The DOC Podcast

More Than The Mouth: Dentistry's Role in Total Health (w/Dr. Staci Whitman)

Episode Summary In this powerful episode, Dr. Mike sits down with Dr. Staci Whitman, a board-certified pediatric dentist, functional and naturopathic dentistry expert, and one of the only dentists in the world certified by the Institute of Functional Medicine. Dr. Staci shares her remarkable journey from nearly leaving the profession entirely to becoming a trailblazer in functional pediatric dentistry. Together, they dive deep into the critical connections between oral health and whole-body health, exposing the gaps in traditional dental education and offering a roadmap for how dentists and patients can do better. Show Notes 0:00 — Introduction & welcome 1:49 — Topics covered today: fluoride, oral-gut microbiome, airway health, burnout, and more 3:33 — Dr. Staci's journey: from a childhood dental trauma to nearly quitting the profession 5:47 — "I almost left dentistry" — how debt kept her in and what ultimately changed 6:57 — The pivot to pediatrics and a root-cause, upstream approach 15:36 — Her three diagnostic priorities: nutrition, gut health, and airway (not the teeth) 16:11 — "We don't have dental physicians" — connecting the mouth to the whole body 33:12 — The fluoride debate: how Dr. Staci went from advocate to skeptic 37:06 — Fluoride works topically, not systemically — what the science actually says 56:06 — The oral microbiome: nitric oxide, the oral-gut axis, and why it matters 57:02 — "You cannot have a healthy patient without a healthy gut" 58:00 — Oral microbiome testing: options, tools, and why it should be standard of care 1:05:46 — Top action step #1: nutrition and reducing snacking frequency 1:07:40 — Top action step #2: hydration, saliva, and minerals 1:08:02 — Top action step #3: airway and the dangers of mouth breathing Resources & Links Mentioned: * Register for the In-person Early Treatment Comprehensive ($1000 off if register by June 30): https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/ [https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/]  * Oral microbiome testing resources: https://www.viome.com/products/oral-health-intelligence [https://www.viome.com/products/oral-health-intelligence]; https://www.bristlehealth.com/ [https://www.bristlehealth.com/] * Cochrane Review on Fluoride (2024): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39362658/ [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39362658/] * The Institute for Functional Dentistry: https://functionaldentistry.com/ [https://functionaldentistry.com/] * Episode with Beth Lambert: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-causing-the-chronic-disease-epidemic-in-our/id1689703392?i=1000716655495 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-causing-the-chronic-disease-epidemic-in-our/id1689703392?i=1000716655495] Connect with Dr. Staci: * https://doctorstaci.com/ [https://drstaci.com/] * Dr. Staci on Instagram: @doctor_staci Connect with Dr. Mike: * theorthocoach.com [https://theorthocoach.com/] * Dr. Mike on Instagram: @theorthocoach * Email: drmike@theorthocoach.com * Join the DOC Community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/] The health of our patients and our profession depends on dentists willing to think differently. Please share this episode with a colleague or fellow parent who needs to hear it!

Real Estate, Taxes, & The Power of Planning: Inside the Generational Wealth Code (w/The Vento Family)

