26/01/2026
Grateful to my Malaysian friend and dental colleague, , for capturing this moment on the final day of the Tongue Time Conference.
Twelve years ago, when my first invited talk on airway health was announced, there were calls for boycotts and demands that I be replaced. The idea that early interceptive orthodontics could play a role in healthier sleep and breathing was dismissed as my imagination, and as being well beyond the scope of general dentistry.
It was lonely to stand there then.
That is why moments like this matter to me.
Change did not come quickly or loudly. It came through persistently sharing emerging evidence, case journeys, patient stories, and through collaboration, education, and persistent conversations. Through building integrative events, inviting international voices, creating pockets of aligned professionals, and helping parents understand what had been missed.
To now be asked to contribute to a global conversation on integrated airway health, alongside colleagues and leaders from around the world who are actively advancing this approach, feels like a meaningful win.
What was dismissed is now reaching a tipping point.
What was once isolating is now a collective journey.
