Disorder?
The Temporomandibular Joints (TMJ) are the hinges that connect the jaw to the temporal bones of the skull just in front of each ear. This is the joint that gives you motion allowing your jaw to move side to side, up and down, talk, and chew. When you experience problems with issues in this area, it is known as a Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD).
According to the Mayo Clinic, some of the signs and symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) may include:
Pain or tenderness of the jaw
Pain in one or both joints
Aching pain in and around your ears
Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing
Aching facial pain
Locking of the joint, making it difficult to open or close your mouth
Clicking sounds or grating sensations when opening the mouth to chew
Other symptoms may include chronic migraines, swelling on the sides of the face, chronic dizziness, tinnitus (ringing in your ears), and malocclusions. Complications from TMD can include chronic pain, limited chewing ability, bruxism, poor sleep, and airway dysfunction.
It is estimated that 34 million Americans suffer from Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJD). A high percentage of them also suffer from sleep apnea.
WHAT IS A FUNCTIONAL DENTAL APPLIANCE?
In the simplest of terms, a functional dental appliance is an orthodontic appliance designed to correct Class II malocclusion problems. There are a large number of options available, including fixed and removable options. Removable options are typically worn at all times but may be removed when eating or brushing teeth.
Functional dental appliances do more than "move teeth." The benefit of these appliances is that they can help to reshape the jaw and face, providing the necessary room for teeth and often opening the airway.
HOW DOES DENTAL HEALTH IMPACT YOUR OVERALL HEALTH?
Research continues to show the connection between oral health and overall health. In addition to how it may impact your ability to breathe, inflammation or infections caused by oral bacteria have been linked to heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke, pregnancy and birth complications, diabetes, and pneumonia.
In children, untreated cavities can cause pain and infections which can lead to issues with speaking, eating, learning, and sleeping. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), when it comes to cavities and general tooth health:
More than half of children aged 6 to 8 have had a cavity in at least one of their baby (primary) teeth
More than half of adolescents aged 12 to 19 have had a cavity in at least one of their permanent teeth
Children aged 5 to 19 years from low-income families are twice as likely (25%) to have cavities, compared with children from higher-income households (11%)
Good oral health is important for a child's physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The consequences of poor oral health extend beyond tooth decay and gum disease. There is a possibility that it could lead to lifelong issues with diabetes, heart disease, digestive issues, issues with speech, dementia, and even terminal illnesses.
SPOTLIGHT BOOK RESOURCE FOR DENTISTS
This book covers early orthodontic treatment for children with a focus on airway and TMJ health. With a functional philosophy to treat narrow arches, crowding, crossbites and habits, this non-extraction approach is airway-focused and has 19 cases from start to finish in full color.
The majority of the orthodontic profession is concerned with straightening teeth using permanent dentition and bicuspid extraction. Rather than focusing mainly on the teeth, the functional philosophy of Dr. Rondeau diagnoses and treats functional problems, skeletal problems, and dental problems. He believes that clinicians must eliminate mouth-breathing habits and establish normal nasal breathing.
This treatment philosophy eliminates the need for extraction of permanent teeth, reduces the need for orthognathic surgery at age 17, and creates beautiful broad smiles, outstanding profiles, healthy temporomandibular joints, and patient airways. The functional philosophy can also prevent children, and later adults, from suffering from sleep apnea and ADHD.