From Conflict to Collaboration
Navigating the
Orthodontic Airway Conversation
How to raise airway growth and early intervention concerns with orthodontic colleagues using evidence, clinical judgment, and collaboration.
with Dr. Mike DeLuke
DDS, MDS - BIO
Join live online with Q&A — or rewatch anytime for 60 days.
Limited seating available · CE Credits Awarded
The Baby Airway Workshop: Preparing the Infant Mouth for Healthy Function
Desensitization, oral readiness, and parent-guided strategies from the start.
Live Online · Q&A · 60-Day Access
Overview
Does this sound familiar?
A mother describes a painful latch, audible clicking, and a baby who falls asleep before finishing a feed, and she has already been told to wait and see.
A parent brings in a six-month-old who gags on every new texture, clamps down on the spoon, and turns away from anything that isn’t a bottle.
You look in the mouth of a nine-month-old and see a high, narrow palate and an open-mouth resting posture. You know where that trajectory tends to lead, but the child is years away from the tools you normally reach for.
Most providers are trained to release first and hope function follows. We teach the opposite: ready means ready. Before a surgical release, an infant’s nervous system and oral tissues often need to be prepared to accept it, and that preparation is a skill you can learn and teach.
This workshop walks through our treatment philosophy end to end: how to assess true oral readiness, why desensitization works neurologically (not just mechanically), how to coordinate with a cranial osteopath or other whole-body provider and know what “greenlights” to look for before proceeding, and which oral tools support preparation at each stage. You’ll also learn how to teach this same desensitization protocol directly to parents, so the work continues at home between visits. It’s built for the provider who keeps meeting these babies and wants a real framework, not just a referral.
Starting at the beginning.
Recognizing, assessing, and supporting infant oral function before compensations take hold.
The first months set the pattern
Suck, swallow, and resting tongue posture organize early. Understanding that timeline explains why so much of what we treat at seven began before the first tooth.
Know what you are looking at
Feeding difficulty, oral defensiveness, and open-mouth posture are observable. Learn what warrants attention now, what warrants referral, and what is within normal range.
Strategies parents can use daily
Desensitization sequences, oral-readiness work, and tools such as the Bebe Munchee — what to reach for, when, and how to teach it to a parent in a single visit.
Upon completion, you'll be able to:
Explain the “ready means ready” philosophy: why oral and neurological readiness, not just anatomy, should guide the timing of a surgical release.
Describe the neurological logic behind desensitization: how gradual, graded sensory input calms a defensive oral response and prepares tissue and nervous system alike.
Apply a staged desensitization protocol matched to an infant’s age, tolerance, and stage of feeding, and teach that same protocol directly to parents for use at home.
Coordinate care with a cranial osteopath or other whole-body bodyworker, including what clinical greenlights to look for before moving forward with oral work.
Identify the clinical signs of oral defensiveness, restricted function, and feeding difficulty that warrant further assessment or referral in an infant.
Select among the Bebe Munchee and other infant oral tools used for preparation, and judge when each is indicated, how to introduce it, and when to wait.
Lynda Dean-Duru, DDS
Prenatal to 3 Specialist
Dr. Lynda Dean-Duru is a board-certified pediatric dentist and nationally recognized leader in integrative pediatric care. For nearly two decades, she has pioneered the use of laser technology to transform oral health — becoming one of the first in Northern Virginia to perform laser infant oral tie releases as early as 2006.
A proud University of Benin graduate, she completed her pediatric specialty at Children’s National Medical Center and her GPR at Howard University Hospital. Her advanced training includes fellowship with the Academy of Laser Dentistry, mastership with the World Clinical Laser Institute, and certification through the ALF Interface Academy.
As founder of Ashburn Children’s Dentistry and co-founder of Womb 2 Grow Wellness, Dr. Lynda blends science, intuition, and innovation, bridging laser-assisted healing, airway development, and functional growth from infancy onward.
Krystle Dean-Duru, DDS
Prenatal to 3 Specialist
Dr. Krystle Dean-Duru is a board-certified pediatric dentist specializing in airway health, neuromodulation, and craniofacial growth. She earned her DDS from Virginia Commonwealth University, a psychology degree from Columbia University, and completed her pediatric residency at Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn.
Certified in Babylase, Oralase, ALF, Nuvola Aligners, Myo Munchee, and Myobrace, she co-leads Ashburn Children’s Dentistry and Womb 2 Grow Wellness, integrating functional dentistry with holistic care. A 2024 Fellow of the International College of Dentists, Dr. Dean-Duru combines scientific precision with compassionate leadership, inspiring providers to view dentistry as a pathway to whole-body wellness.
Two ways to earn your CE
Same registration, same price — choose live, self-paced, or both.
