• Understand the critical role hygienists play in identifying and assessing underlying inflammation as it relates to the airway, breathing, sleep related issues, and the orofacial component in patient care. 
• Learn how the developing anatomy from birth to adulthood contribute to airway conditions leading to increased inflammatory burden affecting oral, vascular, and overall systemic health leading to poor quality of life and premature death.
• Recognize and identify anatomy and conditions in the oral cavity which are common signs of an airway issue within your patient. 
• Implement individualized treatment recommendations and assessments to help manage the patient’s overall health and wellbeing.

Your body’s primary function is to survive by taking the next breath and will compensate in any way possible to do just that. Everything else is secondary. Find out how these compensations from birth to adulthood can lead to chronic inflammation throughout a lifetime leading to poor quality of life and unfortunately premature death.
Did you know that 50-70 million Americans suffer from Chronic disorders of sleep and wakefulness that can be diagnosed in the dental chair?

Many individuals do not know they have airway issues. In fact, more than half of people over the age of 65 are at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type of the disorder, only 8 percent were tested for it, according to a recent University of Michigan study. 

While sleep apnea goes undiagnosed, dental healthcare providers have an amazing opportunity to assess and identify an issue that could potentially save that patients life or even prevent a child from developing into an adult with sleep related issues. This presentation will help you identify anatomy in your patient indicating an airway issue and provide guidance on how to treatment plan, accordingly, ultimately enhancing the quality of life of every man, woman, or child that you see.