2025 Changing Minds Meeting

In a collaborative effort between the American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine and The Synergy Academy, we will be discussing the many influential aspects of sleep and human function that go beyond the structural assessments of airway size.  Together we will explore the influences of the craniofacial region that impact the oral neuromyofunctional arena. 

Sleep function is a direct reflection of the function (or dysfunction) of the trigeminal neural circuits.  A literature review will share the emerging science as well as its relevance on delivery of patient care in an evidence-based approach to care. 

Dr. Gabor Mate will be discussing the role of adverse childhood events in the neurodevelopmental aspects of human wellness. His speaking topic will be When the Body Says No. 

 Gabor Maté (pronunciation: GAH-bor MAH-tay) is a retired physician who, after 20 years of family practice and palliative care experience, worked for over a decade in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side with patients challenged by drug addiction and mental illness. The bestselling author of five books published in 43 languages, including the award-winning In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction, Gabor is an internationally renowned speaker highly sought after for his expertise on addiction, trauma, childhood development, and the relationship of stress and illness. For his groundbreaking medical work and writing he has been awarded the Order of Canada, his country’s highest civilian distinction, and the Civic Merit Award from his hometown, Vancouver. His latest book, The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture remains a Canadian best seller and was a 19-week New York Times best seller. To learn more, join his e-news list at www.drgabormate.com. 

Dr. Angie Tenholder

will start the conference with an introduction to concepts and explanation of the dynamic, multifactorial and ever-changing aspect of the healthcare model.  

As the emerging science continues to support the nature-based and simply sophisticated techniques that our provider community continues to embrace and explore.

We will discuss the role of the provider who is capable of and willing to lead our profession by embracing opportunities, overcoming obstacles, removing restrictions and challenging the status quo to move our profession into the future of integrative healthcare.

A Tough Act to "Swallow" 

Kristie Gatto will share her extensive knowledge on the topic of how proper swallowing function involves the coordination of various neural circuits within the brain and nervous system. 

The development of a supportive swallowing pattern is a complex process that integrates sensory, motor, and autonomic pathways to ensure the safe and efficient movement of food, liquids, or saliva from the mouth to the stomach. 

The neural regulation of swallowing involves several key brain regions and their interconnected circuits, and it plays a significant role in maintaining overall brain function, sensory processing, and motor control.

Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

Dr. Stacy Becker will be bringing her years of experience and diverse perspectives into a presentation designed to highlight the role of the healthcare provider in supporting the health of our patients.

She will share the science-backed and data-driven literature as well as the real-world implications and applications of: 

The role of the dental team as the primary care provider of the airway.

• The importance of screening and effective communication with the medical provider 
•  Discussion of the role of the nasal airway and production of nitric oxide

The influence of the gut biome 

• An overview of the role of serum levels and biomarkers as related to movement disorders and sleep quality
• The reciprocal relationship between oxygen desaturation and presentation of sleep apnea 
• Interrelationships between the types of bacteria and how they influence the patient’s medical and neurological presentation

The value of screening for serum deficiencies in addressing complex patient care including testing levels of:

• Iron
• Ferritin
• Transferrin
• Vitamin/Prohormone D

She will be discussing the limitations of serum testing as well as that of peripheral oxygen saturation as we attempt to understand what is actually happening on the other side of the blood-brain barrier at the critically important, yet incompletely understood level of function of the brainstem and other mid-brain functions.