Course 1: Intro to Pediatric Airway & Dental Sleep Medicine

Foundations, Screening & Myofunctional Therapy
📅 February 27–28, 2026 | 📍 Northern Virginia/DC

The journey starts here.

Whether you’re brand new to pediatric airway and sleep medicine or you’re a seasoned practitioner ready to align your team, Course 1 is designed to give every attendee a strong, practical foundation. This isn’t just about learning new techniques—it’s about building a shared understanding across the entire dental team so everyone knows how to screen, communicate, and take first steps in care.

In this opening course of the ASAP Mini-Residency Pathway, you and your team will:

• Gain the foundational knowledge that connects pediatric airway, sleep, and TMJ to overall child health
• Learn how to act as a physician of the stomatognathic system—diagnosing and planning care in the context of growth, development, and whole-body health
• Build confidence in screening patients and guiding parents toward understanding airway risk and next steps
• Recognize and address oral myofunctional disorders—and learn how myofunctional therapy and coaching can redirect a child’s growth trajectory
• Practice the team approach to airway care, where every member (hygienist, assistant, admin) has a role in screening, communication, and follow-up

Hands-On Focus

Through interactive exercises, you and your team will:

• Practice the screening and data-gathering process step by step
• Learn parent communication scripts that build trust and confidence
• Fit prefabricated myofunctional appliances as a first-step intervention
• Experience how collaborative care works in real practice

By the End of This Course, You’ll Be Able To:

• Understand the physiology and pathophysiology of pediatric sleep-related breathing disorders
• Connect craniofacial growth and development with airway, TMJ, and functional health
• Confidently screen patients (PSQ, medical/social history, chairside observations)
• Communicate airway risk clearly to parents and collaborate effectively with MDs and therapists
• Recognize oral myofunctional disorders and know when to provide coaching or refer
• Identify both anatomical and non-anatomical contributors to airway dysfunction
• Outline appropriate dental management options based on screening and diagnosis

Why Start Here?

This first course sets the stage for the entire residency:

• If you’re just beginning, you’ll walk away with the confidence to start screening and managing cases right away.
• If you’re further along, you’ll gain the systematic framework to unify what you already know and bring your team into the process—so you’re not carrying the burden alone.
• And for everyone, Course 1 ensures that as you continue through the residency, you’ll have the foundation and team alignment needed to maximize the impact of every advanced course that follows.

Faculty:
Dr. Stacy Becker | Dr. Tracey Nguyen | Dr. Michelle Weddle