The DOC Podcast

Hosted by DeLuke Orthodontic Coaching, LLC

Business ScienceInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

172

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

About the show

The DOC Podcast brings you unique educational content taught by Dr. Mike DeLuke, a Board Certified Orthodontist with over 20 years of clinical and academic experience. Dr. DeLuke built his orthodontic practice from scratch in the early 2000s and grew it into a multimillion-dollar enterprise in less than 10 years. He was able to retire from his private practice at the age of 46 years old, and now devotes his energy to teaching his colleagues how to succeed both personally and professionally. He also provides locum tenens coverage for colleagues in South Florida. Dr. DeLuke has served as a faculty member at numerous hospitals and orthodontic residency programs around the country, including as the cleft craniofacial orthodontist at Albany Medical Center in New York, and as a clinical professor at The University of Connecticut in the Department of Orthodontics. He is presently an adjunct professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Healthcare Network and a Visiting Professor in the Department of Orthodontics at Montefiore Einstein Hospital in the Bronx. The DOC Podcast will bring you in-depth discussions and interviews with industry leaders and experts on a variety of topics, including clinical excellence, practice management, finance and wealth creation, health and wellness, taxes and accounting, fitness, and much more!

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 10, 2026Episode 1731 hr 12 min

The Impact of Sleep & Sleep Disorders on Patient Health (w/Dr. Saema Tahir) [Ep.173]

Episode Description: Join me for an in-depth conversation with sleep medicine specialist and quadruple Board Certified Physician (Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine, Sleep Medicine), Dr. Sima Tahir, as we discuss the critical role that sleep plays in overall health. Dr. Tahir shares her journey from working on the COVID-19 frontlines to opening her own boutique sleep practice in Manhattan, and why she believes sleep should be at the forefront of medical care. Key Topics Covered: Why Sleep Medicine Matters The lack of sleep education in medical schools and residencies Why sleep disorders are missed by traditional healthcare systems How sleep affects every aspect of health, from mood to chronic disease Recognizing Sleep Disorders Warning signs in children AND adults (headaches, jaw pain, teeth grinding, brain fog, irritability) Why children should NEVER snore The connection between sleep disorders and ADHD/behavioral issues How sleep problems manifest differently in kids vs. adults The Diagnostic Challenge Limitations of polysomnography (sleep studies) Why a normal AHI doesn't rule out sleep disorders Understanding upper airway resistance syndrome The importance of reviewing raw sleep study data The Multidisciplinary Approach Why "sleep takes a team" - collaboration between physicians, dentists, orthodontists, and specialists How dental providers can detect sleep and breathing issues The role of orthodontics in addressing airway problems Breaking down silos between medical and dental Sleep Quality vs. Quantity Why 7-9 hours isn't enough if quality is poor Understanding sleep architecture and circadian rhythms How weekend sleep schedule changes affect your entire week The one-hour-per-day recovery rule Practical Sleep Hygiene The importance of consistent sleep/wake times How hormones (especially in perimenopause) affect sleep Why waking up multiple times per night is NOT normal Red flags that indicate you need a sleep evaluation Perfect For: Healthcare providers (medical and dental) Parents concerned about their children's sleep Anyone experiencing chronic fatigue, brain fog, or sleep issues Professionals interested in the intersection of sleep and overall health Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro and highlight reel 3:35 – Welcome, Dr. Tahir's background and path to sleep medicine 5:08 – Life on the COVID front lines and how it changed her priorities 8:12 – Why she left the hospital system to open her own sleep practice 9:12 – Why sleep is multifactorial and requires a team-based approach 14:20 – The gap in sleep education in medical school and residency 19:09 – Do pediatricians get trained to spot sleep-disordered breathing? 23:03 – Warning signs of sleep disorders in kids and adults (head-to-toe rundown) 28:36 – The dentist's role in catching what pediatricians miss 32:11 – Talking to skeptical dental colleagues about sleep and airway 35:00 – Why sleep studies (polysomnography) can miss real problems, especially in kids 38:07 – What to do when the sleep study says "normal" but symptoms persist 45:59 – Hormones, aging, and why primary care doesn't ask about sleep 52:35 – Why doctors reach for another prescription instead of asking about sleep 55:23 – What "good sleep" actually means (quality vs. hours) 57:33 – How sensitive your circadian rhythm really is 62:13 – Nighttime awakenings: what's normal and what's not 64:43 – Why snoring is never normal — in kids or adults 67:34 – The future of at-home sleep diagnostics and wearables for kids 69:31 – How to reach Dr. Tahir 71:22 – Closing thoughts LINKS Connect w/Dr. Tahir: https://drsaematahirmd.com/ Register for the In-person Early Treatment Comprehensive: https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/ (ONLY 1 SPOT LEFT!) Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/ Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/ Website: theorthocoach.com YouTube: @theorthocoach Instagram: @theorthocoach Email: drmike@theorthocoach.com (00:00) - Intro and highlight reel (03:35) - Welcome, Dr. Tahir's background and path to sleep medicine (05:07) - Life on the COVID front lines and how it changed her priorities (08:12) - Why she left the hospital system to open her own sleep practice (09:11) - Why sleep is multifactorial and requires a team-based approach (14:19) - The gap in sleep education in medical school and residency (19:09) - Do pediatricians get trained to spot sleep-disordered breathing? (23:02) - Warning signs of sleep disorders in kids and adults (28:35) - The dentist's role in catching what pediatricians miss (32:11) - Talking to skeptical dental colleagues about sleep and airway (35:00) - Why sleep studies can miss real problems, especially in kids (38:06) - What to do when the sleep study says normal but symptoms persist (45:58) - Hormones, aging, and why primary care doesn't ask about sleep (52:35) - Why doctors reach for another prescription instead of asking about sleep (55:23) - What good sleep actually means (quality vs. hours) (57:32) - How sensitive your circadian rhythm really is (01:02:12) - Nighttime awakenings: what's normal and what's not (01:04:42) - Why snoring is never normal (01:07:34) - The future of at-home sleep diagnostics and wearables for kids (01:09:30) - How to reach Dr. Tahir (01:11:22) - Closing thoughts

