Episode Details

What if treating sleep apnea isn’t just about machines, mouthguards, or surgery—but actually changing the structure of your airway?

In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Alison Kole sits down with Stanford sleep expert and orthodontist Dr. Audrey Yoon to explore a rapidly emerging—and often overlooked—approach to sleep-disordered breathing: airway expansion.

You’ll hear how techniques like MARPE (miniscrew-assisted palatal expansion) are reshaping the future of sleep medicine.

From children with subtle red flags like mouth breathing and bedwetting… to adults struggling with CPAP intolerance… to complex cases like Down syndrome—this conversation uncovers how jaw development, facial structure, and airway anatomy are deeply connected.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• Is there a way to treat sleep apnea without wearing a mask forever?
• Could airway structure be the missing piece in treatment-resistant patients?
• Are we overlooking critical signs in kids that could prevent lifelong sleep issues?

This episode challenges the current treatment algorithm and offers a glimpse into where sleep medicine is heading next.

Whether you’re a clinician or someone struggling with sleep apnea, this is the conversation that may completely change how you think about breathing at night.