More Than Teeth Podcast | Interview with Dr. Dave Singh

Can a Non-Surgical Oral Appliance Unlock Airway Health and Lifelong Wellness?

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Okay, everyone, welcome back to the podcast. I'm Dr. Michael Bennett, I'm your host. I'm here with Dr. Dave Singh. Welcome Dave.

Thank you. Good morning. Yes. Nice to see you.

He is a wonderful man, a great friend, and I feel privileged to have him on this podcast today. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge, and I hope you all find some nuggets of truth and enlightenment from today’s episode.

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Dr. Dave Singh’s Academic Journey

So I asked Dave to share a little bit about his academic background, and then we’ll get into what he’s done during his lifetime to improve mankind.

Well, thanks Mike. So, originally I'm from England. I came to the US more than 20 years ago as a professor. We set up a center for craniofacial disorders, made some very interesting findings there, and applied all of that to patient management—specifically with airway, breathing, and sleep issues. That’s a long story, but I spent most of my time as a university professor training students, residents, and working with faculty. Partway through that, we decided to do this independently—and here we are today.

So you have three doctorates?

Correct.

And which one did you get first?

Doctor of Dental Medicine.

Okay. And that was validated at the University of Puerto Rico?

Yes, also a PhD in cleft palate formation, and then a third doctorate in orthodontics.

Which was the most fun to get of those?

They were all fun in different ways. When you do your initial training as a dentist, you see yourself primarily as a dentist. I didn’t really think much about what would come after that degree.

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From Dentistry to Academia

So, as every other dentist does, after graduation you spent a little time in university and then went straight into dental practice?

Correct. I had my own office for about five years. But after five years, I realized there's a big world out there. So my idea was, let me go back and maybe do a master's.

The university said, "We'll put you on the master's program," but within six months they said, "We're upgrading this to a PhD if you're interested, because the work's going well." I said, "I'm in." So I went from general practice straight into a PhD program. Partway through that, the university asked me to join the faculty, and I became a junior professor.

Hmm. And if you've been a professor for five years in England, you get a sabbatical?

Exactly. You can take a year out and do something topical, something completely new. From the orthodontic point of view, we’ve known about things like cephalometric analysis, which overlaps with mathematics in terms of applying models to clinical problems. So I took a year out and thought, this is great—different ways of modeling growth, predicting how interventions affect development.

That led to the third doctorate in orthodontics, focusing on Class III malocclusions. It was the easiest in a sense because I already had a body of work applying mathematical routines to clinical data. That work was published in collaboration with the University of Michigan, mostly at the University of Hawaii, and reviewed by Harvard. I never predicted any of it—but that’s life. You go with the flow, and here we are.

So you were five years into general dental practice and began to think, “I like dentistry, but there’s more out there?” Was there a pivotal patient or moment that made you realize this?

It was the predictability of it all—I wasn’t being challenged. I thought, “I don’t want to get complacent.” So the idea was just to take a year out and do something different to refresh myself. Of course, that one year turned into a whole new career path.

Because I had grounding as a general dentist, I understood how things work in real-life practice—caring for individual patients and understanding how practitioners apply academic work in the field. That was a huge advantage. Without it, all this would’ve remained theoretical. But thanks to that experience, I saw how these ideas could be implemented in a general dental office.

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Establishing a Craniofacial Center in Puerto Rico

So, you went to Puerto Rico—from England. That’s a story in itself.

Yes, quite a change. The weather, the culture—it was a huge shift. The British are conservative, formal handshakes and all. In Puerto Rico, it’s kisses on both cheeks and warm hugs—from strangers! It’s a Spanish-speaking, outgoing, vibrant culture.

But like anywhere in the world, people want to excel and innovate. We set up a center for craniofacial disorders because there was no such facility on the island. This meant kids with cleft lips or palates didn’t have to go to New York or Florida for treatment.

We received grants from the NIH and the Department of Health and Human Services. We built a world-class center on the island. All faculty had trained in the U.S. and returned to Puerto Rico to contribute. It was a cohesive team—plastic surgeons, orthodontists, speech pathologists—and we gelled. It was an exciting time, helping a lot of kids and families, and dramatically improving lives.

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Transforming Lives Through Facial Development

We talked earlier about specific cases that really highlight the life-changing results of your work. Can you share one of those—perhaps the 15-year-old girl?

Absolutely. First, let’s talk about facial recognition and perception. Facial recognition is the brain identifying a face—like your iPhone does. Facial perception is assigning value to that face: "This is an older person," or "This person looks attractive." Now imagine a teenager with a craniofacial anomaly—a cleft lip or palate, or a rare syndrome like Kon or AER. They know they look different, which impacts their confidence and self-esteem.