September 3, 2026Episode 1721 hr 27 min

The Way You Breathe Today May Be Wrecking Your Sleep Tonight (w/Dr. Louise Oliver) [Ep.172]

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Louise Oliver, an NHS general practitioner, functional breathing practitioner, and founder of Breath Doc Programs, who discovered the profound impact of dysfunctional breathing after her own struggles with perimenopausal snoring. We dig into why physicians are rarely taught about airway and breathing dysfunction, the biochemistry of over-breathing and "air hunger," and how retraining your CO2 tolerance can be life-changing. We also explore how daytime breathing habits shape nighttime breathing, why puberty, pregnancy, and menopause reshape airway function, the troubling gaps in sleep apnea research for women, and a nuanced take on mouth taping. It's a wide-ranging conversation that challenges assumptions about one of the most basic things we do every moment of our lives: breathe. TIMESTAMPS - 0:00 – Introduction - 3:47 – Meet Dr. Louise Oliver - 3:49 – Dr. Oliver's journey to functional breathing - 9:59 – What actually counts as evidence-based medicine - 14:04 – Why traditional medicine overlooks breathing dysfunction - 19:28 – The mechanics of over-breathing and air hunger - 25:23 – How to retrain your breathing - 33:28 – How over-breathing affects the whole body - 38:42 – Breathing and the autonomic nervous system - 46:16 – Why daytime breathing habits shape nighttime breathing - 52:51 – Women's health, hormones, and breathing - 53:38 – Breathing through puberty, pregnancy, and menopause - 1:14:50 – The gap in women's sleep medicine research - 1:20:10 – The truth about mouth tape - 1:25:46 – Closing thoughts and where to find Dr. Oliver LINKS IG: @drolivertlc Website: https://www.drlouiseolivertherapeuticlifecoaching.com/ Register for the In-person Early Treatment Comprehensive: https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/ Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/ Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/ Website: theorthocoach.com YouTube: @theorthocoach Instagram: @theorthocoach Email: drmike@theorthocoach.com (00:00) - Introduction (03:47) - Meet Dr. Louise Oliver (03:48) - Dr. Oliver's Journey to Functional Breathing (09:59) - What Counts as Evidence-Based Medicine (14:03) - Why Medicine Overlooks Breathing (19:27) - The Mechanics of Over-Breathing and Air Hunger (25:22) - Retraining Your Breathing (33:28) - How Over-Breathing Affects the Whole Body (38:42) - Breathing and the Autonomic Nervous System (46:15) - Daytime Breathing Habits Shape Nighttime Breathing (52:50) - Women's Health, Hormones, and Breathing (53:38) - Breathing Through Puberty, Pregnancy, and Menopause (01:14:50) - The Gap in Women's Sleep Medicine Research (01:20:11) - The Truth About Mouth Tape (01:25:46) - Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Dr. Oliver

August 27, 2026Episode 1711 hr 22 min

The Evolution of Airway Dysfunction, Malocclusion, & Chronic Disease (w/Dr. Mark Cruz)

