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2025 Changing Minds Meeting
Changing Minds, One Smile at a Time
The Changing Minds Meeting: November 21-22, 2025
The 3i Elective: November 20, 2025
The American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine and The Synergy Academy are excited to share a collaborative effort in educating our communities in the benefits of neuromodulation in an effort to overcome the effects of early childhood trauma on the neural circuits that control aspects of both sleep and wakefulness.
About The Conference
Elective Offering
Elective Offering
Elective Offering
The 3i course has been developed to instruct on clinical assessments and solutions for the many aspects of craniofacial function that aren't always easy to see. These include:
- the influential trigeminal neural circuits
- biomarkers of nutritional deficits and inflammatory markers
- oral neuromyofunctional dysfunction
- nasal airway compromises
Meeting of Minds
Elective Offering
Elective Offering
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 ora
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
Elective Offering
Dr. Gabor Mate
Dr. Gabor Maté 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
Dr. Gabor Maté 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.
Presenters
Connection and Disruption: Neurodevelopmental Dentistry and Sleep Medicine
Dr. Angie Tenholder is the President of the American Academy of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine. She
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
Connection and Disruption: Neurodevelopmental Dentistry and Sleep Medicine
Dr. Angie Tenholder is the President of the American Academy of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine. She
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 can better understand the successes and failures of therapeutic options (including dental devices and surgical procedures) in the context of how they might affect the relationships between the body and the brain.
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.
The Tongue: "A Mind of It's Own"
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 pat
The Tongue: "A Mind of It's Own"
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.
Emerging Science and Enquiring Minds
Dr. Stacy Becker is a founding member of the ASAP Pathway and passionate advocate for addressing the lifelong consequences of pediatric sleep disordered breathing. She will be sharing her knowledge as well as experiences with interviewing some of the most innovative thought leaders in the world of den
Emerging Science and Enquiring Minds
Dr. Stacy Becker is a founding member of the ASAP Pathway and passionate advocate for addressing the lifelong consequences of pediatric sleep disordered breathing. She will be sharing her knowledge as well as experiences with interviewing some of the most innovative thought leaders in the world of dental sleep medicine in her podcast series.
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
The Importance of Sleep and Mental Resiliency
Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, a retired West Point psychology professor and former Army Ranger, has written extensively on the importance of sleep for both military personnel and civilians.
He emphasizes that sleep deprivation can negatively impact ethical decision-making, mental health, and overa
The Importance of Sleep and Mental Resiliency
Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, a retired West Point psychology professor and former Army Ranger, has written extensively on the importance of sleep for both military personnel and civilians.
He emphasizes that sleep deprivation can negatively impact ethical decision-making, mental health, and overall well-being.
Grossman's work highlights the link between inadequate sleep and various mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
Meeting Agenda
Friday 9-10:30 am
What Can Your Smile Do For You?
Dr. Angie Tenholder will be welcoming everyone to the event by introducing the emerging science related to the importance of the neural circuits of the craniofacial region as well as the core concepts of neuroplasticity and neuromodulation. Dental professionals can literally "change the minds" of their patients through techniques, tools and technologies designed to improve the quality of life for patients thoughout the lifespan.
Recognizing the growing scientific understanding of the neurological factors in sleep physiology and through this collaboration, The Synergy Academy (TSA) and the American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine (ABCDSM) are dedicated to keeping our communities at the forefront of this knowledge. This presentation is designed to help providers understand and address the neural circuits that play a crucial role in various aspects of human function and physiology.
By the intentional modulation of trigeminal neural circuits, can potentially enhance the outcomes of current therapies including dental sleep applainces as well as those utilized for growth and development. We will explore the role of the neural circuits in both the etiology of sleep apnea and daytime function.
Friday 11-12 pm
Changing the FACE of Dental Sleep Medicine
Dr. Stacy Ochoa will be sharing her immense knowledge on the importance of not only the airway, but also the metabolic factors that influence airway function to include Vitamin D, iron, ferritin and transferrin serum testing as well as how the dental team is the primary care provider of the airway. She will include her experiences with talking with some of the world's most renowed experts in sleep medicine and how the face of dental sleep medicine is changing with every breath that we take.
