Tongues Ties, Airways, and A Surgeon’s Case for Whole Human Care with Dr. Prashant Charugundla

What if the surgeon you finally found actually saw you as a whole, complex human and not just a line item on a sleep study? In this episode, Dr. Emily welcomes oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Prashant Charugundla for a conversation that bridges Western surgical precision with a genuinely holistic, systems-level lens on care.Prashant opens up about his own long journey before a myofunctional therapist and an osteopathic doctor finally pointed him toward what was really going on. That personal experience now fuels his deep compassion for the patients who arrive having already seen a dozen providers without answers.Together, Emily and Prashant unpack the structural and nervous-system ripple effects of unaddressed tongue ties, why a "normal" sleep study doesn't mean nothing is wrong, and what's really happening to the airway during pregnancy and postpartum. It's a wide-ranging, validating conversation for anyone who has ever been dismissed and told they're "just tired."In this episode, we cover:Prashant's personal health journey and how being a dismissed patient shaped his philosophyWhat myofunctional therapy actually isThe tongue as a "relay station": how the genioglossus, hyoid, and the tent-pole effect connect the tongue to the whole bodyDownstream consequences of unreleased tongue ties in both a 3-year-old and a 30-year-old (airway resistance, postural compensation, voice tightness, gait changes)Upper airway resistance syndrome and why a clear sleep study can still miss real symptomsNasal breathing, nitric oxide, and the cortisol/norepinephrine cascade of mouth breathing at nightPhrenectomy vs. functional frenuloplasty vs. Z-plasty — and the windows of opportunity for interventionThe "room before furniture" philosophy: expanding structure before removing tissueWhy tongue ties remain controversial, and how to ask the right questions when choosing a providerWhat's happening to the airway during pregnancy Bridging Eastern and Western perspectives toward whole-human, collaborative careMore About Our GuestDr. Prashant Charugundla ("Dr. C") is a Board Certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon and the founder of Summit Oral Surgery in Portland, Oregon. Bridging Western surgical precision with Eastern holistic philosophy, he treats the face/mouth not as an isolated tool, but as the gateway to the body’s overall health—linking structure to airway, sleep, and nervous system regulation.With a background as a pediatric trauma surgeon and OHSU professor, Dr. C brings a gentle, safety-first approach to every case. However, his clinical focus is deeply rooted in adult skeletal and functional health. He specializes in helping adults who have lived with chronic airway obstruction, TMJ dysfunction, or sleep issues finally achieve true physiological release. Through nasomaxillary expansion and reconstructive surgery, he empowers patients to breathe better, sleep deeper, and thrive.Off the clock, he explores the Pacific Northwest, embodying the active, vital lifestyle he helps his patients restore.Learn more: portlandoralsurgeon.comMore About Your Host Emily Spaeth is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, childbirth educator, and founder of Be Well Baby® in Portland, Oregon. www.bewellbaby.orgOur mission is to fundamentally shift what healthcare could look like for pregnancy, postpartum, and babies. Please help us spread the word by leaving a review! Every review matters!