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Mark Cruz - general dentist, former assistant director of the UCLA Center for Aesthetic Dentistry, and a pioneer in airway-focused dentistry - for one of the deepest conversations we've had on the show. We get into the medical and dental comorbidities of pediatric sleep-disordered breathing, the ongoing debate over whether malocclusion is driven by genetics or environment, and why I believe orthodontists are uniquely positioned, yet often reluctant, to lead in airway health. Mark walks me through his personal journey, including the terrifying night his six-year-old son stopped breathing, and how that experience reshaped his entire clinical philosophy. We dig into the evidence (and lack thereof) behind long-held orthodontic dogma, the anthropological data showing just how dramatically our facial skeletons have changed in only 500 years, and the evolutionary story of why our jaws and airways are in crisis today. We close out by tackling the "no evidence" myth head-on, most notably the claim that tooth extraction and tongue space have nothing to do with airway, and Mark breaks down exactly where that argument falls apart. If you care about early intervention, craniofacial growth and development, or evidence-based practice, get ready to take notes. **Timestamps:** - 0:00 — Open - 0:51 — Meet Dr. Mark Cruz - 2:15 — Mark's Path to Airway-Focused Dentistry - 16:57 — Which Dental Specialty Has the Strongest Evidence? - 17:26 — Why Orthodontics Is Positioned to Lead on Airway - 18:25 — The Airway as the Keystone of the Face - 25:24 — The History of Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome - 27:34 — How Our Facial Skeleton Has Changed in 500 Years - 35:22 — Rethinking Medical and Dental Education - 43:46 — The Airway as the Nexus of Health - 56:07 — Why Is This So Common? The Anthropology of Malocclusion - 61:32 — The Evolutionary Story: From Hunter-Gatherers to Modern Jaws - 70:15 — Debunking the "No Evidence" Myth on Extractions and Tongue Space - 79:03 — Closing Thoughts - 81:53 — Outro and How to Reach Dr. Cruz Know someone who'd make a great guest, or want to be one yourself? Email me at drmike@theorthocoach.com, and don't forget to join The Doc Community on Facebook. Thanks for listening, and remember, you've been blessed with the ability to do amazing things. LINKS Contact Mark - markcruz@markacruzdds.com Orthotown Article Part I: https://www.orthotown.com/magazine/digital/649/march-2025 Orthotown Article Part II: https://www.orthotown.com/magazine/digital/652/may-2025 Phase I Early Treatment Course: https://theorthocoach.com/courses/phase-i-arch-development/?portfolioCats=99 Register for the In-person Early Treatment Comprehensive: https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/ Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/ Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/ Website: theorthocoach.com YouTube: @theorthocoach Instagram: @theorthocoach Email: drmike@theorthocoach.com (00:00) - Cold Open (00:50) - Meet Dr. Mark Cruz (02:15) - Mark's Path to Airway-Focused Dentistry (16:56) - Which Dental Specialty Has the Strongest Evidence? (17:25) - Why Orthodontics Is Positioned to Lead on Airway (18:25) - The Airway as the Keystone of the Face (25:23) - The History of Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (27:34) - How Our Facial Skeleton Has Changed in 500 Years (35:21) - Rethinking Medical and Dental Education (43:45) - The Airway as the Nexus of Health (56:07) - Why Is This So Common? The Anthropology of Malocclusion (01:01:32) - The Evolutionary Story: From Hunter-Gatherers to Modern Jaws (01:10:14) - Debunking the "No Evidence" Myth on Extractions and Tongue Space (01:19:02) - Closing Thoughts (01:21:53) - Outro and How to Reach Dr. Cruz

August 20, 2026Episode 1701 hr 17 min

The Truth About Mouth Breathing, Sleep, & Sleep Medicine (w/Dr. Funke Brown) [Ep.170]

