The DOC Podcast

Episode Summary
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. German Ramirez for an in-depth conversation about early orthodontic treatment, craniofacial growth and development, bone biology, and the critical role of nasal breathing in facial development. Dr. Ramirez shares his remarkable training journey from Colombia to Australia to Tufts University, his pioneering research on the mandibular condylar cartilage, and his passionate case for treating children early rather than waiting until age seven. We dig into the six dimensions of diagnosis, the connection between bruxism and airway, why AHI is a flawed metric for pediatric sleep-disordered breathing, and how collaborating with ENTs and sleep physicians can transform patient outcomes. This is a must-listen for any orthodontist or dentist who wants to understand the biology behind proactive, functional orthodontic care.
Timestamps
0:00 — Introduction & Guest Background
Introducing Dr. Ramirez and his credentials.
2:07 — Dr. Ramirez's Training Journey
From Colombia to Brazil to early ortho training.
6:25 — Mandibular Condylar Cartilage & Bone Biology
Growth potential persists into the 90s.
8:41 — Why Early Treatment Matters
Mandible grows more in first five years.
10:55 — Sleep, Breathing & the Orthodontist's Role
We normalize anatomy, not treat airway.
15:06 — Responding to "No Need to Treat Before 7"
Six-dimension diagnosis vs. isolated single-problem studies.
21:05 — Functional Evaluation: Mouth Breathing & Nasal Breathing
Identifying mouth breathers and cellular hypoxia effects.
26:47 — The Tongue as Palatal Expander
Nasal breathing first, then tongue positioning.
29:57 — Collaborating with Medical Colleagues
CBCT, ENTs, and a cleft palate story.
37:27 — Tonsils, Adenoids & Post-Surgery Relapse
Why habits persist and relapse rates soar.
41:38 — AHI Limitations & Study Design Problems
AHI is a flawed pediatric sleep metric.
47:47 — Bruxism & Airway Connection
Tongue protrusion causes grinding — here's how.
51:47 — Resistance to Change in Orthodontics
Technology-driven vs. biologically-driven education disconnect.
56:17 — Genetics vs. Environment in Craniofacial Growth
Epigenetics and the genetic window concept.
64:56 — Muscle, Bone & Diet
Muscle stimulation drives bone growth over time.
72:02 — Communicating with Child Patients
"Nose for breathing, mouth for eating."
81:28 — Closing & Contact Info
Books, courses, and upcoming lectures worldwide.
LINKS:
Airway videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h0JgmmLj_Q&ab_channel=TMJ%26SleepTherapyCentre 
Dr. Ramirez’ website: https://www.kidsmalocclusions.com/ 
Pediatric Airway-focused Myofunctional Orthodontics: https://a.co/d/b1wQhD9 
Dr. DeLuke’s Early Treatment Course: https://theorthocoach.com/courses/phase-i-arch-development/?portfolioCats=99 

(00:00) - Introduction & Guest Background

(02:07) - Dr. Ramirez's Training Journey

(06:25) - Mandibular Condylar Cartilage & Bone Biology

(08:40) - Why Early Treatment Matters

(10:55) - Sleep, Breathing & the Orthodontist's Role

(15:06) - Responding to "No Need to Treat Before 7"

(21:04) - Functional Evaluation: Mouth Breathing & Nasal Breathing

(26:47) - The Tongue as Palatal Expander

(29:56) - Collaborating with Medical Colleagues

(37:26) - Tonsils, Adenoids & Post-Surgery Relapse

(47:46) - Bruxism & Airway Connection

(51:46) - Resistance to Change in Orthodontics

(56:16) - Genetics vs. Environment in Craniofacial Growth

(01:04:55) - Muscle, Bone & Diet

(01:12:01) - Communicating with Child Patients

(01:21:27) - Closing & Contact Info

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Julia Sadove-Lopez - a dentist, parent advocate, and founder of Oris Wellness - to explore a side of pediatric airway health we haven't covered enough on this show: what it's actually like for the parents trying to navigate it.
 
We dig into Julia's personal journey from dental school through corporate dentistry, into holistic practice in Chicago alongside Dr. Kevin Boyd, and ultimately to a career pivot that took her to Portugal and led her to found Oris Wellness. She opens up about the mental health toll of clinical practice, the moment she realized she needed a change, and how she turned her passion for patient education into a coaching and advocacy business.
 
We also tackle some of the most frustrating problems in our field, including why parents are hearing completely conflicting recommendations from provider to provider, why our diagnostics are all over the map, and why the interdisciplinary nature of airway care makes things even harder for families. Julia shares what she hears from parents every day, how she helps them cut through the noise without ever telling them what to do, and what clinicians can do better to move families from fear and confusion toward clarity and action.
 
