More Than Teeth Podcast | Sleep and Airway Centered Dentistry with Dr. Lyly Fisher

Sleep and Airway Centered Dentistry with Dr. Lyly Fisher

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Hello everyone. Welcome to our podcast. I'm Dr. Michael Bennett. I'm here today with Dr. Lely Fisher. She's a practicing dentist in the Renton, Washington area, correct?

Yes, correct. Thank you for having me on.

Oh, I'm so glad you're on. You know, everyone, Dr. Fisher is one of those gems out there in the world that loves people, loves to learn and it's obvious that she cares a lot about learning so that she can benefit people and then help them. I've interacted with her quite a bit as both of us have integrated the Vivos System into our practices, along with other systems of treating pain and headache disorders as well. It's been a fun, fun ride so far, hasn't it?

Yes. It's been wonderful. I've learned so much during this journey and it just really makes sense.

Starting a Patient-Centered Practice

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself? What you'd want people to know about you?

So I am a general practice dentist and I started my practice about over 26 years ago from scratch in a small two-chair practice, just adding patients. And back then I was just out of dental school and I was just happy to have my own practice, so I just added patients and was doing all the hygiene on my patients. So I really got to know them really well and kind of followed them over time.

That's wonderful. I think I've always had an entrepreneurial kind of mindset, and that's why I set up my own practice. Has that been difficult to maintain over the years?

I think because our office is so small—we are just a two-chair practice—that was one of the reasons I felt like I really needed to get out of network with networks like Delta Dental. I was in-network for the past 20-something years and I just wasn’t able to maintain that with what we were doing and the time we were spending with patients.

So you got out of network in 2019?

Yes. I still needed to move forward with the things that were interesting and beneficial for patients, so it’s been really positive.

Were you worried at all going out of network? It’s kind of almost a guaranteed income, right?

Yes. It was at once exhilarating and terrifying. I spent a lot of time thinking about it before I actually did it. It was a lot of preparation. But it's really allowed me some freedom to go forward instead of being tied to that model of having to see lots of patients, which our office was not really set up to do anyway.

That’s great. That takes a lot of courage to do that. So you’re glad you did it then overall?

Yes, very much.

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A Journey into Airway and Sleep-Centered Dentistry

So I know that you've gotten into an airway and sleep-centered mindset more and more in your practice lately. Can you tell us what resonated with you to investigate this? They don’t teach this in dental school, right?

Yeah. Over the years in my own practice, I would see patients coming back for their appointments and while a lot of them were stable and healthy, many of them were not. I would see patients that I restored dentally—fillings, crowns, onlays—and they stayed really stable for 10, 20 years. But others would come back after just a year with fractured teeth or fractured porcelain, progressing periodontal disease, new cavities, sore muscles, and TMJ pain from grinding.

I was trying to understand what I was seeing. If I just kept restoring the fractured teeth without figuring out why they fractured, I wasn’t really helping these patients long-term.

It’s so frustrating, isn’t it, for the patient and for the doctor to deal with a breakdown like that? I remember that so well.

Exactly. So then I started just trying to learn as much as I could about occlusion and TMJ function and the different philosophies of joint-based occlusion. It really made sense that if the TM joint system is not in harmony, there can be a lot of compensations that affect growth, development, and accelerate wear and breakdown.

Then everything seemed focused around the joint. Now I know it’s really all about the airway. But when you’re learning something new, it seems like that’s all it is—until you realize it’s all interconnected. So that led me to another journey to learn about breathing, sleep, and understanding all of that.

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. And as a dentist, when you talk to patients about these things, do they get surprised that you know so much about the underlying issues?

Yes. First of all, as a dentist, you get paid by the procedures. So I didn’t get into deeper conversations until I restructured my office. When a patient comes in for a crown or procedure, you don’t get to talk on that level. Now when we talk to patients, that is the appointment. They can share a lot more and we have richer conversations. It’s been really satisfying getting to know my long-time patients on a completely different level.

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Seeing Transformation: The Power of Airway Treatment

Does any particular case stand out in your mind—one that was exciting for both you and the patient—as you started to help them breathe and sleep better?

Yes, there have been several patients who struggled with things their whole life—postural issues, spine and cervical problems, chronic pain. When we began treatment and provided the appliances, not only did their breathing improve, but their personalities changed. They came in introverted and shy, but as the breathing opened up and they felt better, their faces showed more color and they became more outgoing.

So the whole body started opening up and healing?

Exactly. I think a lot of it had to do with finally getting the oxygen their bodies needed, and improving the neurology of the brain. Everything changed.

That is so exciting. And do they attribute those changes directly to what you’ve been doing?

Yes, absolutely. Many have had these challenges for so long they didn’t have anything to compare it with. Once we began our full assessment process—getting records, looking at airways and structures—they started improving many aspects of their life, including nutrition. They’ll say things like, “I’ve never felt this good before,” and they directly correlate it to the work we started with them.

That’s so exciting. I think about patients of mine who were on blood pressure medications. Once they began breathing and sleeping better, their blood pressure would drop. They’d start feeling dizzy—not realizing it’s because they didn’t need that much medication anymore. I’d ask what they were on, talk about side effects, and encourage them to speak with their prescriber to adjust their dosage.

That makes so much sense.

It’s such a joy to walk through that healing process with people, right? And for me, I’ve always loved dentistry—helping people eat well and smile. But it’s even more rewarding now because we can give them the gift of improved overall health through better sleep.

Yes, I agree. As dentists, we already know so much about the oral structures, so we're in a good position to bridge that gap between dentistry and medicine. We can help patients understand the full-body implications of what's going on in their mouths.

