Imagine walking into your child’s room to find a stranger choking your child. Fear, panic and an immediate response would be instant, of course with a heroic end and a safe child. However, it is common to let our children snore, effectively choking, each night without investigation or treatment.

As dentists we are the gateway to the mouth. We see our patients regularly, we monitor their development and we should know the signs of sleep disordered breathing. And when we do, we can make a change in our patients lives.

This episode we have the absolute pleasure of speaking with Dr David McIntosh. David is a paediatric ENT with a special interest in airway, snoring and sleep apnoea. David is a published author on this topic with an excellent book called Snored to Death – I recommend everyone reads this. David runs multiple facebook pages in an attempt to educate and change the old ways of letting our children struggle to breath at night.

This was a monster episode with a ton of information. David was particularly generous with his time and this stretches close to 2hrs! Perhaps digest this one in a few different sittings but i have absolutely no doubt you’ll be engaged and take away a ton of Information.

• Is it ok for a child to snore?
• How David became an ENT with a special interest in paediatric airway
• What do dentist need to know about airway to pick this stuff up
• The deal with tonsillitis and the magic number
  • Of the cases he sees where tonsillectomy is indicated, 80-90% have not ever had tonsillitis 
  • Size is a big part but not the whole story 
  • Diagnosing in children – the facts 
  • Assesssment of tonsils and their grades
• How you can approach the airway and tonsil discussion with parents
• What is the referral pathway once the issue is identified.
• Not all ENTs are created equal, some have special interests in the ear, others in the airway etc. Do your research to ensure the pt gets appropriate care
• Should adults snore?
• Tongue tie, a great framework to help you think about and advise on tongue tie.
• Physical tongue tie and a functional tongue tie
• A few questions from our Instagram page and Facebook Group

• David’s fantastic book on sleep disordered breathing http://www.fb.me/snoredtodeath
• https://www.facebook.com/entspecialistsaustralia
• https://www.facebook.com/ENTforDentists/
• https://www.facebook.com/TonguetieOz/
• https://www.facebook.com/drdavidmcintosh/
• The book i mention – “Why We Sleep” by Matthew Walker

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This episode of the Dental Head Start Podcast is proudly supported by Dental Advice Network.

Whether you’re one year out or forty, we all have clinical questions—and it’s OK not to have all the answers. That’s exactly why the Dental Advice Network exists. With leading experts like Dr Omar Ikram (Endodontist), Dr Amanda Phoon Nguyen (Oral Medicine Specialist), Dr Steven Parker (Dental Sedationist), Dr Manu Ayer (Specialist Anaesthetist), Professor Ian Myers (Restorative expert), Dr Kar Mun Chan (Specialist Paediatric Dentist) and Associate Professor Geraldine Moses (Dental Therapeutics and Pharmacology expert), it’s your go-to place for clinical advice, case support, and evidence-based insights.

From medication queries to red flags in oral pathology—or even just a second opinion—Dental Advice Network connects you to trusted voices in dentistry and medicine, including an in-house medical doctor. You’ll also get access to clinical webinars, CPD content, and curated updates to stay ahead in your practice.

It’s peace of mind, peer support, and education—all in one place.