Chapters:
0:00 — Introduction & Episode Overview
3:21 — Welcome, Dr. Julia
4:16 — Julia's Career Journey: From Dental School to Holistic Practice
15:18 — Life After Clinical Practice: The Pivot
19:08 — Why Dental School Falls Short
23:07 — Sponsor Break: The Generational Wealth Code
27:37 — From Clinician to Coach: Understanding Parent Motivation
36:12 — What Parents Are Frustrated About
37:47 — Conflicting Treatment Options & The Diagnostic Problem
58:24 — Social Media's Impact on Parents and Providers
1:02:25 — Navigating Interdisciplinary Care
1:09:01 — The Coaching Model: Education, Not Diagnosis
1:14:47 — Advice for Parents & Providers
1:25:11 — Where to Find Dr. Julia
 
Key Topics:
Julia's path: from traditional dental education to holistic practice to career reinvention
Why dental school isn't preparing graduates for modern practice (and the new CODA airway/sleep requirement coming in 2028)
The parent experience: conflicting diagnoses, competing treatment philosophies, and the emotional weight of decision-making
Why diagnostics, not treatment methods, are the real failure in our profession
Social media's dual role: empowering parents while fueling confusion and anxiety
The interdisciplinary challenge: navigating ENTs, allergists, myofunctional therapists, and dentists who don't always agree
How Julia's coaching model works: education, advocacy, and helping families ask the right questions
Advice for clinicians: stop disparaging colleagues, start listening to parents, and invest in comprehensive diagnostics
Advice for parents: don't navigate this alone; find community, trust your voice, and expect to be heard
LINKS:
Oris Wellness: https://www.oriswellness.com/
Get Expanded: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAQ91rq2OKA
Tooth Seekers: https://www.oriswellness.com/toothseekers
The Generational Wealth Code: https://a.co/d/0iHwEITG
Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/
Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/
Website: theorthocoach.com
YouTube: @theorthocoach
Instagram: @theorthocoach
Email: drmike@theorthocoach.com

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Melissa Methven - a former flight attendant turned dental hygienist, widow, author, and breathwork facilitator - to discuss the hidden mental health crisis in dentistry. Melissa shares the story of her husband Scott, a beloved dentist in Wasilla, Alaska, who died by suicide in March 2022 after years of suppressing the pressures of the profession: student debt, perfectionism, emotional labor with patients, chronic pain, and escalating substance use.
Melissa opens up about her own suppression and the physical toll it took on her body, the signs she wishes she'd seen sooner, and how she found healing through community, faith, and breathwork. She also reads from her book The Truth Behind the Smiles and offers actionable solutions for dental schools, including mental health education, peer communities, and a dental-specific crisis hotline. This is a raw, important conversation about breaking the silence around depression and suicide in the dental profession, and the hope that comes from living your truth.
Timestamps:
0:00 — Introduction & Content Warning
2:41 — Welcoming Melissa & Scott's Story
3:50 — The Pressures of Dentistry & Early Signs
9:33 — Hiding Behind the Smile & Physical Symptoms
13:28 — The Common Dental Struggle
16:19 — Why We Suppress — Roots & The Perfect Illusion
19:51 — Scott's Fear & Writing the Book
25:30 — Feeling Stuck, Faith & Moving Forward
34:50 — Faith vs. Religion & Signs from Beyond
42:41 — Dental Statistics & Solutions for the Profession
47:15 — Tools for Healing & Helping the Kids
57:59 — Being of Service, Fulfillment & Closing
73:06 — Outro
LINKS
To Purchase Melissa’s Book: https://a.co/d/8nYzyTO 
Melissa on FB: https://www.facebook.com/tremblaymel/ 
Melissa on IG: https://www.instagram.com/melissamethven/
Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/
Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/
Website: theorthocoach.com
YouTube: @theorthocoach
Instagram: @theorthocoach

