Breath to Breath: Interview with John R. White, DDS (my dad!)


“Little things will affect how your upper jaw and lower jaw grows.”

— Dr. John R. White

In this meaningful conversation with my father, we dive into both our shared experiences and individual work in the airway space.  Additional topics included upper airway resistance, snoring, sleep apnea, deep sleep requirements, maxillary expansion, AHI scores, interdisciplinary team building, monitoring sleep, airway surgery, mouth breathing (R06.5), FOM-COM, sleep regimes, mouth taping, ways to help keep your nose clear, supporting functional craniofacial growth, and how to connect to others in the airway health space.

ABOUT DR. WHITE:

Dr. White retired from dentistry after running a general practice for 40 years.  During that time he also started and operated South Carolina Dental Sleep Medicine, a dental sleep specialty clinic, for 25 years.  Throughout his career, he served on the Greenville County Dental Association board from 2001-2005 and was President from 2004-2005.  Dedicated to furthering his education, Dr. White graduated from the University of Texas Dental School then went on to complete Advanced Dental Studies from L.D. Pankey Institute, became South Carolina’s first Diplomate of American Board Dental Sleep Medicine, and the nation’s second dentist to earn F.O.M. (Fellowship of Orofacial Myology) status from the International Association of Myofunctional Therapy (IAOM).  In 2011, he won the Clinical Research of the Year Award presented by the American Academy Dental Sleep Medicine in combination with Dr. Ahmad Boota MD. And in 2017, he published “Rapid Maxillary Expansion and Adenotonsillectomy in 9-Year-Old Twins With Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: An Interdisciplinary Effort” in American Journal Osteopathic Medicine with three other colleagues. And while Dr. White has lectured around the country on Dental Treatment for Pediatric Sleep Disturbed Breathing, he currently spends most of his time now with his family in Greenville, SC. 

STUDY REFERENCED:

Alexander, Nathan, Boota, Ahmad, Hooks, Kenderic and White, John R.. “Rapid Maxillary Expansion and Adenotonsillectomy in 9-Year-Old Twins With Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: An Interdisciplinary Effort” Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, vol. 119, no. 2, 2019, pp. 126-134. https://doi.org/10.7556/jaoa.2019.019

Have an idea for a future BREATH TO BREATH interview? Email me! Perrin Live with intention. Move with gratitude. Breathe with purpose.

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