The ALF appliance and the OraLase sequence were originated by Dr. Darick Nordstrom. A significant portion of what we teach is built on that foundation, and we credit it plainly wherever our work appears.
Over the years, ALF education has taken many forms. Different teachers, different sequences, different emphases, all developed in good faith by clinicians solving real problems for real patients. That variety is what happens when a method spreads through a profession before it has a formal structure, and it is not a failing of anyone in particular.
What we chose to do was build a structure for the part we are responsible for.
Neurofunctional Dental Medicine is our framework. It comes with a defined assessment sequence taught the same way to every provider, a certification pathway with published requirements, an instructor tier with limits that apply to us as much as to anyone, a literature reference list where every entry states what kind of study it is, and a research program designed to test what we believe rather than assume it.
We do not offer that as a verdict on how anyone else teaches. We offer it as an account of what we teach, so that a provider or a parent can look at it, check it, and decide.
There are thoughtful people in this field who see parts of this differently than we do. Some of those differences are about mechanism, some are about case selection, and some are about what the evidence currently supports. We think those conversations are worth having, and we would rather have them directly, with colleagues, than in public.
What we will say about our own work is this: We describe what our sources actually show, including where they fall short. We state what would prove us wrong. We credit where the work came from. And we hold that ALF Therapy supports improvements in functional capacity, yet does not claim to cure anything — it promotes a more ideal environment for the body to heal itself.
The Synergy Academy sets and maintains the framework. Our provider community advances it — and through the research network, will be what validates it.
We are honoring our roots while growing our wings
Our verified literature references, with the type of study stated for every entry, are here.
Our position on what we claim and what we do not is here.
Providing gentle, non-surgical tongue tie release for babies ages 0-2
For more information about BabyLase, visit our website
Restoring form and function through an innovative combination of non-surgical laser-based therapies and neurodevelopmentally designed dental devices.
Goals of treatment include to simultaneously provide power to the neural circuits of the brain-body connection while removing the impactful, yet hidden fascial restrictions that limit the m
Restoring form and function through an innovative combination of non-surgical laser-based therapies and neurodevelopmentally designed dental devices.
Goals of treatment include to simultaneously provide power to the neural circuits of the brain-body connection while removing the impactful, yet hidden fascial restrictions that limit the movement of oral tissues that are commonly misdiagnosed as tongue ties.
An overview of the assessments, techniques, technologies and and therapies utilized to optimize the power of the mental-dental connection through a truly organic approach to airway, tongue function and dentofacial wellness.
Nature-based dental devices that are designed to organically guide facial growth through the power of the smile
The Synergy Academy is an organization with the goal of providing quality educational opportunities that are on the leading edge of available technologies, innovative concepts and the implementation of clinical techniques that optimize patient care with a focus on the craniofacial region of the body.
The goal of the natural, organic, gentle and individualized approach to improvements in both form and function for patients of all ages is at the heart of ALF Therapy.
This course has been designed for the dental or orthodontic provider in their utilization of customized dental devices designed to create signaling to support the developmen
The goal of the natural, organic, gentle and individualized approach to improvements in both form and function for patients of all ages is at the heart of ALF Therapy.
This course has been designed for the dental or orthodontic provider in their utilization of customized dental devices designed to create signaling to support the development of functional neural circuits, an efficient swallowing pattern and craniofacial growth.
This class is an introduction to ALF Therapy and its principals.It will cover the utilization of the ALF Family of appliances in all three age groups: Genesis (0-5), Grow (6-11) and Guide (12 +)
Learn the fundamentals/basics of ALF Therapy and take them back to your practice to apply immediately. Limited to 8 providers. Assistants who work in your office are welcome to attend to encourage efficient implementation into the clinical workflow.
Advanced classes that go more in depth into appliances and age groups are covered in Genesis, Grow and Guide.
The RestOralase approach combines the best of two laser wavelengths as well as dental devices and and manual therapies to support ongoing wellness. The RestOralase course instructs on the application of BabyLase, OraLase and the wireless devices in the ALF Therapy family of appliances
By simultaneously addressing the impactful neurologic
The RestOralase approach combines the best of two laser wavelengths as well as dental devices and and manual therapies to support ongoing wellness. The RestOralase course instructs on the application of BabyLase, OraLase and the wireless devices in the ALF Therapy family of appliances
By simultaneously addressing the impactful neurological and fascial restrictions that often create oral functional deficits, we strive to optimize treatment efficiency and improve treatment outcomes for tongue tie, airway and dental expansion-based therapies.
Providers who are legally allowed to own and operate a class 4 laser in their state or province are welcome to participate in this course.
This course can also serve as a refresher/update course for those who have previously taken the OraLase/BabyLase course and want to take advantage of the additional content that is currently being instructed including the utilization of dental appliances and the dual wavelength technique known as OraLase+.
Course size is limited to 10 Providers.
The NeuroFunctional Dental Medicine Course combines the best of both world by combining the use of clinical assessments and practical implementation of neuromodulatory tools technologies and techniques.