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Dentists as Primary Care Partners

I don't know if you’ve seen this report from the NIH, but one of the biggest healthcare concerns right now is a shortage of primary care physicians. By 2030, they expect a shortfall of more than 5,000 doctors. A lot of med school grads want to go into high-paying specialties. That’s left a huge gap in primary care—and it’s been suggested that dentists help fill that gap.

We’ve had foundational training in physiology, biochemistry, neuroanatomy, and anatomy. And because we see patients more frequently than their primary care physicians do, we’re in a great position to screen for chronic diseases and refer appropriately.

That makes a lot of sense. It's not just about the teeth—it’s about the attachments to the teeth and the function of those structures. And yes, the mouth is the beginning of the digestive tract. If something’s wrong there, how can the body absorb nutrients efficiently?

Exactly. So we dentists should be thinking of ourselves as oral physicians, collaborating with our medical colleagues. If we work together to provide detailed referrals and share what we observe, we might really help fill that primary care gap.

Absolutely. I also think primary care providers are just stretched so thin—they don’t always get time to talk with patients. But we do. We see our patients every six months or even more often. We’re in the perfect position to play that role.

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A Look Ahead: Where Dentistry Is Headed

So looking forward, where do you think dentistry and medicine are heading in the next 5–10 years as we integrate sleep and airway knowledge into practice?

I see myself working more closely with a network of other practitioners. When a patient needs to see an ENT, cranial osteopath, Atlas Orthogonal chiropractor, or another type of provider, I want to make sure that referral process is smooth.

As dentists, we tend to be isolated in our offices. But I’ve learned that when I bring in others to help a patient, the burden of solving everything doesn’t fall only on me. Sometimes, what’s not working isn’t just the appliance—it could be another factor in the body blocking healing. So I think we’ll see more integration, more networks of wellness-minded professionals focusing on prevention and optimizing function before illness ever develops.

I love that—treating someone before they’re sick. Helping prevent disease. If you asked ten people if they’d want to be screened for risk factors of things like diabetes, heart disease, or sleep-disordered breathing, they’d all say yes. And inflammatory conditions like these are very much tied to airway health.

Exactly. And because I’m looking for it, I’m seeing these patterns earlier and earlier. I’ll see a dad using CPAP for sleep apnea and then I’ll see his kids with growth and development issues or signs of poor sleep. That makes me want to intervene as early as possible—get the train back on the track before it completely derails.

It’s really fun to work with kids. Once they start feeling better, their behavior, health, and mood all improve—and parents definitely notice the difference.

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Creating Early Intervention and Generational Impact

That’s incredible. You’re not just helping the child—you’re preventing a whole adulthood of chronic disease. How do you bring that up with parents, especially if they’re already discussing their own health problems?

I usually share what I’ve been learning—how so many different symptoms like ADHD, bedwetting, and behavioral issues can trace back to one root cause, such as an underdeveloped airway. I ask parents if they’ve noticed signs like mouth breathing, difficulty waking up in the morning, or fatigue in their children.

And most of the time, parents are just grateful that someone is finally willing to talk with them about it. These conversations happen very organically. My patients know I’m always bringing back something new from the latest trainings, so they’re very open. Sharing what I’ve learned has become one of the most enjoyable parts of my work.

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Advice for Dentists and the Public

What advice would you give to a dentist who’s just starting to explore this airway-focused approach and maybe wants to integrate it into their practice?

Start with what you’re seeing in front of you. If you observe wear patterns, fractured teeth, muscle soreness, or poor healing in patients—ask why. Don’t just stop at treating symptoms. Learn how everything connects, from airway to function to nutrition to vitamin D. So many layers are involved beyond just giving a patient a device.

Education is key. Go on your own journey. Seek out mentors. You’ve been an incredible mentor to me in all things sleep, airway, and TMJ. It’s through those relationships and continual learning that real progress is made.

Thank you! I feel the same way. We’re all standing on the shoulders of those who came before us. And the advice I’d give is to focus on root causes. Symptoms are just the clues. When you aim for the origin, you can create lasting healing—not just temporary fixes.

Absolutely. And I’ve learned so much about how to identify those root causes, thanks to mentors like you. For instance, understanding that a fractured tooth is like a flat tire—it tells you something about the road, not just the car. If your driveway is full of nails, I can fix your flat, but you’ll just be back again next week unless we address the real problem.

That’s what I love about this approach. It’s not about chasing the pain, but about finding the source—just like you taught us with trigger points and referred pain. When we look deeper, we find better answers.

What about general public listeners who are intrigued by the idea that sleep can help the body heal—what would you say to them?

I’d encourage them to find a provider who understands this holistic process. Someone who isn’t just going to give them a quick fix, but who can talk about long-term solutions—about how breathing, airway development, sleep, and healing all connect. There are great providers out there, and they want to help. Reach out, ask questions, learn what your options are. The more you understand your body, the better choices you’ll make.

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Final Reflections and Closing

That’s excellent advice. And thank you again for being on the podcast today. You’ve shared so much insight and experience. You’re a wonderful example of the kind of provider that gives people hope.

Thank you so much for having me. It’s been a joy to talk about this work.

Keep doing good in the world—we’ll be doing the same on our end. And to our listeners, thank you for joining us. Think about your own health, your family, your children, and start asking questions about sleep and breathing. There’s power in knowing, and there’s healing in sleep. Until next time—take care.

Summary: Could your dental health be the missing link to your overall well-being?

This insightful conversation explores how dentists like Dr. Lely Fisher are helping patients overcome chronic conditions by focusing on root causes—specifically poor airway development and sleep-disordered breathing. Learn how early interventions, airway-centered treatments, and collaborative care models are transforming lives and pointing to a new future in whole-body wellness.

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