EP. 28: Why Most Orthodontists Won't See Your 5-Year-Old (& What That's Costing Kids) w/ Dr. DeLuke

Описание: Most orthodontists won't see your 5-year-old. They'll tell you to come back when they've lost more teeth, when they're "ready," when the problem is worse. But what if your child is mouth breathing, snoring, and struggling to focus right now?

Dr. Mike DeLuke, board-certified orthodontist and founder of DeLuke Orthodontic Coaching, reveals why the orthodontic system is designed to wait, what that delay costs kids, and how early airway-focused treatment is changing lives before teeth even become the problem.

Perfect for parents who've been told "wait and see" one too many times, SLPs and myofunctional therapists trying to find orthodontists who actually get it, and any provider who suspects we're missing something by waiting until age 12.

Key Takeaways
Orthodontic residencies don't train doctors to treat kids under 10, which creates a massive gap in care for the children who need it most
Children should never snore chronically. If your pediatrician says they'll outgrow it, get a second opinion
Up to 50% of kids diagnosed with ADHD actually have undiagnosed sleep disordered breathing. Medication treats the symptom, not the cause
Crowding isn't a big tooth problem, it's a small jaw problem. The 1983 McNamara study proved this, but most orthodontists still extract teeth instead of growing jaws
You don't need a sleep study to see the signs: mouth breathing, bedwetting, night sweats, behavior issues, sleeping upside down, grinding teeth, facial imbalance

Timestamps
03:00 - Dr. DeLuke's family dental dynasty and why he started his own practice
08:00 - The accidental discovery: CBCT scans that changed everything
26:00 - Why the insurance system discourages early treatment
40:00 - The behavioral management challenge: treating 5-year-olds vs. teenagers
54:00 - The extraction debate: what the research actually shows
1:06:00 - Why pediatric sleep studies are deeply flawed
1:09:00 - The ADHD and sleep connection every parent should know

Connect with Dr. Mike DeLuke
DeLuke Orthodontic Coaching (DOC): https://theorthocoach.com/
The DOC Podcast: https://theorthocoach.com/the-doc-pod...
 
Resources Mentioned
"Outlive" by Peter Attia
American Association of Orthodontists early checkup guidelines
McNamara 1983 study on crowding and arch size
 
Connect With Us
https://www.lispeech.com/
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