Episode Summary Dr. Mike welcomes a powerhouse family of financial professionals to The DOC Podcast: John Vento Sr., his daughters Christine Vento and Nicole Vento, and his son John Vento Jr. Together, they discuss their brand-new book, The Generational Wealth Code, and share decades of expertise in tax planning, real estate investing, and wealth management. John Sr. traces his journey from doing his first tax return in his parents' Brooklyn basement in 1985 to building a comprehensive wealth management firm. Each of his three children - all CPAs and securities-licensed - shares how they found their own specialties: Christine in 1031 exchange real estate solutions and Delaware Statutory Trusts, Nicole in tax-smart investment management and financial planning, and John Jr. in dental CPA and proactive tax strategy.  The conversation spans the importance of year-end tax planning (not April 15th), the power of passive real estate income, how to raise financially literate children, and why paying for expert financial advice is an investment, not a cost. This is the first of a five-part series with the Vento family, with each member returning for a dedicated solo episode. Timestamps 0:00 – Introduction & welcome to the Vento family 2:01 – Overview of *The Generational Wealth Code* and the five-part series 3:09 – Guests introduce themselves 5:04 – John Sr.'s background: From Brooklyn basement to building his own firm (1985) 6:03 – John Sr. on leaving KPMG and why he added a securities license to his CPA practice 9:20 – Christine's background: From KPMG deal advisory to real estate and 1031 exchanges 10:48 – Christine explains 1031 exchanges and Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs) 14:47 – Nicole's background: Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and returning to the family practice 20:53 – John Jr.'s background: Working in the firm as a teenager, Pricewaterhouse, and becoming managing partner 27:09 – Why year-end tax planning matters: "Once December 31st passes, there's nothing you can do" 30:02 – The origin story of John Sr.'s first book, *Financial Independence: Getting to Point X* 32:04 – What's new in *The Generational Wealth Code* and the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act 38:37 – John Sr.: "Financial literacy should be required in every high school" 1:07:32 – John Jr.: "Almost every decision in life has a tax consequence" — preview of his solo episode 1:12:39 – Book release date, where to buy, and how to contact the Vento family firm Resources & Links * The Generational Wealth Code – Available June 9th on Amazon and Barnes & Noble (pre-order now): https://a.co/d/0iHwEITG [https://a.co/d/0iHwEITG] * https://www.ventotaxandwealth.com/  * Register for the In-person Early Treatment Comprehensive: https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/ [https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/]  * Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/] * Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/ [https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/] * Website: theorthocoach.com [http://theorthocoach.com/] * YouTube: @theorthocoach * Email: drmike@theorthocoach.com * Instagram: @theorthocoach

Should 3D/CBCT Imaging be the Standard of Care in Orthodontics? (w/Dr. Dania Tamimi) [Ep.158]

In this episode of The DOC Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Dania Tamimi, an oral and maxillofacial radiologist, Harvard-trained dental educator, and holistic health advocate, for a wide-ranging conversation on why diagnosis must come first in dentistry, and why 3D CBCT imaging is no longer optional for orthodontists who want to truly serve their patients. Dr. Tamimi brings a uniquely multidisciplinary perspective, weaving together radiology, yoga therapy, kinesiology, and craniofacial anatomy to make the case that the mouth and the airway cannot be treated in isolation. Together, we challenge the "tooth straightener" mindset still dominant in orthodontics, break down the science of nasal breathing and its profound impact on facial development, and take a critical look at recent AAO position statements on airway and CBCT. Whether you're a seasoned clinician, a young provider, or a curious parent, this episode will change the way you think about dental imaging, airway, and what it means to truly diagnose. Timestamps: 0:00 — Introduction & Meet Dr. Dania Tamimi 4:01 — Dr. Tamimi's background: oral & maxillofacial radiology explained 4:46 — A parallel career in fitness and why it matters for TMJ 6:55 — "It's all connected" - the TMJ, airway, and the whole body 10:01 — Dr. Mike's airway awakening: how getting a CBCT in 2014 changed everything 12:37 — Why we image: diagnosis is the single most important step 18:38 — CT vs. CBCT: what's the actual difference and why does it matter? 21:58 — Cone beam CT explained: lower dose, dental-specific, and what it can (and can't) show 25:52 — Why is 3D CBCT adoption still debated in orthodontics? 30:09 — Fear, comfort zones, and the cost of not knowing 36:07 — "Knowledge gives you power, fear takes it away" 38:59 — "I don't want to be responsible for what's on the scan" - the liability fear no one talks about 44:07 — Should orthodontists rename themselves craniofacial orthopedists? 52:00 — No such thing as a routine X-ray: why clinical exam must come first 1:13:34 — The science of nasal breathing: nitric oxide, filtration, and why mouth breathing changes your face 1:14:35 — How mouth breathing narrows jaws, crowds teeth, and displaces the tongue into the airway 1:19:01 — Challenging the AAO white paper: "No craniofacial phenotypes can identify airway problems"? 1:23:25 — Can orthodontists read their own scans? How to know when to refer LINKS * Register for the In-person Early Treatment Comprehensive:https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/ [https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/] * Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/] * Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/ [https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/] * Enroll in one-on-one coaching w/Dr. Mike: https://theorthocoach.com/doc-coaching/ [https://theorthocoach.com/doc-coaching/]  * Link to Dr. Mike’s review of the AAO White Paper Update on SDB: https://youtu.be/pKSD_PVO4G0?si=CSxQy4V6tZoe551t [https://youtu.be/pKSD_PVO4G0?si=CSxQy4V6tZoe551t]  * Dr. Tamimi TEDx talk: https://youtu.be/zlYuHwqrsPo?si=30NiJu_UiuPeKRlX [https://youtu.be/zlYuHwqrsPo?si=30NiJu_UiuPeKRlX]  * Contact Dr. Tamimi: https://inspire-imaging.com/ [https://inspire-imaging.com/]

