Airway Centric

Presented by: Michael Gelb, DDS, MS

Original Publication Date: August 23, 2020

Course Description:

The "Airway Centric" course introduces a groundbreaking perspective pioneered by Dr. Michael Gelb and Dr. Howard Hindin, revolutionizing dentistry and healthcare. This course provides healthcare professionals and the public with a comprehensive understanding of AirwayCentric® Dentistry, focusing on the critical nexus between compromised airways, disrupted sleep, and overall health. It elucidates how early indicators of compromised airways, such as mouth breathing, snoring, and sleep apnea, manifest as systemic issues from infancy to adulthood, including systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, metabolic dysregulation, endothelial dysfunction, and hypercoagulability. Additionally, it explores the neurocognitive impact of sleep fragmentation and repeated arousals, encompassing cognitive impairment, dementia, memory deficits, reduced concentration, and diminished psychomotor performance. The course details various modalities for airway enhancement, including treatments like adenotonsillectomy, myofunctional therapy, occupational therapy, and AirwayCentric® Orthodontics, emphasizing non-retractive approaches to build facial and dental structures conducive to an open airway. It also delves into emerging therapies such as oral appliances, hypoglossal nerve stimulation, and collaboration with ENT specialists, providing alternatives to CPAP therapy for various sleep conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), UARS, and failed CPAP cases.

Learning Objectives:

• Comprehend the concept of AirwayCentric® Dentistry and its pivotal role in addressing compromised airways, disrupted sleep, and their impact on systemic health.
• Identify early signs of compromised airways in individuals, spanning from infancy with manifestations like mouth breathing, to adulthood with symptoms such as snoring and sleep apnea.
• Analyze the systemic consequences of compromised airways and sleep disruption, including inflammation, oxidative stress, metabolic irregularities, endothelial dysfunction, hypercoagulability, and neurocognitive deficits.
• Evaluate diverse modalities for airway enhancement, encompassing treatments like adenotonsillectomy, myofunctional therapy, occupational therapy, breastfeeding, and non-retractive AirwayCentric® Orthodontics techniques.
• Explore alternative therapies to CPAP therapy, such as oral appliances, hypoglossal nerve stimulation, and collaborative approaches with ENT specialists for managing various sleep conditions, including mild, moderate, and severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), UARS, and failed CPAP cases, aiming for optimal nasal breathing and improved patient outcomes.

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Michael Gelb, DDS, MS, a distinguished TMJ and Sleep Specialist practicing in New York City and White Plains, is a Columbia University College of Dental Medicine alumnus with an M.S. from SUNY at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. As a co-author of "GASP: Airway Health- The Hidden Path to Wellness," he's made significant contributions as co-founder of The Foundation for Airway Health and The American Academy of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry. Building upon his father's legacy at The Gelb Center, established over 30 years ago by Dr. Harold Gelb, Dr. Michael Gelb has elevated the practice through Airway Centric® integrated therapy. His innovation includes the ACG™ Airway Centric® System, a groundbreaking day-and-night dental appliance solution developed in collaboration with ProSomnus Sleep Technologies, pioneering an integrated approach to addressing airway-related issues. Dr. Gelb remains steadfast in his commitment to enhancing patients' well-being by alleviating pain, restoring restorative sleep, and fostering transformative changes in their lives.