Title: "How to Help Children Become Smarter, Faster, and Better Looking Using Oral Appliances."

Synopsis:

The consequences of an underdeveloped airway in children are well-studied. Unfortunately, most modern developing child in the US are not reaching their genetic potential, leaving their craniofacial anatomy narrow, asymmetric, and inadequate to maintain a healthy flow of air to their lungs. We can help!

Learning Objectives:

• Understand why modern children struggle to grow
• Identify the anatomical and behavioral signs of a compromised airway
• Know what tools are available to us to affect growth and development

Practical Applications:

1. Screen pediatric patients for airway compromise by observing facial development, oral posture, breathing patterns, and sleep-related symptoms during routine visits.
2. Collaborate with dental and airway-focused providers to refer children early for oral appliance therapy when growth, sleep, or behavioral concerns suggest airway restriction.
3. Educate parents on how airway development impacts cognition, behavior, sleep quality, and long-term health, empowering them to pursue preventive, growth-guided interventions.

Method: Lecture

Cost: Included in Midwinter Virtual Institute 2026 ticket

Location: Online (Zoom)

AGD Course Code: 430 (Pediatric Dentistry)

Credit Hours: 1

Speaker's Bio:

Dr. Mike Czubiak is a general dentist, author, and podcaster. He graduated from UCLA in 1984 with a BS in Psychobiology and then continued to the UCLA School of Dentistry, where he graduated in 1988. He moved to Camarillo, California, in 1989 to start his practice, and after decades of just "fixing things," he got introduced to AAOSH. The practice started focusing on root causes, and a complete health practice was born.

He founded Camarillo Smiles, the California Academy of Dental Assisting, Lotus Leadership for Dentists, the Nano Podcast Alliance, Nanoverse Media, and the Sleep and Breathing Institute. He wrote the book Hygiene Superstar to illuminate the connection between oral and overall health. He loves talking about inflammation reduction, airway, culture, and leadership. He can be heard hosting 3 podcasts– Uncomfortable Dental Conversations, Hygiene Superstar, and the Camarillo Smiles Dental Podcast.

When Dr Mike doesn’t have a microphone in front of him, he enjoys his three kids with his wife, Mindy. Together, they love to play tennis, hike, camp, scuba dive, snowboard, travel, and do just about anything that involves the arts. He continues to play in a band, write books, make short films, take photographs, and be creative.

Conflict of Interest: N/A

Title: “Salivary Diagnostics in the Pediatric Population”

Synopsis:

Saliva is emerging as a powerful, non-invasive diagnostic fluid with particular relevance in pediatric populations, where traditional blood-based testing can be invasive, stressful, and impractical. This lecture explores the clinical utility of salivary diagnostics in children and adolescents, focusing on early detection of dental caries, gingivitis, and emerging periodontal disease, as well as infectious, inflammatory, metabolic, and systemic conditions with salivary biomarker signatures. Attendees will be guided through the biological basis of salivary testing, validated microbial and host-response markers, and practical workflows for saliva collection, analysis, and clinical integration in pediatric dental and medical settings. Emphasis is placed on prevention-oriented care, risk stratification, and the role of saliva in advancing precision, oral-systemic pediatric health.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this lecture, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the biological and clinical rationale for using saliva as a diagnostic fluid in pediatric patients, including its advantages over traditional specimen types.
2. Identify key salivary microbial, inflammatory, and host-response biomarkers associated with pediatric caries, gingivitis, early periodontal disease, and selected systemic conditions.
3. Evaluate how salivary diagnostics can be integrated into pediatric dental and interdisciplinary care models to support early detection, prevention, and longitudinal disease monitoring.

Practical Applications:

After attending this lecture, participants will be able to:

1. Implement saliva-based screening protocols in pediatric dental practices to stratify caries and gingival disease risk and guide preventive interventions.
2. Incorporate salivary diagnostic results into patient and parent education, improving understanding, compliance, and engagement in preventive care plans.
3. Collaborate more effectively with pediatric medical providers by leveraging salivary biomarker data to support oral-systemic health assessments and referrals.

AGD Course Code: 430 (Pediatric Dentistry)

AAOSH Core Curriculum Category: Pediatric 

Conflict of Interest: 

Affiliated with Simply Test, Texas Tech School of Dental Medicine, and Vandabuit University School of Medicine

Speaker's Bio:

David Vigerust, MS, PhD, is a molecular immunologist, diagnostics executive, and scientist-entrepreneur whose career bridges academic discovery, clinical laboratories, and biotechnology commercialization. He holds an MS in Microbiology & Immunology and a PhD in Cellular & Molecular Pathology. Trained in molecular virology and immunopathology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, his early work advanced understanding of host–pathogen interactions in respiratory viral disease and the mechanisms driving post-viral bacterial complications.