This course has been developed to introduce the concepts and assessments to create a common language for treatment teams that are hoping
The NeuroFunctional Dental Medicine Course combines the best of both world by combining the use of clinical assessments and practical implementation of neuromodulatory tools technologies and techniques.
This course has been developed to introduce the concepts and assessments to create a common language for treatment teams that are hoping to improve treatment outcomes for tongue tie, airway, bodywork and dental expansion-based therapies by optimizing the neural circuits of the craniofacial region. Providers who can benefit from this course include babyworkers, bodyworkers, orofacial myofunctional therapists who work within treatment teams with a provider who is offering ALF Therapy, OraLase, RestOralase and BabyLase services in their practices.
It will include instruction on the:
ACORN Assessment
(Assessment of Craniofacial Oral Reflexive Neurology)
GROW Assessment
(Guided Reflexive Orofacial Wellness)
STARFISH Assessment
(Moro retained primitive reflex)
STOP Assessment
(Subjective Test of Pain)
SWITCH Assessment
(Strength With Influence of Trigeminal and Cranial Harmony)
The R&B's Technique
The soft tissue Releases & Cranial Balancing techniques that support ongoing neuromodulation through physical touch as an adjunct to the techniques utilized in Neurodevelopmental Dentistry
as well as practical clinical implementation of techniques to include:
We receive a great deal of feedback that our course participants value our commitment in providing continuing education credit for their commitment to attending our courses. All of our hands-on courses offer AGD PACE approved CE to apply toward provider credentialing and licensing.
ALF Therapy: Creating simultaneous improvements in oral form and function through the simple sophistication of nature-based dental appliances
•OraLase: The use of NdYAG 1064 nm wavelength to improve oral and neurological function for patients 2 and older
•BabyLase: Providing gentle, effective and conservative care to improve oral and neurological function for patients 0-2
•OraLase+: The use of dual wavelengths of NdYAG and ErYAG to non-surgically improve oral and neurological function
•RestOralase: Combining wavelengths, techniques and appliances for a comprehensive approach to wellness
•FasciaLase: Expanding OraLase to address fascial restrictions in the body (coming soon)
•Beyond the Airway: Addressing the neural circuits and metabolic requirements of sleep physiology
NeuroFunctional Dental Medicine (NFDM) Instruction for therapists who are working in a Functional Integrative Team with an ALF Therapy or Laser Therapy provider (RestOralase/BabyLase/OraLase) and are looking to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to complement patient care at the level of incorporating the integration of neural circuits, cranial mechanics and fascial restrictions into a comprehensive approach to care.
Strength
With
Influence of
Trigeminal and
Cranial
Harmony
The neurologic assessment of the trigeminal afferrents as they are influenced by the swallow and dental occlusion. This assessment allows the provider to assess the functionality of the trigeminal neural circuits to guide treatment decisions.
Subjective
Test
Of
Pain
This assessment allows the provider to explore muscular and fascial pain patterning to assess for compensations and refine treatment decisions.
Oralase, BabyLase and RestOralase providers will use this information to determine both treatment sequencing and exposure times to address the hyaluronic acid restrictions that accompany or are the root cause of many tongue ties/tethers and infant feeding challenges.
Release
&
Balancing
Reflexercises
A series of soft tissue releases and cranial balancing techniques developed to gently mobilize the structure and stabilize the neural circuits.
Careful
Assessment &
Restriction
Evaluation
Assessment of the neurological, fascial and structural restrictions prior to a surgical intervention allows the CARE Release provider to optimize treatment outcomes though addressing restrictions invisible to the naked eye, yet critical to overall function.
Please be aware that our courses are limited in size and usually fill up very quickly. We understand that life is busy and schedules change. However, when a student reserves a spot in a course with so few spaces available, cancellations are very detrimental as we strive to serve the needs of our family of providers by keeping our courses limited in size.
Our cancellation policy has been developed to ensure that those who are dedicated to taking the courses are able to attend. We truly appreciate at least 90 days advance notice if a course registration needs to be cancelled. If cancellation occurs within 90 days and we are unable to fill the seat, full tuition will be charged. There will be a 50% tuition rate charge if a course is cancelled with at least 120 days. Due to the amount of administrative expenses involved in rearranging schedules for multiple providers, we reserve the right to charge a $500 administrative fee to move registration dates for a course. If you are on a payment plan you may not move course dates and tuition is due in full regardless of attendance as your spot was held and not sold to someone else.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS TO ACCESS ONLINE LEARNING THROUGH DIGITAL CHALK:
DigitalChalk Minimum System Recommendations
All courses sponsored through The Synergy Academy will provide AGD PACE approved credit for both lecture and live participation hours. CE credit is not given if you leave a course early. CE is not given for online courses. You must be present for the entire time of a hands on class or conference to get your CE. We do not individualize CE credit.
Synergy Academy formerly ALF InterFACE Academy
Nationally Approved PACE Program Provider for FAGD/MAGD credit.
Approval does not imply acceptance by
any regulatory authority or AGD endorsement.
Provider ID# 378959