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Funke Afolabi Brown, a triple board-certified sleep physician, founder of Restful Sleep MD, and best-selling author. We go way beyond the basics of sleep, exploring what "good sleep" actually means, why sleep medicine gets so little attention in physician and dental training, and why that has to change. Dr. Brown and I dig into the full spectrum of sleep-disordered breathing (it's so much more than just obstructive sleep apnea), the strengths and serious limitations of polysomnography versus home sleep testing, and why relying only on the AHI can cause us to miss patients who are genuinely struggling. We also spend a lot of time on the far-reaching effects of poor sleep in kids - behavior, learning, emotional regulation, and how sleep issues so often masquerade as ADHD. We talk candidly about why snoring and chronic mouth breathing should never be treated as "no big deal," why interdisciplinary collaboration between sleep physicians, pediatricians, ENTs, dentists, orthodontists, and myofunctional therapists is essential, and why I'm genuinely optimistic about where sleep medicine is headed. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 — Cold open: sleep's impact on children isn't benign 0:38 — Podcast welcome 1:02 — Guest introduction: Dr. Funke Afolabi Brown 4:20 — Interview begins 5:39 — Dr. Brown's background and path into sleep medicine 7:13 — Sleep education gaps in medical/dental training 10:19 — Defining good sleep: quantity, quality, timing 14:42 — Wearables, sleep tracking, and orthosomnia 20:24 — Acute vs. chronic sleep problems and recovery 26:52 — In-lab polysomnography: strengths and limitations 37:28 — The sleep-disordered breathing spectrum 41:10 — Primary snoring: why it's never normal 46:14 — Allergies, nasal airway, and root causes 48:12 — Chronic mouth breathing debate 54:23 — Why physicians and dentists avoid the topic 1:00:10 — ADHD and sleep-disordered breathing overlap 1:08:57 — Home sleep testing and treatment options 1:09:48 — The future of sleep medicine 1:16:00 — Closing thoughts and where to find Dr. Brown If you found this conversation valuable, please share this episode with someone who needs to hear it, follow DOC Podcast on Instagram, and subscribe to the channel on YouTube so you never miss an episode. LINKS Connect w/Dr. Brown: Website: https://www.restfulsleepmd.com/ Beyond Tired Book: https://a.co/d/2aSRSQt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/restfulsleepmd/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drfunkebrown/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/funke.afolabibrown/ Register for the In-person Early Treatment Comprehensive: https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/ The Generational Wealth Code: https://a.co/d/05TlkLJX Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/ Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/ Website: theorthocoach.com YouTube: @theorthocoach Instagram: @theorthocoach Email: drmike@theorthocoach.com

August 13, 2026Episode 1691 hr 31 min

How to Use the Tax Advantages of Real Estate to Build Wealth (w/Christine Vento-Conway, CPA)[Ep.169]

In this episode, I sit down again with Christine Vento Conway, Senior Vice President at Inland Securities, to dig into the real estate side of building generational wealth. We pick up where we left off with her family, this time focusing specifically on how real estate's tax advantages (1031 exchanges, DSTs, depreciation, and Qualified Opportunity Zones) can help investors defer, reduce, and even eliminate capital gains taxes. Christine breaks down the numbers, walks through real timelines and rules, and we compare these strategies to REITs so you know exactly which tool fits your situation. Whether you're a seasoned real estate investor or just getting started, this conversation will give you a clear framework for thinking about real estate as a tax strategy, not just an asset class. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Introduction and catching up with Christine 3:59 – Christine's role at Inland Securities and her CPA background 10:59 – The four key benefits of real estate as an investment vehicle 14:02 – Duplex vs. institutional real estate: diversification and risk 18:57 – Breaking down the tax consequences of selling a property 36:36 – The 1031 exchange timeline: the 45-day and 180-day rules 37:28 – What a qualified intermediary does (and why you need one) 49:20 – The three phases of a DST investment 56:32 – How DST income and distributions are taxed 1:12:13 – DSTs vs. REITs: what's the difference? 1:15:24 – Qualified Opportunity Zones and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act 1:27:41 – Who qualifies: accredited investor requirements and minimums 1:29:17 – How to get in touch with Christine If this conversation gave you a new way of thinking about real estate, please don't keep it to yourself. Send this episode to your financial advisor or CPA, since many of them aren't familiar with DSTs. Pick up a copy of *The Generational Wealth Code* to go even deeper, and if you want to explore these strategies for your own portfolio, reach out to Christine directly at conway@inland-securities.com. And if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could benefit from a smarter approach to real estate and taxes. LINKS Purchase The Generational Wealth Code: https://a.co/d/0cye2Lqu Email Christine: conway@inland-securities.com Call Christine: 917-410-7725 First Episode w/Vento Family: Second Episode w/John Vento Sr: Register for the In-person Early Treatment Comprehensive: https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/ Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/ Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/ Website: theorthocoach.com YouTube: @theorthocoach Email: drmike@theorthocoach.com Instagram: @theorthocoach

August 6, 2026Episode 1681 hr 27 min

The Role of the Nasal Passageways in Airway Disease (w/Dr. Peter Catalano)

Overview In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Peter Catalano - an otolaryngologist, rhinology fellowship director, and pioneer of minimally invasive nasal surgery. Dr. Catalano has held appointments at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, the Lahey Clinic, and Tufts University, and has spent over three decades developing and publishing on targeted nasal airway surgery. I've had the privilege of working with Dr. Catalano on a major article addressing mouth breathing, and our conversation here is one of the most important I've had on this platform. We go deep into the science of nasal airflow, the structural and institutional barriers preventing children from getting the care they need, and the very real consequences (neurological, behavioral, cardiovascular, and craniofacial) of untreated mouth breathing and sleep-disordered breathing. We also address the myths and dogmas that continue to persist in both the ENT and orthodontic worlds, and what it's going to take to break them down. If you've ever wondered why the two worlds of dentistry and medicine remain so siloed on this issue, or what it means for patients when they fall through the crack, this episode is for you. Timestamps 0:00 – Introduction and Dr. Catalano's background: ENT, skull base surgery, academic appointments at Mount Sinai, Lahey Clinic, and Tufts University 4:10 – How Dr. Catalano's career trajectory led him from engineering to medicine to rhinology — and the philosophy of fate and the "hidden angel" guiding his path 9:12 – The MicroShaver revolution: meeting Dr. Setliff in South Dakota and the aha moment that changed everything about minimally invasive sinus surgery 11:13 – The unexpected discovery: patients reporting they stopped snoring after sinus surgery, and how that led to a focus on nasal airway and sleep-disordered breathing 13:18 – [Ad] Early Orthodontic Treatment Comprehensive — a two-day hands-on immersive course with Dr. Daniel Camacho, Fort Lauderdale, FL, November 13–14. Click the link in the show notes to register. 14:27 – The 2009 Singapore breakthrough: Dr. Deyun Wang and computational flow dynamics — why no one actually knew how air moved through the nose until then 19:32 – Why previous nasal surgeries failed for OSA, and what "follow the airflow" means for surgical targets between the eyes 20:30 – Why making big holes in sinuses made things worse — and why the sinuses don't actually ventilate during breathing 23:58 – How the superior airway and structures like the uncinate process and concha bullosa became key surgical targets, producing a 15–20% improvement in airflow 26:08 – The insurance dilemma and medical-legal risks that prevent ENTs from performing airway surgery — even when the data is clear 30:03 – The ferret studies and the "never operate under 16" dogma: how flawed 1980s animal models became entrenched standard of care for pediatric ENT surgery 35:48 – Parallels to hormone replacement therapy and the rampant hypocrisy in academic medicine — how good studies get buried and bad ones persist 40:55 – How Dr. Catalano fought back against an insurance company, changed their pediatric sinus surgery policy, and survived multiple attempts to have his medical license revoked 47:12 – The Harvold monkey studies: why the obligate nasal breather argument is wrong, why the studies are foundational, and what it means that no one could repeat them today 58:07 – Children don't just "outgrow" airway obstruction: why the lymphoid involution argument is true but dangerously misleading when 90% of craniofacial growth is complete by age 8 1:13:57 – CBCT in ENT and orthodontic practice: why orthodontists need to learn to read the full image, how Dr. Catalano and Dr. John Walker found hidden tumors, and why rhinology-focused ENTs already use equivalent imaging 1:17:33 – Nocturnal enuresis and airway: the pituitary/ADH connection, why these children ask about bedwetting the moment they wake from surgery, and the anecdotal but compelling clinical evidence 1:27:15 – Swell body reduction: how a novel procedure Dr. Catalano pioneered in 2015 went from being met with rotten tomatoes at conferences to becoming standard of care Closing If this conversation resonated with you, I want to encourage you to share it with your colleagues, your dental and medical partners, and anyone who works with young patients who struggle to breathe. This is exactly the kind of interdisciplinary dialogue that can change outcomes for kids who are being told to wait it out. LINKS Dr. Peter Catalano: Email: catalanop9@gmail.com AJODO Article on Mouth Breathing: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40057896/ Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions ( https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/ ) Register for the In-person Early Treatment Comprehensive: https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/ Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/ Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/ Website: theorthocoach.com YouTube: @theorthocoach Email: drmike@theorthocoach.com Instagram: @theorthocoach

July 30, 2026Episode 1671 hr 32 min

One Family's Airway Revolution (w/Sydney & Dr. Victor Avis) [Ep.167]

In this episode, I sit down with a truly inspiring father-daughter team - Dr. Victor Avis, a recently retired general dentist and orthodontist of 38 years, and his daughter Sydney Avis, co-founders of the Airway Revolution Foundation. What begins as a deeply personal story about Sydney's lifelong, undiagnosed struggle with airway and sleep disorders quickly evolves into a powerful conversation about the systemic gaps in how medicine and dentistry recognize and treat airway-related health issues. From Sydney's childhood as a chronic mouth breather to her life-changing double jaw surgery in 2020, and from Dr. Avis' discovery of the Mews and orthotropics to the launch of a nonprofit digital learning platform, this episode is packed with insight, honesty, and a whole lot of heart. Timestamps 0:00 — Introduction & welcome 0:23 — About today's guests: Dr. Victor Avis & Sydney Avis, co-founders of the Airway Revolution Foundation 3:16 — Dr. Avis frames the conversation: what it's like to see patients transform through airway treatment, and why he didn't see it in his own daughter 7:19 — Sydney begins her story: growing up without knowing something was wrong 8:21 — Dr. Avis reflects: he didn't know mouth breathing wasn't normal, even watching home videos; the missed opportunity at age 6 10:43 — School struggles begin: from A student to C student despite extraordinary effort; asthma, inhalers, and cavities nobody connected to airway 15:25 — Sydney's growing anxiety: first panic attack at prom; daily panic attacks escalating through her gap year 15:57 — The breaking point: a 3 AM call from Thailand - Sydney in the hospital getting a brain scan 20:29 — Dr. Avis discovers John Mew on YouTube; two weeks later he's in England studying orthotropics 22:19 — Presenting Sydney's case to Bill Hang's study group: the recommendation for double jaw surgery, and Sydney's immediate answer: "Okay, let's do it" 24:13 — The pre-surgery journey: sleep studies, DICE with Dr. Soroush Zaghi, MADs, CPAP, nothing helps; surgery delayed by COVID 31:11 — Sydney shares life after surgery: REM rebound, finally feeling rested, and the lifting of the "fog" 52:37 — Why they founded the Airway Revolution Foundation and built a free digital learning platform for parents, educators, and adults 1:12:28 — Lessons from trying to change doctoral education and lobbying Capitol Hill and why they ultimately decided to go directly to the public 1:22:51 — The danger of anti-airway commentary; 50–60% of kids on ADHD medications may have an undiagnosed sleep disorder; how to connect with the Foundation Closing Dr. Victor and Sydney Avis are doing something rare - turning personal pain into a movement that has the potential to change millions of lives. If their story resonates with you, visit airwayrevolution.org and follow @theairwayrevolution on social media to stay connected as their digital learning platform launches this fall. LINKS Airwayrevolution.org Connect w/the Avis' on Social Media: @theairwayrevolution Register for the In-person Early Treatment Comprehensive: https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/ Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/ Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/ Website: theorthocoach.com YouTube: @theorthocoach Email: drmike@theorthocoach.com Instagram: @theorthocoach

July 23, 2026Episode 1661 hr 9 min

More Than the Tongue: Rethinking Oral Ties, Latch, & Facial Development (w/Dr. Shereen Lim) [Ep.166]

In this episode, I'm joined for the second time by Dr. Shereen Lim, an internationally recognized dentist whose work is reshaping how we think about oral tethered tissues and their role in craniofacial growth, airway health, and orthodontic outcomes. Since her first appearance on the show (Episode 34 - link below), Dr. Lim has pushed even further beyond tongue ties, focusing her clinical lens on lip ties, buccal frenum ties, and their profound influence on facial development, maxillary arch constriction, dental crowding, and orthodontic relapse. This conversation is a masterclass in staying intellectually curious, remaining open to what the evidence in your own practice is telling you, and constantly reassessing your diagnosis and treatment approach as new information emerges. Timestamps 0:00 – Introduction & episode overview 3:12 – Welcome back: Dr. Lim returns to The DOC Podcast 4:43 – Beyond tongue ties: Dr. Lim's evolving focus on lip and cheek (buccal) ties and their impact on latch, facial tension, and development 8:46 – The lower lip tie discovery: how chin strain and mentalis tension led to a clinical breakthrough 9:55 – Buccal ties, orthodontic relapse, and how cheek tension shapes the dental arch 14:45 – Interdisciplinary collaboration: working with osteopaths, chiropractors, and lactation consultants 15:59 – The emotional weight of realizing what we've missed — and why blinders happen 19:01 – Case study: the patient with severe malocclusion and the tightest cheek ties Dr. Lim has ever seen 22:03 – My talk on why orthodontists resist airway-focused care — and granting colleagues grace 25:44 – Tongue ties without transverse deficiency: how cheek ties may explain the variation 27:36 – V-shaped arches, orthodontic relapse, and the role of perioral restrictions 29:39 – Historical perspective: the Frenkel appliance, lip bumpers, and treating the etiology 33:03 – How to assess what's normal vs. abnormal: signs to look for across infancy, childhood, and adulthood 36:41 – The procedure: CO2 laser technique, team-based approach, and what to expect after releases 39:10 – When outcomes fall short — and why proper pre/post care changes everything 41:34 – A remarkable case: releasing ties in an infant with Down syndrome against specialist advice 44:19 – Challenging the 2020 AAO-HNS consensus statement and the misuse of evidence-based medicine 46:53 – The real value of clinical observation and patient-reported outcomes 50:19 – Pushback on social media vs. trust within the clinical community 52:10 – Functional trainer appliances (Myobrace, Vivos, 2Pill): where they help and where they fall short 56:18 – Post-release comfort: why oral releases may make functional appliances easier to tolerate 57:54 – The journey approach: doing one thing at a time and building confidence incrementally 1:00:46 – Vestibuloplasty technique: releasing multiple sites together for better outcomes 1:03:46 – A message to overwhelmed clinicians: you don't have to do it all at once 1:06:32 – Evidence-based practice in action: what Dr. Lim is actually doing in her clinic 1:07:09 – Where to find Dr. Lim & closing thoughts This conversation reminded me of why I do this work. Dr. Lim's willingness to look critically at her own outcomes, stay open to what her patients are showing her, and continuously evolve her clinical approach is a model for all of us. Whether you're brand new to airway-focused dentistry or have been in this space for years, I hope this episode leaves you a little more curious, a little more humble, and motivated to ask whether there's a better way to serve the children and families we care for. LINKS Episode 34 w/Dr. Lim: LINK Dr Lim’s Book: Breathe, Sleep, Thrive Dr. Lim’s Website: https://www.drshereenlim.com.au/ Dr. Lim’s IG: @dr.shereenlim Dr. Lim on FB: LINK Register for the In-person Early Treatment Comprehensive: https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/ Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/ Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/ Website: theorthocoach.com YouTube: @theorthocoach Instagram: @theorthocoach Email: drmike@theorthocoach.com