Rethinking When, Why, & How We Treat Patients (w/Dr. Mike DePascale) [Ep.157]

Episode Summary Dr. Mike DePascale is a Connecticut-based orthodontist and co-owner of a multi-location practice with his partner and mentor, Dr. Jeff Kozlowski. In this episode, Dr. DePascale shares his remarkable personal journey from suffering severe obstructive sleep apnea in his early 20s and undergoing orthognathic surgery to becoming a passionate advocate for airway-focused, early-interceptive orthodontic care. The conversation covers the philosophy behind their thriving partnership, why airway is still woefully undertaught in residency programs, how to practically integrate early airway-focused treatment into a busy practice, the critical role of interdisciplinary collaboration, and what it takes to maintain peak fitness while building a career and a family. This is a conversation about so much more than teeth, it's about breathing, thriving, and never settling. Timestamps 0:00 — Introduction to The DOC Podcast and Dr. Mike DePascale 10:57 — Dr. DePascale's origin story: cold-calling medical offices to find his path 12:30 — Diagnosed with severe sleep apnea in his 20s: 3 car accidents, 2–4 hours of sleep a night 15:30 — Choosing orthognathic surgery over CPAP — and how it saved his life 19:00 — Finding Dr. Jeff Kozlowski: choosing mentorship over immediate money 24:00 — What makes a practice partnership actually work: communication, consistency, and commitment 33:00 — Residency training: what it prepared him for — and what it didn't 38:00 — Why airway is barely taught in orthodontic residencies (and what needs to change) 45:00 — The 1968 Salzman Index, Medicaid, and how the system trains orthodontists to pull teeth instead of treat early 53:00 — How to practically integrate airway screening into a busy multi-doc practice 58:00 — Team training, sleep questionnaires, and the power of interdisciplinary referral networks 63:00 — The emotional reality: a mom crying after finally hearing "tongue tie" for the first time after 5 specialists 68:00 — How early is too early? Dr. DePascale's own son: frenectomy at weeks old, T&A at age 2 75:00 — Why orthodontists are uniquely positioned — and obligated — to lead in the airway space 80:00 — Fitness as a non-negotiable: from not finishing a mile to running a 4:53, and why he never gets out of it Links * Register for the In-person Early Treatment Comprehensive: https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/ [https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/]  * Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/] * Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/ [https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/] * Website: theorthocoach.com [http://theorthocoach.com/] * Email: drmike@theorthocoach.com * Instagram: @theorthocoach Thank you for your support of The DOC Podcast, and please share the show with others who may benefit from hearing this conversation!

The Good, Bad, & Ugly of the AAO White Paper Update on SDB and Orthodontics [Ep.156]