Dr. Vigerust serves on the faculty of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Dental Medicine, where he helps lead translational research in oral–systemic health, salivary diagnostics, and the molecular epidemiology of periodontal pathogens. In industry, he has directed CLIA/CAP laboratory operations and led assay design and validation for laboratory-developed tests across microbial, inflammatory, and genetic biomarker panels. He has served as Chief Scientific Officer for organizations including Spectrum Solutions, Cancer Diagnostics of America, Resolve Forensics, founded Strategic Biosciences, and held executive roles at multiple biotech startup companies.

A TEDx speaker and 2025 Nashville Titan 100 honoree, Dr. Vigerust is known for translating complex molecular data into clear clinical action. His current focus is on integrating salivary and multi-omics signals into precision preventive care—standardizing sample-to-report workflows, embedding results in EHRs and remote monitoring, and generating payer-ready outcomes for value-based models. He partners with DSOs, health systems, and employer-sponsored plans to deploy actionable salivary analytics that improve risk stratification, patient engagement, and longitudinal disease management. Through speaking, publishing, and hands-on implementation, he champions saliva as a keystone diagnostic matrix for early detection and sustained population health impact.

Speaker: Laura Walls, MS, CCC-SLP

Title: "Identifying the Root Causes of Sleep Disordered Breathing and Their Impact on Treatment Selection"

Synopsis:

Sleep Disordered Breathing is a multifactorial condition influenced by a combination of structural, functional, and systemic factors that extend beyond airway obstruction alone. Contributing elements may include craniofacial structure, oral posture, neuromuscular coordination, breathing patterns, and inflammatory burden. When these underlying drivers are not adequately identified, treatment outcomes may be inconsistent, and long-term adherence can be compromised.

This webinar presents a root cause focused framework for evaluating sleep disordered breathing through an oral systemic perspective. Participants will explore how factors such as tongue posture, nasal airway resistance, orofacial muscle tone, swallowing patterns, and sleep-related breathing behaviors interact with systemic health and influence clinical presentation. The discussion will address the limitations of single modality approaches and emphasize the importance of comprehensive assessment in guiding care decisions.

Attendees will gain practical insight into interdisciplinary evaluation strategies and learn how identifying dominant contributing factors supports more appropriate and individualized treatment selection. The session emphasizes improved clinical outcomes, patient compliance, and long-term airway stability through coordinated care across dental, medical, and allied health disciplines.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the structural, functional, and systemic factors that contribute to sleep disordered breathing beyond airway obstruction alone.
2. Explain how oral posture, neuromuscular coordination, and breathing patterns influence sleep-related breathing disorders and treatment outcomes.
3. Apply a root-cause, oral–systemic assessment framework to support individualized and interdisciplinary treatment selection for sleep disordered breathing.

Practical Applications:

1. Screen patients for oral posture, breathing patterns, and neuromuscular dysfunction when evaluating sleep-related breathing concerns.
2. Use root-cause findings to guide referrals and collaboration with dental, myofunctional, and airway-focused providers.
3. Improve patient compliance and long-term outcomes by aligning treatment choices with dominant contributing factors rather than relying on a single modality.

Method: Lecture

Cost: Included in Midwinter Virtual Institute 2026 ticket

Location: Online (Zoom)

AGD Course Code: 730 (Oral Medicine, Oral Diagnosis, Oral Pathology)

Credit Hours: 1

Speaker's Bio:

Laura Walls, MS, CCC-SLP, is a licensed speech-language pathologist with over 30 years of experience specializing in pediatric rehabilitation, myofunctional disorders, and airway diagnostics. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara and CSU Hayward, she has worked across diverse clinical settings—from the VA Hospital in San Francisco to NICUs—focusing on feeding, speech, and cognitive disorders. Laura is the creator of the My Mouthworks® Program and inventor of the FDA-cleared Oral Placement Appliance® (OPA). Her work integrates whole-body approaches to address sleep-disordered breathing, TMJD, and myofunctional concerns in both children and adults.