We had about six teenagers, aged 14–16, with these anomalies. We tried a surgical technique called distraction osteogenesis. Today, it’s common—but back then, it was experimental. We used it to physically regrow facial structures during the summer break, and the changes were stunning.

One young girl, in particular, came in after six weeks of treatment. She looked me in the eye, introduced her new boyfriend, and exuded confidence. It was like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon.

Of course, her facial structure had improved, but I wondered—why the psychological shift? So we looked at her MRI. The airway had expanded dramatically. It wasn’t just cosmetic—the treatment improved her sleep, energy, and entire outlook on life.

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Airway Expansion: A Hidden Key to Health

So little did you know at the time that you were transforming her airway, improving her airway, and unleashing the healing power associated with that. From a psychological and emotional point of view, she was more confident.

Absolutely. That’s the beauty of letting the data speak. We said, “Let’s review and analyze what happened, where, and by how much.” Thanks to modern 3D data and mathematical modeling, we could identify that the real “hotspot” of improvement was the upper airway.

Of course, we expected changes in the midface and facial profile—that’s where the surgery occurred. But behind the jaws, the airway was glowing. That was the aha moment: manipulating the upper or lower jaw impacts the upper airway.

It occurred to me that this has powerful applications for people with sleep issues, airway disorders, and breathing problems. Suddenly, a small group of patients became the blueprint for helping a vast population struggling with common sleep-related conditions.

Let’s put on our doctor hats for a moment. Do you think the midface contributes more to sleep-breathing disorders than the lower face?

Here’s my bias: yes. And it’s backed by data. In over 90% of the cases I’ve studied, the midface is more significant.

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The Spatial Matrix Hypothesis: Predicting Growth

So what happened next?

Back in 2004, I developed something called the Spatial Matrix Hypothesis. If we’re seeing airway changes, we should also see changes in surrounding structures: the maxilla, sinuses, nasal passages. So we ran separate studies to test each component.

First, we saw that the midface (maxilla) increased in size and volume during treatment—even using a non-surgical device. This was published around 2012–2013.

But if you have a bigger piece of bone, it's heavier. Wouldn’t that alter posture? Nature counters this by enlarging the maxillary sinuses—replacing bone with air. And that’s exactly what we observed.

Next, we predicted the nasal airway would expand too. We ran studies in North America and South Korea—and both confirmed that nasal airway volume increased.

So we were three for three: midface, sinuses, and nasal passages all expanded. These structures communicate with the upper airway. As the maxilla expands, it creates room for the mandible (lower jaw) to come forward, which brings the tongue with it and opens the airway behind it.

That’s a state of equilibrium—and a formula for healthy breathing and better sleep.

That really resonated with me when I first heard you lecture. I sold my dental practice nine years ago because I was inspired by this connection. I thought if I could get people breathing and sleeping better, they wouldn’t destroy their oral structures so quickly—and their systemic health would improve.

Exactly. Back then, options were limited—mandibular advancement devices and CPAP, each with drawbacks. Over time, we saw that patients wearing these devices developed structural changes—open bites, posterior displacement of the maxilla, distorted arches.

In trying to solve a medical problem, we were creating new craniofacial ones. But then came the realization: if patients are going to wear a device anyway, why not grow the maxilla while they’re at it?

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A New Era: Stimulating Growth with Modern Technology

Traditionally we’re taught that growing the maxilla in adults isn’t possible. But now, with technology and better understanding, we know more about how growth works.

That’s right. A generation ago, we didn’t know what we know now. With 3D imaging and insights from the Human Genome Project, we can now see how genes express during craniofacial development—and how they’re activated by environmental signals: breathing, eating, speaking, swallowing, and sleep.

So if we want to influence facial growth, we stimulate those genes. And where are those genes? In specific cells, within sutures—the joints between bones. For years, we thought those sutures were fused in adults. But in reality, we just didn’t have the sensitivity to detect slight separations or resident stem cells.

Now we do.

And the old 2D X-rays couldn’t show that. They superimposed structures, hiding the very thing we were looking for.

Exactly. Today, with CBCT and 3D modeling, we see true structure, size, and spatial relationships. Combine that with genetic insights and we can map how lifestyle—diet, stress, circadian rhythm—impacts gene expression.

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Circadian Rhythm and Midfacial Growth

Let’s talk about circadian rhythm. The body expects certain things to happen at certain times—sleep at night, activity during the day. How does that affect treatment?

The timing of gene expression is key. For example, growth hormone is released during deep sleep. So if we’re targeting growth, that’s when we want to stimulate those genes.

