When I discovered a more holistic approach to dentistry in 2016, I felt ashamed of how uninformed I had been with regards to how sleep and breathing issues play a role in both oral and overall health. Once I identified the gap in my formal dental training, I pursued an extensive set of education courses provided by some groundbreaking leaders from across the county. I recognized that my personal job satisfaction was higher when, instead of focusing on restorative dentistry (fixing decayed or broken teeth), I was able to put more energy into spreading the awareness of an airway centric approach to dental health and preventing other diseases. I knew I wanted to be on the front lines of this movement, but I was still contemplating how I could have the most impact.
I was fortunate that in Chicago, where I lived and practiced dentistry, I was easily able to collaborate with knowledgeable providers from different medical offices and backgrounds. Kids of all ages were treated early to improve or prevent a variety of medical problems that were often misunderstood by pediatricians or other physicians (because, like nutrition, this content is barely covered in most medical schools or dental schools). When helping to advise friends or family members who didn’t live in my immediate area, I quickly understood that finding a similar network of qualified professionals wasn’t easy.
I decided to establish Oris Wellness in order to connect one-on-one with families to inform, encourage, and support their journeys to recognize and treat oral and airway related issues. Online teamwork with parents has allowed me the opportunity to aid parents with: airway education, risk assessments of their children, and provider identification. Together, we are empowering them to take the first steps toward improved oral and overall health with greater confidence. Furthermore, it is part of my personal mission to provide outreach efforts to primary school educators and allied medical professionals. With greater awareness, we can take a more holistic approach to dental health for our youngest patients.
