Planting the Seeds of Change: The Rise of Integrative Airway Dentistry

Pictured above: Adam Wertz, Dr. Lisa Coburn, Dr. Dave McCarty, Dr. Ellen Stothard Dr. Marzieh Shafie, and Dr. Kevin Boyd — representing Rebis Health at the annual Airway Palooza conference.

By Adam Wertz, CEO of Rebis Health

Recently, I had the privilege of attending the Airway Palooza conference, alongside my Rebis Health colleagues and Airway Dentistry specialists (Ellen Stothard, Lisa Coburn, Marzieh Shafie, Kevin Boyd, and David McCarty), hosted by Airway Health Solutions. We came seeking answers about early childhood facial development, its role in breathing, and its connection with Sleep Apnea, but left with a deeper understanding that healing begins far upstream — where science meets soul, and prevention begins long before symptoms appear.

The lineup was stellar, with industry leaders Michael Gelb (author of Gasp), Clete Kushida (world-renowned Stanford researcher and clinician, Mike Deluke (DOC Podcast), Brittny Sciarra Murphy, RDH, BS, QOM®, COM®, Certified Orofacial Myologist, Registered Dental Hygienist, and host of the ‘I Spy With My Myo Eye’ Podcast, and the soulful Samanatha Weaver (Academy Of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, AOMT), to just to name a few.

Not only did I leave with an understanding of how in-utero development, childhood mouthbreathing, improper tongue function, and the underdevelopment of the cranio-facial complex lead to Sleep Apnea, but I also learned how these imperfections are tied to Alzheimer's Disease, ADHD, Oxidative Stress, and Cellular Dysfunction. Simply put, I was blown away. 

However, this revolutionary science was just the tip of the iceberg. Firsthand, I experienced with my own eyes and felt a resonance throughout my body, an energetic connection, transformation, and a shared consciousness to heal people, all rooted in vulnerability and science. Along the way, I saw and participated in tears being shed, with hands over hearts and hugs shared amongst researchers, doctors, dentists, parents, and their children. 

Looking back on it now, I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised. You see, generally, when you attend scientific conferences, you get a pen, a notebook, and a tote bag that gets left in the hotel room. However, something was different at this conference. 

Where Healing Takes Root: Guided by Purpose

Lauren Gueits, RDH, BS’s compassion is palpable, and she serves as a leader in our shared purpose to heal, connect, and redefine what it means to truly care for the human body. You could feel the touch of the sacred feminine with tables being lined with flowers and a personalized box containing a tulip bulb, which happens to be my daughter's favorite flower, containing the following message:

“The bulb is a symbol of where we are right now, working beneath the surface, building something powerful.

The airway movement is taking root, even if it's not fully seen or accepted yet. 

You’re going home with a purpose-to challenge outdated norms and support patients who don’t yet know what they’re missing.

Every life you touch helps this movement grow stronger. It may not be in full bloom yet, but it’s coming. 

Together, we’ll be the reason it flourishes. Going upstream isn’t easy-but it’s how real transformation begins.”

You see, if you are present and open enough to see all the signs, the universe will guide you along the right path. The field of Sleep Medicine is changing, and the universe is guiding Rebis—this I know in my heart and soul.

The Misunderstanding We’ve Lived With

For decades, the medical community has treated Sleep Apnea as a nighttime breathing issue rather than a developmental one. As a result, millions of children and adults live with preventable airway dysfunction that begins in early childhood and shapes lifelong health.

When We Miss the Signs

When airway dysfunction goes undiagnosed, it doesn’t just disrupt sleep—it fuels chronic inflammation, cognitive decline, and systemic disease. Families struggle, productivity suffers, and health systems stay reactive instead of preventive.

Breaking the Silos: Building the Future of Integrative Sleep Medicine

The opportunity lies in bridging disciplines—uniting pediatric and airway dentistry, sleep medicine, and functional health to prevent disease before it manifests. This is where Rebis is leaning in: redefining what it means to truly heal.

The Path Forward is Upstream

At Rebis, we’re embracing this upstream model—blending evidence-based sleep science with functional and dental medicine to restore proper breathing, sleep, and development. Together, we’re not just treating sleep—we’re transforming lives.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

About Adam Wertz

Adam Wertz is the CEO of Rebis Health, a leading integrative, multidisciplinary sleep center for adults and children. His mission is to create a platform centered on connection, integration, and collaboration, bringing multiple disciplines together to empower people on their healing journey. A researcher-turned-entrepreneur, Adam’s career began in sleep and circadian rhythm science at the University of Colorado’s Sleep and Chronobiology Research Center. He later co-founded The Colorado Sleep Institute, growing it into one of the nation’s largest integrated sleep centers before launching Rebis to redefine how we approach sleep, health, and healing.

Q&A

Question: What is pediatric airway dentistry, and how is it different from typical dental care?

Short answer: Pediatric airway dentistry focuses on how a child’s craniofacial growth and airway affect breathing, sleep, behavior, and posture. Rather than managing isolated symptoms, it aims to explain the “why” behind issues like snoring or mouth breathing and offers root-cause solutions through a methodical evaluation of craniofacial development—delivered with compassion and clarity.

Question: Which signs in children might point to an airway-related problem?

Short answer: The post highlights several red flags that can be connected to airway obstruction and growth patterns, including:

• Snoring and chronic mouth breathing

• Persistent nasal blockage or trouble breathing through the nose

• Dark circles under the eyes

• Bedwetting

• Difficulty focusing at school

• Posture issues

Question: Why isn’t symptom-based care enough for these issues?

Short answer: Treating symptoms alone often misses the underlying cause. The experience with Dr. Boyd emphasized explaining the “why” and assessing craniofacial development to address root causes, rather than offering quick fixes. This approach can bring clarity and a more effective, long-term plan for children and their families.

Question: How are bedwetting and sleep apnea connected in the context of pediatric airway health?

Short answer: The post notes that bedwetting can be connected to sleep-disordered breathing, including pediatric sleep apnea. An airway-focused, root-cause evaluation looks at these relationships together rather than treating bedwetting in isolation.

Question: Why does Rebis Health advocate a multidisciplinary model—and what does that look like?

Short answer: Because healthcare silos leave families with partial answers, Rebis Health is building an integrated model that brings dentistry, ENT, sleep medicine, pediatrics, and PT around one table. The goal is a single, shared plan to help children (and adults) breathe, sleep, and thrive—and an open invitation for parents and clinicians to collaborate.