That’s how we designed our protocol. Adults wear the device at night during sleep to tap into that natural rhythm. For children, who are already in rapid growth mode, they wear it after school until bedtime—removing it for meals and brushing.

We’re targeting bone, dental structures, soft tissue like the tongue, and crucially, the functional spaces like the upper airway and TMJ joints.

And that’s what makes your device unique—it’s not just a mechanical appliance, but one designed with modern materials and matched to the body’s natural rhythm.

Right. That’s the novelty. Historical appliances targeted isolated structures. We now understand how to design for integration—across time, tissue, and function.

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Early Intervention: Treating Cleft Palate in Newborns

One of the fascinating stories you’ve told is about helping infants in your craniofacial clinic using oral devices. Can you walk us through how you helped a newborn with a cleft lip or palate?

Absolutely. Whenever a baby was born with a cleft lip or cleft palate, we’d get a call from the pediatric hospital by the second day. Now, from a facial recognition standpoint, your eyes are automatically drawn to the deformity. But from the body’s point of view, the key issue is functionality—specifically, the ability to breathe and feed.

In cases of cleft lip and palate, the nostril on the cleft side is often collapsed. And since all babies are obligate nasal breathers, this collapse means they can’t breathe properly.

So we said, we’re not going to touch the palate or the lip surgically yet—let’s just try to open the nose. We created a nasal stent, a small device placed inside the nostril, attached to a retainer-like plate using wire and secured with surgical tape. We trained the parents—critical team members—on how to manage it.

Because infants respond rapidly, within a week or two, these babies started breathing through their noses. As they did, the lip began to come together. The cleft gap became smaller, though it wouldn’t close completely because of the palatal involvement.

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Molding the Palate and Preparing for Surgery

Then we placed a molding plate inside the baby's mouth to gradually bring the segments of the palate closer together. This process took a couple of months.

Once the palate and lip segments were in better alignment, and nasal breathing was established, the tongue could sit properly on the palate. The baby could close its lips and begin normal function.

At that point, we’d call in our surgical colleagues to do a repair of the lip and palate. With that foundation of function—nasal breathing, lip seal, tongue posture—the outcomes were significantly better.

From there, we’d follow the child through development to ensure they continued nasal breathing, proper swallowing, and optimal tongue and lip posture. And most of these kids grew up developing fairly normally, functionally and structurally.

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Facial Symmetry and Long-Term Impact

So you could take a child with a half-inch cleft and reduce it to a tiny gap before surgery?

Exactly. Often to just a millimeter or so. Symmetry is key—our brains are wired to respond positively to symmetrical faces. Our goal was always to restore symmetry, believing that function would follow form.

We had incredible success—provided we had parent participation. That was the make-or-break factor. If the parents were involved and supportive, the chance of success was very high.

And what an impact on a child’s psychology—if they grow up without repair, everyone looks at the anomaly. As they grow older, they realize they’re “different.” That has to affect their confidence.

Absolutely. The psychological impact can vary widely. Some children withdraw, turning toward less productive paths—drug use, crime. Others overcompensate, striving for excellence in academics or leadership roles.

Our job is to guide that pendulum toward a positive, productive life. The earlier we can help normalize facial function and structure, the more likely the child is to thrive.

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Cultural Perspectives and the Burden on Parents

That’s a heavy burden for a child—to feel like they must compensate for a facial anomaly by achieving fame or success.

Yes, and every child is different. Culture plays a big role. In some ancient cultures, cleft lip was even celebrated. In India, for example, one of the ancient gods is depicted with an elephant's head, which some theorize could have stemmed from observing a child born with bilateral cleft lip and palate who grew up to achieve extraordinary things.

So depending on the context and culture, the perception of cleft conditions can vary widely.

How did the parents respond after their babies underwent this treatment?

That’s the million-dollar question. Parents are actually the hardest “patients” in this group. Their reactions vary—some feel guilt, others experience denial, anger, or resentment, wrongly believing they caused the condition.

About 80% of cleft cases are random events. So our first goal was always to stabilize and support the parents. Once they accepted the reality, they became invaluable team members.

We’d take clinical photos with the baby in the parent's arms to reinforce that partnership. I remember one case—during the impression-taking process, the baby cried loudly. As soon as we placed the plate in the baby’s mouth, the tongue touched the plate, the lips closed, nasal breathing resumed, and the baby instantly stopped crying.

The parents were stunned. It was a spontaneous, powerful moment—and confirmed we were on the right track.

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Building a Community of Support

And all the parents would come on the same day?

Exactly. We created a “craniofacial day” in our clinic. All the babies, from new cases to those mid-treatment and those finishing care, came in at once.

This created a community where parents of older children could support and mentor newer families. They could say, “I’ve been through this. Here’s what to expect.” That peer-to-peer support was invaluable.

We weren’t just improving facial symmetry—we were improving family dynamics, confidence, and long-term health.

Did you ever imagine back in dental school that you’d be improving entire families like this?

Not at all. When I became a dentist, I thought, “Great, I’m licensed and independent.” But the broader medical and developmental implications weren’t on my radar. Over the years, the field has evolved to view teeth and oral structures in the context of total body health. That shift has been profound—and necessary.

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Dentistry’s Place in Healthcare

It’s amazing to realize that dentists can be so integral to healthcare—impacting airway health, sleep, confidence, and even emotional well-being.

And that’s rooted in history. Early dentists were physicians. If you read the oldest studies, you'll see “MD” after their names. Dentistry became the first specialty of medicine simply because there was such high demand for oral care in the age of rampant caries and sepsis.

But our precision work is on par with any other medical specialty. It’s time for reintegration—bringing dental professionals fully back into the healthcare fold.

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Transforming Adult Lives Through Better Breathing

Have you seen patients whose lives changed after addressing airway and sleep issues—particularly in adulthood?

Many. One recent case stands out. A man in his 60s had done everything his healthcare providers told him—regular dental visits, orthodontic treatment, even extraction of premolars for alignment. He showed me old photos from his youth: full facial profile, balanced structure. But now, decades later, he looked sunken in, fatigued, and had been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea.

We fitted him with a nighttime oral device. He wore it diligently for 11 months. Over time, we saw structural improvements: the previously extracted spaces reopened, and his profile began to regain volume. But more importantly, he started waking up refreshed, had renewed energy, and shared that his relationship with his wife had improved dramatically.

And did the data support his improved symptoms?

Absolutely. A follow-up sleep study showed that his apnea severity had dropped to within normal limits. His subjective feeling of “getting his life back” was confirmed with objective results.

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A New Lease on Life—At Any Age

What about older adults? Can they still benefit from this kind of treatment?

Yes, we had a patient who was 84 years old with long-standing, severe sleep apnea. He’d been using a CPAP machine for years but still felt fatigued. After discussing it with his dentist, he decided to try our device. His compliance was excellent.

A year later, he returned to his physician, who immediately noticed a change in energy, demeanor, and even appearance. A follow-up sleep study revealed a drop in apnea severity from the 90s down to the low teens. The transformation was so significant that the physician said, “I want what you’re using.”

That’s incredible. But we also have to acknowledge—it takes work.

Exactly. It’s not a magic bullet. Some patients struggle to get the recommended 16 hours of device wear, especially with demanding schedules. But those who do commit? They see the magic happen—improved breathing, deeper sleep, better health.

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Finding the Right Balance: Fixed vs. Removable Devices

With removable devices, compliance is key. Have you considered fixed alternatives?

We’ve observed the evolution of fixed devices—designed so patients can’t remove them. But the body doesn’t need constant stimulus. Think about exercise: you lift weights, then rest to allow adaptation. The same applies to midfacial growth. The circadian rhythm teaches us that recovery and rest are as important as activity.

So while fixed appliances may ensure wear time, they may not work synergistically with the body. That’s why our protocol targets growth phases during the late afternoon and nighttime, aligning with natural cycles.

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Expanding Access and Training Professionals

Have you trained others to deliver this treatment?

Yes, we’ve trained hundreds of doctors, dentists, and orthodontists across North America, Canada, Asia, and now Europe. Through Vivos Therapeutics, we’re building infrastructure so that trained doctors can educate patients—and train their peers.

Patients can go to the website, find a trained provider, and decide whether to pursue treatment. It’s about informed choices, backed by science and compassion.

So if someone’s dentist doesn’t offer this, they can go to vivoslife.com to find a provider?

Exactly. Just visit the site, look for the provider directory, and you’ll see who is trained and licensed in your area.

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Final Thoughts: A Vision for Healthier Futures

We’ve covered so much today—from newborns to seniors. It really sounds like people of all ages can benefit from better breathing and sleep.

That’s exactly why I gave examples from both ends of the age spectrum. Most people—regardless of age—are candidates for this treatment protocol, as long as they meet the right criteria.

It’s been a privilege to talk with you, Dr. Singh. You’ve clearly followed your instincts beyond traditional dental boundaries. I hope listeners consider how airway and sleep issues may be affecting their children, family members, or even themselves.

Thank you for the opportunity. We’re living in an information age. It’s about education, access, and informed decision-making. If this resonates with someone you love, I encourage you to do the research, find the right provider, and take that first step toward better health.

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