Attend Wednesday Night
Join the live session on Wednesday, November 4, 7:00–9:30 PM ET and bring your cases to the Q&A. Full 2.5 CE credit is awarded for live attendance.
Watch On Your Schedule
Can’t make it live? The full recording is yours for 60 days. Watch it in one sitting or in pieces — 2.5 CE credit is awarded either way.
Overview
Orthodontic treatment recommendations can vary considerably depending on the clinician's philosophy, training, and interpretation of the evidence. Pediatric and general dentists frequently find themselves navigating difficult conversations when an orthodontic recommendation appears inconsistent with their understanding of airway health, craniofacial development, or early intervention.
This course provides practical communication strategies to help dentists advocate effectively for their patients while preserving strong interdisciplinary relationships. Participants will learn how to evaluate treatment recommendations, recognize areas where evidence is evolving, communicate concerns professionally, and facilitate collaborative decision-making that prioritizes long-term patient health.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Navigating the CONVERSATION.
Turning clinical differences into better patient-centered care
Why
W
hy
ADVOCACY
Better patient outcomes require clinicians who are willing to speak up for what they see.
When
W
hen
MISALIGNMENT
When an orthodontic recommendation conflicts with your clinical understanding of airway health, growth, or early intervention.
What
W
hat
COLLABORATION
Learn how to evaluate the recommendation, communicate concerns, and advocate for the patient while preserving the professional relationship.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion, you'll be able to:
Identify the educational, scientific, and practical factors that contribute to differing orthodontic treatment philosophies.
Apply effective communication strategies when discussing concerns about orthodontic treatment recommendations with colleagues and families.
Explain the current evidence supporting airway-focused orthodontic evaluation and early intervention using principles of evidence-based medicine.
Advocate for collaborative, patient-centered care while maintaining strong interdisciplinary relationships.
YOUR FACULTY
FEATURING
Dr. Mike DeLuke
Mike Deluke, DDS, MDS-BIO
A leading voice in in airway-focused and evidence-based orthodontics and interceptive treatment.
Dr. Michael K. DeLuke is a board certified orthodontist who received his DDS from SUNY Stony Brook and completed his master’s in dental science and specialty training in orthodontics at UConn, where he served as Chief Resident in his final year.
He owned and operated DeLuke Orthodontics in Schenectady, NY for almost two decades before retiring from private practice to teach and coach full-time. He has served as a
faculty member at several hospitals and orthodontic residencies, including as the cleft-craniofacial orthodontist at Albany Medical Center.
He is currently on faculty in the Department of Orthodontics at Montefiore Einstein Hospital in Bronx, NY, and in the Pediatric Dental Residency at Healthcare Network in Naples, FL.
Dr. DeLuke launched DeLuke Orthodontic Coaching, or ‘DOC,’ in 2023, and is the creator and host of The DOC Podcast.
◆ Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics
◆ Owner, DeLuke Orthodontic Coaching, LLC
◆ Faculty, Healthcare Network, Dept. of Pediatric Dentistry
◆ Visiting Faculty, Montefiore Einstein, Dept. of Orthodontics
ONE REGISTRATION - FULL ACCESS - eaRN ce eITHER way
Two Ways To Earn Your CE
Same registration, same price — choose live engagement, self-paced flexibility, or both.
OPTION 01 · L I V E
Attend Wednesday Night
Join Dr. Miraglia Wednesday, October 7 at 7:00 PM ET with live Q&A discussion for immediate answers. Earn 2.5 Live CE credits.
OPTION 02 · ON-DEMAND
Watch On Your Time
Watch the full recording within 60 days of the live event and earn 2.5 On-Demand CE credits at your pace.
WHEN
Wednesday
October 7 · 7–9:30 PM ET
FORMAT
Live + On-Demand
60-Day Access
CE CREDIT
2.5 CE
Live or On-Demand
TUITION
$249 $199
Intro Launch Price
The Baby Airway Workshop: Preparing the Infant Mouth for Healthy Function
Secure Your
Registration
Spots are limited. The conversation is moving fast.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM ET
Live Virtual via Zoom / 60-day access to the recording
2.5 CE Credits
$249$199 Intro Launch Price
COUNTDOWN TO LIVE COURSE
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Cancellation Policy: No refunds will be offered. Attendee may attend a future virtual or live event if unable to attend the scheduled event.
©Copyright 2024. All rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions
Cancellation Policy: No refunds will be offered. Attendee may attend a future virtual or live event if unable to attend the scheduled event.
If the live event needs to be cancelled due to Covid or unforeseen events, AHS will run the Advanced Mini-Residency virtually. AHS will refund the live tuition difference.
©Copyright 2026. All rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions