More Than Teeth

Dr. Bennett interviews his patient, Eric Eberly, about treating sleep-disordered breathing and airway underdevelopment. Eric describes being diagnosed with sleep apnea at 25 while weighing 280 pounds, relying on a poorly titrated CPAP, using 2–3 energy drinks daily for years, and suffering from chronic headaches and migraines. Following a chiropractor referral, Dr. Bennett diagnosed an underdevelo...

In this episode of More Than Teeth Podcast, host Dr. Michael Bennett talks with Allison Allred about her harrowing journey to uncover the root cause of her young son's debilitating symptoms. What began with concerns over optic nerve swelling led to a diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension and a deeper exploration into issues like sleep apnea and airway obstruction. Allison's unwavering...

In this podcast episode, Dr. Michael Bennett welcomes Julie Seager, Education Manager for Xlear and a practicing dental hygienist, to discuss practical clinical protocols that bridge the gap between oral health and total well-being. They explore the critical role of nasal breathing in the dental setting, detailing how pre-procedural nasal hygiene can significantly improve airway volume and patient...

In this episode of the More Than Teeth podcast, Dr. Michael Bennett hosts Sherri Gunn, a nurse practitioner, lactation consultant, and myofunctional therapist, for a deep dive into the nuances of tongue ties across different age groups. Sherry shares a success story of an infant who could breastfeed pain-free after a CO2 laser release. They emphasize the critical roles of proper tongue function in...

In this episode of More Than Teeth Podcast, Dr. Michael Bennett discusses the often-overlooked factors contributing to underdeveloped jaws in children, which increase the risk of needing braces and wisdom teeth extractions. Highlighting the impact of modern dietary habits, mouth breathing, and environmental factors, Dr. Bennett provides practical advice for parents on how to encourage natural jaw...

In this episode of More Than Teeth Podcast, host Dr. Michael Bennett, along with his wife Cathy Bennett, welcomes Sherri Gunn, an experienced registered nurse, lactation consultant, and myofunctional therapist. Sherri shares her extensive knowledge on infant feeding challenges, particularly the significance of identifying red flags in feeding behavior of infants aged zero to six months. The discus...

Dr. Michael Bennett hosts Sonnie Bocala on The More Than Teeth Podcast. They discuss their long friendship and collaboration in treating patients with pain and sleep disorders. Sonnie, owner of Apex Dental Sleep Lab, shares insights into his work on FDA-cleared oral sleep appliances and innovations in dental sleep medicine. Dr. Bennett recounts a recent experience with his father-in-law's cardiac...

From Diagnosis to Hope: Navigating Ehlers Danlos Syndrome In this episode of 'The More Than Teeth Podcast,' Dr. Michael Bennett sits down with Jesse, a patient diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Jesse shares her powerful story of living with EDS, which includes symptoms like joint hypermobility, chronic pain, gastroparesis, sleep apnea, and severe headaches. Jesse reveals how her life im...

The Connection Between Leaky Gut Syndrome & Sleep  In this episode, we discuss the potential causes of chronic pain, focusing on the complex relationship between digestive health and conditions like headache, jaw, and facial pain. The discussion includes the case of a patient with chronic pain exacerbated by obstructive sleep apnea and digestive issues. The podcast highlights the role of...

Top Sleep Disorder Questions Every Dentist Should Ask Patients In this episode, Dr. Michael Bennett and Cathy discuss the vital role dental professionals play in screening for sleep disorders like sleep apnea. They emphasize the ease and ethical importance of incorporating sleep-related questions into routine dental visits, similar to blood pressure or oral cancer checks. Various indicators such a...

How Undiagnosed Sleep Apnea Is Hiding in Your Dental Chair In this episode, Dr. Michael Bennett and Cathy Bennett introduce a new series on the interconnectedness of airway health and overall wellness, particularly focusing on the importance of dental screenings for sleep-related breathing disorders. The discussion highlights the significance of dental health as a gateway to detecting sleep apnea,...

A Neurologist’s View on Sleep with Dr. Stasha Gominak In this engaging podcast episode, Dr. Michael Bennett invites Dr. Stasha Gominak to discuss their shared passion for leveraging the body’s healing properties of sleep. Dr. Gominak shares her journey from being a neurologist to becoming a sleep coach, highlighting the unique relationships she discovered between sleep and overall health. She delv...

Answers from an E.N.T. Perspective with Dr. Kirt Beus In this podcast episode, Dr. Michael Bennett welcomes his colleague and friend, Dr. Kirk Beus, to discuss their collaborative work in treating patients' airway and oral health issues. Dr. Beus shares his journey into becoming an ENT and his focus on less invasive treatments for nasal and thyroid issues. The discussion emphasizes the importance...

Sleep and Airway Centered Dentistry with Dr. Lyly Fisher In this podcast episode, Dr. Michael Bennett converses with Dr. Lyly Fisher, a dentist practicing in Renton, Washington. They delve into Dr. Fisher's career journey, starting with her practice over 26 years ago, and discuss her decision to go out of network with Delta Dental to maintain a personal touch with her patients. The conversation hi...

Want Less Injuries? Get More Sleep! In this episode, Dr. Michael Bennett and his wife Kathy discuss the crucial importance of sleep for athletes and how chronic sleep deprivation significantly increases the risk of sports injuries, particularly in adolescent athletes. Citing recent studies, they emphasize that athletes who get less than eight hours of sleep are 1.7 times more likely to be injured....

I've Tried Everything..Why Am I So Tired All The Time? In this episode, Dr. Michael Bennett discusses his shift from dentistry to treating breathing disorders such as snoring, sleep apnea, and upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS). He explores the case of a 13-year-old female with chronic fatigue, headaches, and other symptoms potentially linked to UARS. Dr. Bennett elaborates on the significanc...

Shut Your Mouth...For Better Health! In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Michael Bennett discusses the critical importance of nasal breathing over mouth breathing, particularly for overall health and longevity. He shares a touching story of a nine-year-old boy who struggles with nasal breathing due to underdeveloped facial structures. Dr. Bennett elaborates on the anatomical and physiological bene...

Can You Be Causing Self Imposed Injuries Without Knowing It? In this episode, Dr. Michael Bennett discusses a detailed case of a middle-aged patient experiencing severe jaw pain, insomnia, and a range of other health issues. Dr. Bennett, a jaw specialist, explains the interconnectedness of sleep quality and jaw health, and how fragmented sleep can exacerbate symptoms like jaw popping, clicking, an...

Developing the Airway with Dr. Felix Liao In this episode, host Dr. Michael Bennett welcomes Dr. Felix Liao, an expert in the intersection of dentistry and whole-body health, to discuss the profound effects of oral health on overall well-being. Dr. Liao shares his journey from engineer to dentist and explains his pioneering work in understanding the root causes of teeth grinding, linking it to air...

What Does Posture Have To Do with Breathing & Sleeping Well? In this episode, Dr. Michael Bennett hosts Sandy Hughes, an expert in posture and strength conditioning, to discuss her passionate journey towards improving health through correct posture and breathing techniques. Sandy shares her personal story of helping her daughter recover from a spinal injury using posture correction and strengt...

The Oral Physician..What Does That Mean? In this episode, Dr. Michael Bennett discusses the evolving concept of dentists as oral physicians, emphasizing the importance of holistic care. He shares a compelling story of a young patient's diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma, which was identified through routine dental x-rays. Dr. Bennett explores the broader role dentists can play in screening and identify...

Is There a Connection with TMJ Disorders and Sleep Apnea? In this episode, Dr. Michael Bennett explores the intricate relationship between sleep breathing disorders and chronic head and neck pain, especially TMJ disorder. He discusses common symptoms of TMJ and shares insights from his experience and research, revealing that unresolved TMJ pain is often linked to breathing problems during sleep. T...

More Than Just a Pretty Smile In this podcast episode, Dr. Michael Bennett and his wife Kathy discuss the critical considerations surrounding orthodontic treatment, particularly the common recommendation to pull permanent teeth for alignment. Kathy shares a scenario where a friend sought a second opinion on such a recommendation and was advised against tooth extraction. Dr. Bennett elaborates on t...

Adverse Childhood Experiences Connection To Sleep In this podcast episode, Dr. Michael Bennett and his wife Kathy discuss the significant impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on long-term health, particularly focusing on their link to chronic conditions and sleep disorders. Drawing insights from a TED talk by Dr. Burke, they explain how traumatic childhood events can lead to a lifetime o...

Poor Sleep and the Relationship to Your Blood In this episode, Dr. Michael Bennett interviews Dr. Brand Esplin, a hematologist and oncologist, about the intricate connections between cancer treatment and sleep-related breathing disorders. Dr. Esplin shares his fascinating journey into the medical field, emphasizing how hypoxia from sleep apnea can significantly impact cancer patients by leading to...