July 16, 2026Episode 1651 hr 28 min

A Holistic Approach to the Management of Sleep Apnea (w/Dr. Dave McCarty) [Ep.165]

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Dave McCarty - board-certified in internal medicine and sleep medicine, Chief Medical Officer of Rebis, and the visionary behind the Empowered Sleep Apnea Project - for one of the richest conversations I've had on this show. We go deep on why the AHI is far more limited than most providers and patients realize, trace the history of sleep apnea from Dickens' "Fat Joe" to the invention of CPAP, and unpack a landmark trial now questioning whether high-pressure CPAP may cause harm. Dave draws a compelling parallel between today's resistance to airway-focused thinking in dentistry and the tragic story of Ignaz Semmelweis, the physician who discovered handwashing saves lives and was institutionalized for it. We also make the case for nasal breathing, tackle the real limits of evidence-based medicine, and Dave shares his vision for Rebis: an integrated sleep medicine ecosystem that puts the patient, not the algorithm, at the center. Timestamps 0:00 – Introduction & Dr. Dave McCarty bio 2:40 – Dave's origin story: from primary care to sleep medicine ("I'm a recovering primary care doc") 12:32 – Cold-calling Tom Colquitt & the dental-airway connection 15:59 – Enthusiasm as a guiding force: Ralph Waldo Emerson, cold calls, and following fear 18:20 – Why insurance-driven medicine creates silos — and what the dental community can teach physicians about patient-centered care 21:37 – Unpacking the complexity of sleep apnea: obstructive vs. central, the "vanilla chocolate swirl," and why the AHI is a code that needs decoding 26:12 – The history of sleep apnea: from Osler and Dickens' "Fat Joe" to Pickwickian syndrome 29:21 – 1966: Henri Gastaut studies a Pickwickian patient and discovers sleep apnea as we know it 30:38 – Colin Sullivan and the invention of CPAP in 1981 40:40 – The five reasons to treat sleep apnea: risk, snoring, sleep experience, wake experience, and comorbidities 50:00 – Why nasal breathing matters: autonomic nervous system, nitric oxide, craniofacial development, and immune defense 56:07 – The Semmelweis parallel: dangerous truths, resistance to change, and the human cost of orthodontic practices we may need to revisit 1:12:43 – No randomized controlled trial proves CPAP prevents mortality — and new data suggests over-pressurization may cause harm 1:18:22 – Rebis: building an integrated, multidisciplinary sleep medicine ecosystem that democratizes complexity 1:27:40 – Closing thoughts & how to connect with Dr. McCarty LINKS: Rebis: https://www.rebishealth.org/ Contact Dr. McCarty: https://www.empoweredsleepapnea.com/ Beyond OSA: https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/orthotown/orthotown-march-2025/index.php?startpage=36#/p/34 ; Articles Referenced by Dr. McCarty: email Dr. DeLuke ( drmike@theorthocoach.com ) Phase I CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/courses/phase-i-arch-development/?portfolioCats=99 Register for the In-person Early Treatment Comprehensive: https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/ Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/ Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/ Website: theorthocoach.com YouTube: @theorthocoach Email: drmike@theorthocoach.com Instagram: @theorthocoach If this episode opened your eyes to how much more there is to sleep-disordered breathing than a number on a sleep study report, I encourage you to share it with a colleague in medicine, dentistry, or orthodontics who needs to hear this conversation. The siloes between our disciplines are costing patients, and it's going to take all of us working together to tear them down.

