Ep.83, Why Dentists Should Collaborate with Physical Therapists, Dr. Jenny Hobson

What happens when dentistry and physical therapy stop working separately? In this episode of ASAP Pathway: The Podcast, Dr. Stacy Becker welcomes airway-focused physical therapist Dr. Jenny Hobson for an eye-opening discussion about the powerful relationship between posture, breathing, TMJ, craniofacial development, and airway health. Dr. Hobson shares her unique journey training under legendary TMJ expert Dr. Mariano Rocabado and explains why successful airway treatment often requires much more than orthodontics, surgery, or oral appliances alone. Together they explore how mouth breathing, forward head posture, dysfunctional swallowing, poor body mechanics, and altered breathing patterns can influence everything from chronic pain and TMJ disorders to sleep quality and long-term health.Topics include:Why dentists and physical therapists need to collaborateHow posture changes occlusion and jaw functionWhy some patients still can't breathe through their nose after surgeryThe role of breathing retraining and functional rehabilitationMouth breathing, CO₂ tolerance, and Buteyko breathingWhy tongue posture and negative pressure matterPediatric airway development and parent involvementThe importance of gait, movement, diaphragm function, and whole-body alignmentPractical strategies clinicians can immediately apply with patientsIf you've ever wondered why some patients continue to struggle despite excellent dental treatment or why airway medicine requires a whole-body approach—this episode is a must-listen.To get in touch with Dr. Jenny Hobson:Dr. Jenny Hobson: IGDr. Jenny Hobson: FBDr. Jenny Hobson: YouTubeDr. Jenny Hobson: LinkedInDr. Jenny Hobson: Link TreeSchedule FREE 15 min Consult with Dr. Jenny HobsonSchedule 25 min Virtual Consult with Dr. Jenny HobsonSchedule 50 min Virtual Consult with Dr. Jenny HobsonDr. Jenny Hobson's Podcast with Mariano Rocabado, PT (The Breathing Lab - Episode #28 | Meet the Pioneers of Craniofacial Therapy)Dr. Jenny Hobson's Podcast: The Breathing Lab - Episode #10 | My Mentor and TMJ ExpertCHAPTERS: 📖00:00 Welcome to ASAP Pathway01:25 Meet Dr. Jenny Hobson03:30 Training with Dr. Mariano Rocabado06:20 Why Neck Position Changes Your Bite08:10 Breaking Down Healthcare Silos 10:15 The Whole-Body Connection to Airway Health12:00 Why Some Patients Can't Breathe After Nasal Surgery15:15 Retraining the Nose After Surgery18:15 Buteyko Breathing & Air Hunger Explained21:35 How PTs Work with Dentists and Orthodontists25:00 TMJ, Clenching & Airway Compensation28:30 Why Walking, Posture & Movement Matter33:45 Forward Head Posture and Airway Development37:45 The Uplocker, Tongue Posture & Functional Therapy45:40 Parents Are the Most Important Part of Treatment50:00 Teaching the Correct Swallow52:00 Airway Education for Healthcare Professionals55:30 Three Fun Questions with Dr. Jenny HobsonLearnings: 💡Airway health requires a team approach. Dentists, physical therapists, ENTs, speech therapists, myofunctional therapists, and physicians all bring unique expertise that improves patient outcomes.Posture directly affects jaw position. Forward head posture changes occlusion, increases joint loading, and can contribute to TMJ dysfunction and chronic pain.Breathing is a learned function. Many patients continue mouth breathing even after surgery because they never relearn how to use their nose effectively.Structure and function are equally important. Opening the airway anatomically is only part of treatment—patients must also retrain breathing, swallowing, and muscle function. Mouth breathing changes the entire body. Poor breathing mechanics affect posture, neck muscles, diaphragm function, rib position, and overall movement.Physical therapists offer an important missing perspective. Manual therapy, breathing retraining, posture correction, and functional movement complement dental and airway treatment.CO₂ tolerance matters. Learning to tolerate normal carbon dioxide levels through breathing retraining can improve nasal breathing and reduce overbreathing.Tongue posture creates stability. Proper tongue suction and oral posture help support the airway, stabilize the jaw, and improve swallowing function.Children benefit from consistent parent involvement. Long-term success depends on daily habits practiced at home, not just what happens during office visits.Airway treatment extends beyond the mouth. Healthy gait, rib mobility, diaphragm mechanics, and whole-body alignment all influence breathing efficiency.Functional rehabilitation can improve surgical outcomes. Patients who receive breathing retraining and functional therapy after ENT procedures often achieve better long-term nasal breathing. Great clinicians never stop learning. Dr. Hobson's career illustrates the importance of continually expanding knowledge across disciplines to better serve patients.This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. 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