Friday 12-1 pm
Lunch
Friday 1-2:30 pm
Supporting Our Wounded Warriors
Lt Col Dave Grossman will be explaining the importance of autonomic nervous system regulation, especially in the context of the needs of our those who experience extreme levels of stress in their roles as military members and first responders. His vast knowledge as a military officer, a best selling author and international speaker will be sure to tie together the concepts of the science and the reality of trauma awareness and effective management strategies. Even though his subject matter has been developed for our warriors in uniform, it can also be applied to people who fight their own battles in everyday life.
Friday 3-5
Kristie Gatto MA, SLP-CCC, COM is an author, leader and instructor in the field of orofacial myofunctional therapy. Her presentation will be exploring the functional aspects of the swallow as a neuroreflexive system that is influenced by more than just a series of exercises based on repetition and compliance.
Her presentation will explore the current limitations of orofacial myofunctional therapy while exploring the opportunities provided through a deeper understanding of the role of the neural circuits of the swallow.
Friday 5:30 - 9:30pm
Fotona Sponsored Evening Event
Meet Me In St. Louis Cocktail reception and dinner
Transforming Lives Through Health
Saturday 7:30-9:30am
When The Body Says No
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".
Dr. 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.
Saturday 10-12 pm
ACE'S and FACES
Dr. Angie Tenholder will be bringing together the topics covered during Dr. Mate's presentation of how adverse childhood events (ACE) impact neurological as well as craniofacial development. By applying these concepts to the topics of the development of the swallow and its impact on sleep disordered breathing, sleep metrics and how they impact quality of life, the dental profession can better serve its patients and elevate its position in the current healthcare model.
She will be providing an in-depth review of the literature that explains that the primary influencer of both the airway and swallow are primarily neuroreflexive and secondarily structural. In addition, she will provide suggestions on how the dental profession can offer impactful and actionable solutions to improve their pateint's quality of life. By adding an additional level of care to an already successful treatment model of awareness and treatment for airway and and tongue restrictions, we hope to improve patient care outcomes through incorporating the core concepts of neurodevelopmental dentistry.
Saturday 12-1pm
Lunch
Saturday 1-2:30 pm
Panel Discussion: The role of the dental provider in assessing and addressing the impact of trauma in the neurological and structural development of the human throughout the lifespan
Saturday 3-5
Hands-on demonstrations of techniques and technologies developed to support the Neurodevelopmental Dental model of care.
Boost Your Health!
Core Concepts
Changing minds through the power of the smile and the science of neuroplasticity.
Neurodevelopmental dentistry strives to improve the brain-body connection, swallow and airway function through optimizing the oral environment.
For more information, visit our website at https://neurodevelopmentaldentistry.com/.
LOCATION
WELCOME TO 11 SOUTH
The courses are conveniently located in the US Midwest in metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri area. Our unique venue offers a combination of clinical and classroom settings to maximize the learning and hands-on opportunities provided at our courses.
The 11 South Professional Building in Columbia, Illinois is an approximate 30 minute drive from Lambert International Airport.
THE ADDRESS IS 1000 ELEVEN SOUTH, 5TH FLOOR
COLUMBIA,IL 62236
Room reservation for course participants are available at the Columbia Hampton Inn. in Columbia, Illinois which is less than 2 miles from the course venue. To book at the Hampton please call 618-281-9000. The Hampton Inn offers complimentary breakfast, parking and wifi . Rooms are also available at the Holiday Inn South County, a short 10 minute drive from the conference. There is also a new hotel called The Principal located five minutes from. us. Their number is 618-281-2300.
Lambert International Airport in St Louis, Missouri is the nearest airport and the airport most commonly used by the major airline carriers. Midamerica Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois serves customers of Allegiant Air. We highly recommend renting a car. However, if you choose a ride share option we recommend using the Lyft or Uber. Please be aware we are in a small town and a rideshare can be hard to get during weekdays here but is more available on the weekends.
Approved PACE Program Provider by the Academy of General Dentistry. The formal continuing dental education programs of this program provider are accepted by the AGD for Fellowship, Mastership, and membership maintenance credit. Approval does not imply acceptance by state provincial board of dentistry or AGD endorsement. The current term is 9/1/2022-8/31/2025.. Provider ID#378959
Continuing Education Credit
Elective CE: 7 hours
Conference CE: 14 hours
Participant must be present the entire time and show active participation for CE credit to be given. CE is not individualized.