July 9, 2026Episode 1641 hr 22 min

The Oral-Systemic Connection: Why Dentists Need to Look Beyond the Mouth (w/Dr. Witt Wilkerson) [Ep.164]

Summary: In this episode, I sat down with one of the most respected voices in dentistry, Dr. Witt Wilkerson - Director of Dental Medicine at the Dawson Academy and a true pioneer in the intersection of occlusion, TMD, airway, and integrative dental medicine. We had an incredibly rich conversation about the paradigm shift that I believe is transforming our profession: moving away from reactive, tooth-focused treatment and toward a whole-health, root-cause approach. Dr. Wilkerson shares his 44-year journey from treating bruxism purely as a bite problem to recognizing airway and sleep-disordered breathing as primary drivers of dysfunction. We challenged the siloing of dental specialties, made the case for dentistry as oral medicine, and explored the enormous opportunity we all have, dentists and hygienists alike, to screen for and address systemic health issues, including inflammation, blood sugar dysregulation, and sleep disorders. This is a conversation you do not want to miss. Timestamps: 0:00 - Welcome 0:23 — I introduce Dr. Witt Wilkerson and what we'll cover in today's episode 4:46 — Dr. Wilkerson shares his background: joining Dr. Pete Dawson's practice in 1982 and a career built on the question, "Is there a better way?" 6:07 — We discuss the segmentalized state of dentistry and medicine, and why the younger generation is finally starting to change that 8:33 — The 2009 Baylor article that changed everything for Dr. Wilkerson: the link between sleep apnea, bruxism, and airway 12:51 — I ask Dr. Wilkerson about the courage and humility it takes to admit you were wrong, and to update what you've been teaching for decades 28:23 — Dr. Wilkerson walks us through the three pillars of Integrative Dental Medicine: inflammation/infection, airway/sleep, and TMD/occlusion 29:26 — Why salivary testing should be part of every new patient exam, and what it can tell us about systemic health 30:06 — The diabetes-periodontal link we've known about since dental school, and why almost none of us are acting on it 30:52 — How continuous glucose monitoring is being used as both a periodontal and whole-health tool in Dr. Wilkerson's practice 45:41 — We get into orthodontics and TMD, including the defensive reaction from the ortho community that held the profession back, and what I think the specialty should do instead 50:05 — A critical clinical protocol: why you should always study sleep before placing any occlusal appliance on a bruxer 54:43 — The adult complex restorative patient: how I believe we should be approaching these cases from a truly interdisciplinary standpoint 1:14:16 — The future of treatment sequencing: why airway therapy may need to come first, before any restorative or orthodontic work 1:18:15 — How to connect with Dr. Wilkerson, the IDM Scholar Society, and the S3 Workshops Call to Action: If this conversation lit a fire in you the way it did for me, here's what I'd encourage you to do next: Connect with Dr. Witt Wilkerson and learn more about the IDM Scholar Society and his S3 (Sleep, Saliva & Sugar) Workshops at IDMScholarSociety.com , or reach out to him directly at WittWilkersonDMD@gmail.com Join me and Dr. Daniel Camacho at the Early Orthodontic Treatment Comprehensive Course - a two-day hands-on event, November 13–14 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. We'll cover early airway-focused interceptive treatment, CBCT reading, live patient observation, and so much more. Includes 41 CE hours. Space is limited, so grab your spot at https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/ Share this episode - If this conversation shifted your perspective on dentistry's role in whole-body health, please pass it along to a colleague. The more dental professionals hear this message, the more patients we can help and the stronger our profession becomes. Join The DOC Community on Facebook for ongoing discussions, resources, and more content like this. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/ Work with me directly - Head to theorthocoach.com to access my CE courses or schedule a private one-on-one coaching session. LINKS AAO White Paper Review: https://youtu.be/pKSD_PVO4G0 YouTube: @theorthocoach Email: drmike@theorthocoach.com Instagram: @theorthocoach