Breathing is the most important function for human survival. We can survive without food or water for a few days or weeks, but we cannot survive very long without breathing. There are 2 ‘air ports’ for breathing: 1. The nose 2. The mouth. Why does it matter which one we use as long as we breathe?

Nasal breathing is the most physiologic way to breathe. Dr. Christian Guilleminault, one of the ‘fathers of sleep medicine’ said, “THE END TREATMENT OF ANY SLEEP DISORDERED BREATHING IS NASAL BREATHING.”
Dr. Harrell wil discuss why we need to screen early for SDB issues and suggestions on early therapies.

Learning Objectives 

1. The Nose – Why is it so important to evaluate nasal function as a Dentist?
2. Learn why early screening and early intervention of obstructed breathing is critical for normalizing growth in the craniofacial respiratory complex. Breathing is affected BEFORE sleep is affected!
3. To learn of the clinical signs and symptoms of SDB issues, especially in children.
4. To learn ways to help establish an Interdisciplinary Treatment Team.

Dr. William (Bill) Harrell graduated from the University of Alabama School of Dentistry in Birmingham, AL in 1975 and completed his orthodontic residency at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1977. He is in private orthodontic practice in Alexander City, Alabama and Auburn/Opelika, Alabama. He became a Board-Certified Orthodontist (ABO) in 1989. Dr. Harrell is also Certified in Dental Sleep Medicine. He worked with the late TMJ pioneers, Dr. Bill Farrar and Dr. Bill McCarty, in Montgomery, AL in the area of TMJ Disorders. Dr Harrell has served as Vice-Pres and President of the Alabama Association of Orthodontists, as the Sect-Treasurer, VP, & President of the 9th District Dental Society of Alabama and served on The Board of Trustees and in the House of Delegates of the Alabama Dental Association. He has also served on various committees of the American Association of Orthodontists.

Dr. Harrell is the first orthodontic private practice in Alabama to have ConeBeam CT (CBCT) and the first in the USA to combine both ConeBeam CT (CBCT) and 3D facial imaging (3dMD) in early 2005. Dr. Harrell’s practice focuses on airway centered orthodontic diagnosis and treatment and TMJ Disorders. Dr. Harrell is the Chairperson of the RadSite ConeBeam CT Standards Committee for setting standards for the Insurance industry of reimbursement.

Dr. Harrell is presently writing and will be the lead Editor of a textbook, Growing into Breathing Problems: The Quest for Collaborative Lifetime Solutions (in press for 2023), on Pediatric Sleep Disorders related to altered Craniofacial growth. The publisher is Springer. The 2 Co-Editors are well-known experts and are physicians in their fields of sleep medicine, Dr. David Gozal, MD, and Dr. David McIntosh. Other co-authors are well known in neurology, sleep medicine, surgery, orthodontics, dentistry, dental sleep medicine, nursing, allergy, asthma, speech and language pathology. The goal is to have a text that bridges Medicine and Dentistry (Orthodontics) in this exciting field.

1 CE credit available to AAPMD members