Offering educational opportunities for healthcare providers

A solid foundation for educational excellence with the convenience of online self-paced learning

This course provides the entry point for practitioners who want to start the only ALF educational track that has utilizes the curriculum and appliance designs of the creator of the ALF Therapy system of dental appliances - Dr. Darick Nordstrom.

This course is not about simply bending wires or measuring maxillary expansion.  

The goal of ALF Therapy is to support functional improvements to augment craniofacial development. By understanding oral myology, neurophysiology, principles of osteopathy and reflex assessments, the practitioner can immediately implement the tools, techniques and tips learned at this course in their office.

The Why Behind The Wire curriculum is designed with a principle based approach to diagnosis, treatment planning, problem solving and interdisciplinary care.

OBJECTIVES:

-To introduce the history of ALF Therapies and Concepts

-To understand the principles and examples of physiology and nature

-To introduce basic ALF Appliance designs

-To better understand obstacles and opportunities in treatment

We were created with the innate ability to thrive.  

When unwanted obstacles to natural development occur,  we strive to utilize the tools given to us to overcome those obstacles.  

ALF Therapy honors the "Master Plan"  by mimicking nature's objectives and honoring the principles of human development.  

By striving to create the most natural method of growth and development, our providers can offer minimal  intervention  while offering maximal potential.

This course will instruct the participants on the nuances of the NeoNatal ALF dental appliance and complimentary oral devices and therapies that can augment and support oral function and craniofacial development. 

Course objectives: 

• understand how to establish optimal physiology while honoring the principles of preservation of oral volume,
• understand the relevance of primitive reflex integration
• options for offering cranial nerve stimulation
• gain an understanding of how tongue function and the suck/swallow/breathe reflexes can either create success or failure for a small child yearning for an easier life
• understand how to optimize the development of the growing airway and the neurophysiology that supports restorative sleep and breathing

We believe that the opportunities provided by utilizing ALF Therapy to guide facial growth allow us to support your child in ways where other appliances and techniques often fall short.

The use of the ALF family of dental appliances allows an easy to use system of continuous wear as opposed to removable and part-time wear appliances.  Parents love not having to force their children into wearing uncomfortable removable appliances and/or performing boring exercises. Many other dental appliances are both uncomfortable and affect speech, eating and socialization with their peers.

ALF Therapy benefits include:

• dental therapy fully customized to the needs of your child
• 24/7 wear to ensure compliance and optimize results
• support of the child's reflexive system 
• easy to wear and almost invisible to their friends
• frequent reports of improved mental focus and physical ability

The decision to care for a child's smile  as they GROW is truly a HEALTHCARE decision.  

Utilizing the appliance designs of ALF Therapy allow providers to harness the potential of Mother Nature

The smile of our children not only has the ability to brighten our day, but also has the potential to improve their lives by applying the basic principles of health and wellness to their facial growth.  Development of the face affects the ability of every person, whether child or adult, to function on a daily basis.   

GROW Therapy provides advantages otherwise not available through more traditional orthodontic options and other dental appliances that negatively affect the ability of the tongue to enhance function and natural growth..  

GROW Therapy is not to be compared to traditional orthodontic services as the methods and techniques of assessment and treatment are distinctively different.

By harnessing the power of Mother Nature, the child has a unique opportunity to grow at their own pace, develop with careful observation and ensure that their precious brain and neurological systems are respected and supported through the entire process of growth and facial development.  

By allowing the brain to connect, nature can take over.

By applying the tips, techniques and tools offered through ALF: GROW, the child will be supported, nurtured and guided through some of the most critical times of their lives

Did you know that approximately 90% of facial growth has been completed by the age of 12?

After the majority of facial development has been completed, we still have the opportunity to guide the patient back to a more ideal function using a natural, principle-based treatment to supplement health. Our Guide program addresses those concerns and supports a comprehensive care approach to ALF Therapy.

This course will address ALF Therapy treatment options related to:

· airway insufficiency/sleep disordered breathing,

· movement disorders

· extraction/retraction orthodontics 

· TMJD and craniofacial pain

Topics will include:

· Integrative, interdisciplinary care for the complex patient suffering from craniofacial pain and temporomandibular joint disorders

· The short and long-term effects of sleep disordered breathing and the role of the ALF Therapy team in screening for and treating sleep disordered breathing

· Case finishing options including clear aligners, positioners and straight wire orthodontics

· Diagnostic tools including the benefits and limitations of CBCT, heart rate variability, computerized occlusal analysis, cardiopulmonary coupling, polysomnogram, high resolution pulse oximetry and electromyography (Here’s a hint: Volumetric airway analysis using CBCT is not as helpful as you might have been told…)

· Patient education on self-care as well as training the healthcare team in the common language of ALF Therapy diagnostic and therapeutic tools

:Hybrid Course

June 17-18, 2022

October 21-22, 2022

Comprehensive.  Assessment.  Restriction. Elimination.
Not all restrictions are skin deep and visible to the untrained observer.  

BabyLase CARE is an adventure into the many functional aspects of neurologic, oral and upper cervical restrictions that can be overcome with the help of BabyLase. 

FIT: Functional Integrative Therapists working together to support optimal treatment outcomes.  Includes bodyworkers, providers trained in orofacial myology, lactation/feeding therapists, occupational therapists and any provider licensed to provide supportive care to the patient undergoing laser therapies. These therapists are able to attend a course , but must be accompanied by a dentist. 

 Hands-on instruction  is limited to the first 8 registered laser therapists and an assistant. 

(Please check your own state guidelines as to who can use a laser in your office)

The hands-on portion of the course  includes comprehensive OraLase and BabyLase training to ensure that the principles and basic techniques to perform the carefully designed treatment protocols.  Two weeks prior to the the Hands on Course you will be provided access to Digital Chalk where you are REQUIRED to watch the precourse videos in preparation for joining us hands on.

This course will include instruction  on the comprehensive treatment of patients for OraLase and BabyLase.

Tuition includes:

2 week access to the online pre-course content and access for two weeks after the Hands On course.

TO REGISTER FOR THIS COURSE EMAIL JAMIE@THESYNERGY.ACADEMY

**You must currently own the 1064 or Lightwalker laser. **

Beyond The Airway is a course that allow a deeper look into the complexities of sleep physiology in the context of ALF Therapy that go beyond structural assessments and the prodcedures to address them.

It includes recorded content on Assessing sleep screening data, Havening (Dr. Kate Truitt), Vitamin D supplementation (Dr. Stasha Gominak) and excerpts from study club meetings and conferences where Dr. Nordstrom's knowledge was shared with our ALF Therapy community.