(00:00) - Introduction & Content Warning

(02:40) - Welcoming Melissa & Scott's Story

(03:49) - The Pressures of Dentistry & Early Signs

(09:33) - Hiding Behind the Smile & Physical Symptoms

(13:27) - The Common Dental Struggle

(16:18) - Why We Suppress — Roots & The Perfect Illusion

(19:51) - Scott's Fear & Writing the Book

(25:29) - Feeling Stuck, Faith & Moving Forward

(34:49) - Faith vs. Religion & Signs from Beyond

(42:40) - Dental Statistics & Solutions for the Profession

(47:14) - Tools for Healing & Helping the Kids

(57:58) - Being of Service, Fulfillment & Closing

(01:13:05) - Outro

I'm excited to welcome Nicole Vento back to The DOC Podcast for the fourth installment of our five-part series with the Vento family on creating generational wealth. Nicole is a financial advisor, CPA, and CFP who leads the investment committee at her family's firm, and she brings a rare dual perspective with her CPA background combined with institutional trading experience at Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan Private Bank. 
In this episode, we dig deep into the investment and tax-efficiency side of wealth planning, breaking down retirement accounts, ETFs vs. mutual funds, estate planning, 529 plans, the student loan crisis, Trump accounts, charitable giving strategies, and the discipline and mindset it takes to achieve financial freedom. Whether you're just starting out or you've been building wealth for decades, Nicole delivers practical insights you can apply to your own financial journey. Be sure to pick up a copy of the Vento family's book, *The Generational Wealth Code*, linked in the show notes below.
**Chapters & Timestamps:**
- 0:30 — Episode Intro
- 3:06 — Welcome Back, Nicole
- 11:09 — Why You Need a Fiduciary
- 16:50 — Understanding Retirement Accounts
- 47:02 — ETFs vs. Mutual Funds: Tax Treatment
- 54:46 — Estate Planning & Step-Up in Basis
- 1:03:35 — Education Planning & 529 Plans
- 1:10:05 — The Student Loan Crisis
- 1:22:44 — Trump Accounts: A New Savings Vehicle
- 1:27:36 — Charitable Giving Strategies
- 1:33:11 — Discipline, Delayed Gratification & the Margin Mentality
- 1:37:39 — Closing & Contact Info
- 1:38:54 — Disclosure
**Links & Resources:**
The Generational Wealth Code: https://a.co/d/0iHwEITG
Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/
Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/
Connect w/Dr. Mike:
Website: theorthocoach.com
YouTube: @theorthocoach
Instagram: @theorthocoach
Connect w/Nicole:
Web: Ventotaxandwealth.com  
Email: nicole@vtwmg.com
Office: 718-980-9000

Dr. Bret Christensen is an Army veteran, orthodontist, and one of only five orthodontists in the country board-certified in sleep medicine through the American Sleep & Breathing Academy. He owns and operates Christensen Orthodontics with locations in Lewiston, Grangeville, and Moscow, Idaho. In this emotional and wide-ranging episode, Bret opens up about losing his son, surviving a widow-maker heart attack at 45, undergoing open-heart surgery and getting a pacemaker, all while transforming his practice from traditional extraction-based orthodontics to a data-driven, airway-focused approach. 
He shares thousands of patient records showing that skeletal expansion dramatically improves nasal airway volume, his discovery that toddlers as young as two-and-a-half can be treated, and why he believes the AAO is standing in the way of progress. Plus, a surprise visit from his granddaughter Everly - the child who changed everything.
⏱️ Timestamps / Chapters

0:00 — Cold Open
0:13 — Introduction & Guest Bio
2:53 — Farm Kid Roots & Education
7:16 — Military Career & Orthodontics
11:32 — Building a Practice from Scratch
13:48 — The Shift from Extraction to Expansion
17:05 — Discovering Sleep Apnea Through His Father
21:02 — Surviving a Widow-Maker Heart Attack
25:55 — Training in Sleep Apnea & The Rhinometer
31:35 — Meeting Kevin Boyd & Airway Health Solutions
33:38 — Adult Expansion: Schwartz to MARPE
43:12 — Patient Transformations
56:34 — Host's Reflection on the Journey
68:46 — The AAO Pushback & Speaking Out
78:52 — Everly's Story: Treating Toddlers
89:58 — Orthodontists Need to Become Doctors
1:43:59 — Surprise Visit from Everly
1:49:34 — Closing & What's Next
KEY TOPICS: Early orthodontic intervention • MARPE for adults • Rhinometry data on thousands of patients • Nasal volume changes (3-8 cubic centimeters) • Treating children as young as 2-3 years old • The connection between sleep apnea and heart disease • Overcoming professional opposition • The future of orthodontics
 
CONNECT:
Dr. Brett Christiansen - Christiansen Orthodontics (Lewiston, Grangeville, Moscow, ID): https://christensenbraces.com/
Dr. Mike DeLuke - TheOrthoCoach.com | Dr.mike@theorthocoach.com
Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/
Check out the DOC website: https://theorthocoach.com/ 

(00:00) - Cold Open

(00:13) - Introduction & Guest Bio

(02:53) - Farm Kid Roots & Education

(07:15) - Military Career & Orthodontics

(11:31) - Building a Practice from Scratch

(13:47) - The Shift from Extraction to Expansion

(17:05) - Discovering Sleep Apnea Through His Father

(21:02) - Surviving a Widow-Maker Heart Attack

(25:55) - Training in Sleep Apnea & The Rhinometer

(31:34) - Meeting Kevin Boyd & Airway Health Solutions

(33:38) - Adult Expansion: Schwartz to MARPE

(43:12) - Patient Transformations

(56:33) - Host's Reflection on the Journey

(01:08:45) - The AAO Pushback & Speaking Out

(01:18:52) - Everly's Story: Treating Toddlers

(01:29:58) - Orthodontists Need to Become Doctors

(01:43:58) - Surprise Visit from Everly

(01:49:33) - Closing & What's Next