Conflict of Interest: 

Owner/CEO at Innovative Oral Solutions and Innovative Therapy 4 Kids

Speaker: Manan Shah, MD, ENT

Title: "Breathe Easy, Smile Better: How Nasal Patency Shapes Orofacial Growth and Dental Success"

Synopsis:

The traditional focus of dentistry is shifting toward a comprehensive "oral-systemic" approach. Central to this shift is the recognition that nasal breathing is the primary driver of proper orofacial development. When nasal obstruction—often caused by chronic allergies—forces a patient into mouth breathing, the resulting changes in tongue posture can lead to high-arched palates, dental crowding, and long-face syndrome. This lecture explores the critical link between the nasal airway and dental health. We will specifically address how dental providers can screen for allergic rhinitis and utilize modern, in-office testing kits to identify the root causes of obstruction, allowing for more holistic treatment planning and improved patient outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the importance of nasal breathing: Explain how nasal versus mouth breathing directly impacts the mechanical forces that shape orofacial development and dental arch morphology.
2. Integrate Diagnostic Protocols: Understand the workflow for incorporating simple, kit-based allergy testing into the dental clinical environment.
3. Identify High-Risk Profiles: Recognize three specific patient phenotypes—such as the pediatric "adenoid face," the chronic gingivitis patient, and the orthodontic relapse case—who would benefit most from an allergy testing referral.

Practical Applications:

Attendees will walk away with actionable insights to implement on Monday morning:

1. Seamless Integration: Learn how to incorporate allergy screening into your standard health history and clinical exam without adding significant chair time.
2. Market Differentiation: Utilize airway health and allergy screening as a "Blue Ocean" strategy to differentiate your practice as a leader in oral-systemic health.
3. Optimizing Clinical Flow: Identify exactly where allergy testing fits into the patient journey—from the initial hygiene screening to the final treatment consultation.

Method: Lecture

Cost: Included in Midwinter Virtual Institute 2026 ticket

Location: Online (Zoom)

AGD Course Code: 730 (Oral Medicine, Oral Diagnosis, Oral Pathology)

AAOSH Core Curriculum Category: Airway

Credit Hours: 1

Speaker's Bio:

Dr. Manan Shah is a board certified ENT and the current president of the Colorado ENT Society, past Chair of the YPS Section of the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, and current committee member at the AAO-HNS. He is an owner of the Colorado Ear Nose Throat Group and a founder of Wyndly.

Conflict of Interest: 

Speaker: Robert Walker, MA, MS, DC

Title: "The REAL CAUSE of Pediatric Airway Issues?"

Synopsis:

Thankfully, there is a renewed interest in establishing Healthy Airways. Breathing is IMPORTANT!! Unfortunately, MANY seem to be missing the major cause? Until you really understand the Immune System, and how to support it,  you will never truly resolve the Airway Issues!

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn to look at “Airway Issues” from a broader perspective.
2. Learn how the Immune System really works, and how this applies to most of the Pediatric Airway Issues.
3. Learn what drives INFLAMMATION of the Airways, and how to quickly support the RESOLUTION!

Practical Applications:

1. See “Pediatric Airway Inflammation” for what it really is.. and how to enhance your current treatment protocols!
2. Support your clients’ Anti-Inflammation System with Targeted Strategies and simple Nutritionals. 
3. Know how to Re-Set the Immune system with 4 Basic Nutritional Supplements.

Method: Lecture

Cost: Included in Midwinter Virtual Institute 2026 ticket

Location: Online (Zoom)

AGD Course Code: 430 (Pediatric Dentistry)

Credit Hours: 1

Speaker's Bio:

Robert Walker, MA, MS, DC, is a Chiropractor with postgraduate degrees in Neural Psychology and Human Biochemistry/Nutrition.

He is the founder and developer of the "Chirodontics" treatment paradigm, and the Co-Founder of the "Exceptional Dental” and “Exceptional Health” Course Series.

He is also the Co-Founder of the FOSH-CARE treatment protocols and course series on “Functional Oral Systemic Health” Dr Walker has presented to Dental and Healthcare audiences worldwide, for over 35 years, on topics such as Pain, Posture, Cranial Distortions, as well as on Dental Orthopedics and Aesthetics, Dental Computer Diagnostics, TMD and Headache Treatment Strategies, Sleep and Airway Disorders and the Application of Clinical Nutrition and Nutrigenomics in various Healthcare Situations.

His mission is to provide the latest information to other healthcare providers, and to help them Achieve Exceptional Patient Outcomes!

Conflict of Interest: 

Affiliated with Exceptional Nutritionals (.com), Exceptional Dental Courses, and Exceptional Health Courses.