960: What Airway Health Really Means – Dr. Meggie Graham & Dr. Liz Turner

Airway dentistry isn't just a fad — it’s here to stay! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings in Dr. Meggie Graham and Dr. Liz Turner, founders of the Untethered Airway Health Center, to talk about the growing field, what airway health really means, and why it’s important to integrate it into your practice. To learn how you can impact your patients’ health no matter their age, listen to Episode 960 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Dr. Graham & Dr. Turner:

• Join Dr. Graham & Dr. Turner on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/untetheredahc
• Follow Dr. Graham & Dr. Turner on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/untetheredairway
• Learn more about Untethered Airway Health Center: https://untetheredairwayhealthcenter.com
• Register for The Untethered Way courses: https://theuntetheredway.com
• Listen to Dr. Graham & Dr. Turner’s podcast: https://untethered-airway-health.captivate.fm

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_US
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 960: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos

Main Takeaways:

• Airway is not just a fad — it’s that dentistry has been missing it for years.
• Help patients identify their breathing dysfunctions and become aware.
• Don't push airway onto patients who aren't ready to hear about it.
• Implementing airway isn't all or nothing. It’s okay to do it slowly.
• Stay curious and excited to learn to be fulfilled in your career.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:23 Dr. Turner and Dr. Graham’s backgrounds.

3:33 Dr. Turner and Dr. Graham’s aha moment.

10:25 What airway health really means.

17:34 Common mistakes dentists make when looking at airway issues.

20:51 How to integrate airway into your practice.

26:09 The future of airway in dentistry.

30:01 Is airway just a fad?

34:20 Final thoughts.

35:59 The origin of The Untethered Way.

38:26 More about The Untethered Way course.

39:45 More about the No One Told Me podcast and how to get in touch.

Dr. Meggie Graham Bio:

Dr. Meggie Graham helps patients of all ages breathe better and live healthier lives. As both a mother and an airway patient herself, she understands the challenges families face with breathing disorders, tongue-ties, and sleep problems.

A faculty member at The Breathe Institute, Dr. Graham specializes in non-invasive solutions that address root causes of breathing issues. Her commitment comes from years of advanced training in sleep-disordered breathing and facial development, combining personal experience with professional expertise to create lasting solutions for her patients.

Dr. Liz Turner Bio:

Dr. Elizabeth Turner helps families overcome feeding difficulties and breathing challenges at every age. As a mother who watched her own son transform after tongue-tie treatment, she understands both the concerns parents face and the care needed for optimal results.

A certified laser surgeon and Tufts University graduate, she specializes in infant tongue-tie release, children's airway development, and adult breathing solutions. Dr. Turner combines advanced laser technology with gentle, personalized care, regularly educating both families and healthcare providers about early intervention in breathing health.