The Healing Power of Sleep

The Healing Power of Sleep

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Welcome to the More Than Teeth Podcast with Dr. Michael Bennett. In this inaugural episode, Dr. Bennett and his wife, Cathy, embark on a deeply personal and professional journey exploring the transformative impact of sleep on overall health and wellness. With years of hands-on experience and heartfelt dedication, they aim to bring awareness to a vital, yet often overlooked, pillar of human health—sleep.

Dr. Bennett began his career in dentistry, having practiced general dentistry for over a decade after graduating from dental school with his wife more than 20 years ago. Throughout his clinical experience, he observed troubling patterns that extended beyond routine oral health issues. Patients often presented with worn-down teeth, deep cracks, broken crowns, and recurring structural problems that couldn’t be explained by cavities or bacterial decay alone. What alarmed him most was the severity of damage in relatively young individuals, sometimes in their twenties, whose teeth had already deteriorated to the point of exposing the dentin—the yellowish inner layer of the tooth.

Given that anthropological studies suggest humans are naturally equipped with approximately 160 years’ worth of enamel, this rapid wear signaled that something more significant was occurring. Dr. Bennett identified chronic stress and poor sleep as underlying factors exacerbating these conditions. He found that individuals with sleep disturbances often ground their teeth excessively during sleep—a condition known as bruxism—leading to mechanical damage and acid-induced enamel softening. These issues caused long-term, costly oral health complications that couldn’t be permanently resolved through traditional dental treatments alone.

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A Deeper Calling Beyond Dentistry

While Dr. Bennett could have comfortably continued treating these dental issues with temporary solutions, his desire to offer long-lasting relief drove him to look deeper. His training as a Doctor of Dental Surgery provided the technical skills to repair teeth, but it was his passion for true healing that motivated him to search for root causes.

Rather than being satisfied with performing the same procedures repeatedly, he became increasingly focused on helping patients prevent these recurring problems. His ultimate goal was not just to restore broken teeth but to restore health and vitality to his patients’ lives.

This journey took an even more personal turn when Dr. Bennett began to recognize similar patterns in the lives of people around him—patients who weren’t just struggling with dental problems but were sick, fatigued, and emotionally worn down. One case, in particular, stuck with him: a woman suffering from chronic disease who was convinced her inability to sleep well played a major role in her deteriorating health. Despite her frustration and suffering, there were limited avenues for real help. Dr. Bennett felt deeply moved and determined to fill that void.

The desire to become more than a dental care provider dated back to his early days in professional school. Initially torn between medical and dental school, he always felt drawn toward comprehensive health care. Though he eventually chose dentistry—largely influenced by practical family considerations—his heart remained fixed on broader healing. During his first year of dental school, he even visited the medical school to inquire about transferring. But with two children at home, he opted to stay the course, despite his inner conflict.

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From Dentistry to Sleep Medicine: A Life-Changing Transition

After twelve years in dental practice, Dr. Bennett made the bold and life-altering decision to sell his dental practice and pursue a new mission—helping individuals suffering from sleep-breathing disorders. Though this transition involved significant risk, he was driven by a sense of purpose: to become a true healer, not just of oral ailments, but of the human body as a whole.

Cathy, his wife and steadfast supporter, recalls those early days vividly. She stood by him through lean years, including their first date where the budget was a modest three dollars at a fast food restaurant. Despite humble beginnings—Dr. Bennett rode a duct-taped ten-speed bicycle that required no lock—what sustained them was love, shared vision, and a commitment to making a meaningful difference.

That same commitment led Dr. Bennett to delve deeply into the connection between sleep and overall health. During his third year of dental school, he had a breakthrough moment while working on a patient. Despite taking two hours to complete a simple filling, the patient’s heartfelt gratitude left a lasting impression. It affirmed for him that he could, indeed, support his family while also doing purposeful work. The drive to uncover the root causes of chronic health issues grew stronger with each passing year.

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The Role of Sleep in Healing

Dr. Bennett emphasizes that while the quantity of sleep is important, the quality of sleep—especially how well one breathes during the night—is absolutely critical. Poor sleep quality can lead to physical deterioration, emotional fatigue, and strained relationships. As Cathy notes, these issues often showed up not just in Dr. Bennett’s practice, but in their own home.

Through his specialized treatments, Dr. Bennett has helped both himself and his children experience significant improvements in sleep and overall well-being. Cathy shares that the changes in their household have been profound. From personal experience and numerous conversations with others, she affirms that most people—perhaps 90%—can identify with at least one symptom of sleep-disordered breathing. Whether it's snoring, fatigue, or mood disturbances, these issues are incredibly common, and they impact more than just the person suffering; they affect entire families.

One vivid example comes from a family cruise, where Dr. Bennett’s loud snoring disrupted everyone’s sleep. Frustrated and sleep-deprived, his family confronted a problem many others silently endure. Since receiving treatment, Dr. Bennett now sleeps so quietly that Cathy often checks to make sure he’s even in bed. This is just one of many ways the right intervention can dramatically improve quality of life—not only eliminating annoying symptoms like snoring but also enhancing emotional connection and daily functioning.

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Looking Ahead: Stories of Hope and Transformation

In future episodes of the podcast, Dr. Bennett and Cathy plan to share compelling stories from their experience—patients whose lives have been transformed through better sleep. These include individuals who suffered from neurological symptoms like tics, or couples on the brink of divorce due to energy loss and emotional disconnection.

Their mission is to shed light on the link between poor sleep and chronic disease, and to introduce listeners to innovative technologies and therapeutic approaches that offer real, lasting relief. As Cathy beautifully puts it, there is hope—hope for deeper rest, restored health, and revived relationships.

The More Than Teeth Podcast is more than a platform for information. It’s a deeply personal commitment to educating, inspiring, and empowering others to reclaim their health through the science and art of sleep.

Thank you for joining us on this journey.

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