Ask the Dentist with Dr. Mark Burhenne

Episode #69: An in-depth discussion on facial development with Dr. Steven Park

Oct 6, 2022

Dr. Steven Park, a former ENT surgeon and sleep medicine doctor, joins the discussion on the crucial link between facial development and chronic disease. They explore the implications of underdeveloped facial structures, particularly in children, and advocate for early intervention and awareness. The talk emphasizes the need for collaboration between dentists and physicians to address airway issues and sleep disorders. Additionally, they critique the current healthcare system's lack of focus on holistic patient care and encourage proactive measures for better health outcomes.

01:27:17

Episode guests

Steven Park

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Quick takeaways

Proper facial development is essential for overall health, impacting conditions like sleep apnea and chronic diseases as many individuals are underdeveloped compared to their ancestors.

The podcast underscores the urgent need for collaboration between dentistry and medicine to enhance patient care, allowing a comprehensive approach to underlying health issues.

Factors such as modern diets and mouth breathing significantly influence facial development, making it crucial for parents to promote healthy habits in their children.

Deep dives

The Importance of Facial Development

Facial development is crucial for overall health and well-being, influencing not only appearance but also issues like sleep apnea and chronic diseases. Many individuals, about 80%, have not developed their faces properly compared to ancestors, which can lead to various health issues later in life. Notably, the speaker expresses personal experience with retrognathia, illustrating how jaw misalignment can affect airway function. Parents, particularly, are encouraged to be proactive about their children's facial development to prevent future complications.

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01:20

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01:29

Intro

2min

Exploring the Intersection of Dentistry and Medicine

2min

The Significance of Facial Development

19min

Breathing Issues in Pediatric Health

16min

Early Intervention in Airway Health

7min

Reimagining Dental Health and Patient Empowerment

21min

Connecting Oral Health and Systemic Wellness

11min

Digital Insights on Sleep Disorders

6min

The Impact of Light and Lifestyle on Sleep Quality

2min

10.

Impacts of Light on Sleep and Cross-Professional Collaboration in Healthcare

2min

Today’s episode covers an essential aspect of healthcare that is not often discussed and just so happens to be the root cause of the majority of chronic diseases: facial development. We shed light on the ramifications of an underdeveloped lower face and what we need to keep in mind if we want to minimize this phenomenon in ourselves and our children.

Lending his expertise to this vital topic is special guest Dr. Steven Park. He is a former ENT surgeon and sleep medicine doctor based on the East Coast. For the past 13 years in private practice and 9 years in academia, Dr. Park has helped thousands of men and women breathe better, sleep better, and live more fulfilling lives.

He is the author of the Amazon Best-selling book, Sleep, Interrupted: A physician reveals the #1 reason why so many of us are sick and tired

Dr. B and Dr. Park bridge the gap between medicine and dentistry in this much-needed discussion on facial development and how to identify improper lower facial development in yourself or in your children. They also speak on how the average human facial structure has changed even in just the past few decades, touching on the rise in prominence of thinner faces and crooked teeth, among other things.

Unfortunately, there is still very little collaboration between dentists and physicians, and, from a profit point of view, there is little incentive to do so. Dr. B notes that “dentistry is under attack by organized healthcare.” In a similar vein, Dr. Park highlights the lack of proper training and education when it comes to tongue ties and how they directly impact lower facial development.

“By educating the public,” he says, “we can do a lot more to help people than through trying to change it from the top-down.”

Key Points From This Episode:

● Introducing today’s topic: What is facial development and why is it important? [07:20]

● Good facial development versus improper facial development [15:43]

● How the tongue factors into facial development [39:59]

● Dr. Park’s mouth-taping tips and Breathe-Rite strips [1:18:39]

About Our Guest:

Dr. Steven Park

Resources:

Dr. Steven Park Youtube

Dr. Steven Park Podcast

James Nestor Book: Breath

Dr. Steven Park: 7 Insanely Simple Ways to Unblock Your Stuffy Nose