In this episode, Dr. Mike breaks down the 2024 update to the 2019 AAO White Paper on obstructive sleep apnea and orthodontics, published in the AJODO in April. After presenting to hundreds of medical, dental, and myofunctional therapy colleagues across the country, he recorded his full presentation for listeners worldwide. Timestamps 0:00 – Introduction, episode overview & why Dr. Mike recorded this presentation 1:17 – Context: Presenting across the U.S. (Houston, Bronx, Long Island) — the near-universal reaction was shock at the document's flaws 3:07 – THE GOOD begins 3:07 – Good #1: Acknowledges the full spectrum of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), not just OSA 3:55 – Good #2 & #3: Calls on orthodontists to screen all pediatric patients for SDB, emphasizes early detection, and acknowledges multifactorial etiology requiring interdisciplinary care 5:07 – THE BAD begins 5:07 – Bad #1–2: Author panel was 8 orthodontists + 1 librarian (no physicians, no myofunctional therapists); document inconsistently uses "OSA" vs. "SDB" throughout 8:03 – Bad #3–5: Minimal screening guidance (32 signs & symptoms largely ignored); only briefly mentions comorbidities; never discusses the importance of nasal breathing 13:00 – Bad #6: Overall focus is on what not to do rather than guiding orthodontists on how to help patients 14:00 – THE UGLY begins 15:01 – Ugly #1: Reliance on PSG-confirmed OSA to justify intervention — challenges with pediatric sleep studies (access, sensitivity, first-night effect, lack of standardization); what Reference 34 actually says vs. how it was cited 22:40 – Patient case study: Child with AHI of zero but severe signs of airway disease — the ENT said "what does the orthodontist know about sleep medicine?" 26:34 – Ugly #2: "No way to determine if a patient is a mouth breather" — justified by a study of 9 adults on a cycle ergometer; Dr. Kandasamy's 2025 AJODO editorial; what the actual research shows (European OJ, AHA, ADHD literature, microbiome) 36:51 – Ugly #3: "No craniofacial phenotypes can identify SDB" — directly contradicted by Reference 34 and the original 2019 white paper; Harvold primate studies, Hew et al. (2011), Principato's tongue mechanics explained 43:03 – Ugly #4: "Most children with SDB will outgrow it" — both cited references (Refs 17 & 18) actually contradict this claim; cardiovascular, neurocognitive, and ADHD consequences of waiting 53:03 – Ugly #5: "CBCT has no diagnostic value for SDB" — contradicted by Reference 34; what CBCT can detect; the radiation argument debunked 57:29 – Ugly #6: Must refer to a physician for diagnosis before any intervention — ignores lack of access to pediatric sleep physicians; a formal diagnosis does not change the orthodontist's treatment plan for normalizing craniofacial growth 1:00:00 – Ugly #7: Misleading analysis of tongue tie (ankyloglossia) and PSDB — references were miscited; what the scoping review (1,228+ patients) and 2026 systematic review actually concluded 1:07:27 – The evidence-based medicine argument: what David Sackett (founder of EBM) actually said — and how Class I occlusion, ceph norms, clear aligners, and IPR are held to a different standard than airway treatment 1:19:20 – Ugly #8: "Orthodontic extractions have no impact on airway" — the Larson article debunked (patients didn't even necessarily have orthodontic treatment); extractions treat the symptom and ignore the underlying etiology 1:28:20 – Path forward: "Straight teeth bias," the need for a paradigm shift, and the vision for a profession that creates both beautiful smiles and healthy nasal breathers Resources Mentioned * AAO White Paper Update: Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Orthodontics (https://www.ajodo.org/article/S0889-5406(26)00035-1/fulltext)   * Dr. Mike's OrthoTown article: Defining Evidence-Based Orthodontics (https://www.orthotown.com/magazine/article/9835/defining-evidence-based-orthodontics?fbclid=IwY2xjawP14fxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFrVWE3M3EwYWJTRWpEdENTc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhwMNgFJyCJB6JMvVDSomu6drLwAym2SI7CDx-eXbuwrUwBxzP6NpyP7HpT8_aem_NmfJlB15aUQgioH6xWUu3A [https://www.orthotown.com/magazine/article/9835/defining-evidence-based-orthodontics?fbclid=IwY2xjawP14fxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFrVWE3M3EwYWJTRWpEdENTc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhwMNgFJyCJB6JMvVDSomu6drLwAym2SI7CDx-eXbuwrUwBxzP6NpyP7HpT8_aem_NmfJlB15aUQgioH6xWUu3A]) * Early Orthodontic Treatment Comprehensive – 2-day hands-on course with Dr. Mike & Dr. Daniel Camacho, Fort Lauderdale, FL, November 13–14. Save $1,000 by enrolling before May 31st. Limited to 20 docs. (https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/ [https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/]) Connect * Website: theorthocoach.com [http://theorthocoach.com/] * Email: drmike@theorthocoach.com * Facebook: The DOC Community (https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/]) * Subscribe on Apple Podcasts & Spotify * Subscribe to the DOC YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@theorthocoach [https://www.youtube.com/@theorthocoach]) Please share this episode widely — with medical, dental, and myofunctional therapy colleagues, parents, and anyone invested in children's health.