Tragedy, Resilience, and a Mission to Transform Orthodontics (w/Dr. Bret Christensen) [Ep.142]

In this deeply personal and inspiring episode, I sit down with Dr. Brett Christiansen, an Army veteran and board-certified orthodontist who has transformed his practice to focus on treating the root causes of malocclusion and sleep-disordered breathing.

Dr. Christiansen shares his remarkable journey from growing up on an Idaho farm to becoming one of only five orthodontists in the country board-certified in sleep medicine. He opens up about surviving a widow-maker heart attack at 45, losing his son in a tragic accident, overcoming depression, getting hit by a car while training for an Ironman, and enduring multiple heart surgeries—all while revolutionizing how he treats patients.

This episode explores Brett's pioneering data collection using rhinometry on thousands of patients, his transition from traditional extraction-based orthodontics to skeletal expansion techniques, and why he believes orthodontists must become true doctors who treat patients, not just symptoms.

TIMESTAMPS:

04:02 - Farm Kid to Orthodontist
06:00 - Military Service & Dental School
09:00 - Discovering Orthodontics
11:00 - Starting Practice in Lewiston, Idaho
14:46 - The Turning Point: Expansion & Snoring
18:20 - Personal Health Crisis: The Heart Attack
24:00 - Dad's Sleep Apnea Discovery
28:00 - Introduction to Sleep Apnea Treatment
32:00 - Collecting Data with Rhinometry
38:00 - Kevin Boyd's Life-Changing Phone Call
42:00 - Transitioning to MARPE & Skeletal Expansion
56:00 - The Key to Sleep Apnea: Nasal Breathing
1:00:00 - Recovery & Becoming an Ironman
1:13:00 - The Bike Accident & Heart Failure
1:18:00 - Everly's Story: Treating a 3-Year-Old
1:21:00 - Parallels Between Dr. Mike & Dr. Brett
1:10:00 - Facing Opposition from the AAO
1:30:00 - Why Orthodontists Must Become Doctors
1:38:00 - The Future of Orthodontics
1:45:00 - Surprise Guest: Everly Visits!
1:51:00 - Final Thoughts & Closing

THREE SIGNIFICANT QUOTES:

"We need orthodontists to become doctors. Most orthodontists out there that are straightening teeth, taking out teeth and lining teeth are tooth technicians. We need to become doctors of our patients. We need to be treating the patient, not the symptom of the crooked, crowded teeth."

"The key to sleep apnea is not worrying as much about the tongue, it's worrying about getting the nasal passage opened. When we expand that maxilla and the nasal passage opens up and that pathway of airflow is just smooth, that patient can now breathe through their nose."

"My daughter changed my life. She looked at me and said, 'Dad, you say that you're the airway doctor. Kids die on the operating table from general anesthetic. I don't feel right about sending her. What are you gonna do?' That's when I started treating 3-year-olds."

KEY TOPICS: Early orthodontic intervention • MARPE for adults • Rhinometry data on thousands of patients • Nasal volume changes (3-8 cubic centimeters) • Treating children as young as 2-3 years old • The connection between sleep apnea and heart disease • Overcoming professional opposition • The future of orthodontics

CONNECT:

• Dr. Brett Christiansen - Christiansen Orthodontics (Lewiston, Grangeville, Moscow, ID): https://christensenbraces.com/
• Dr. Mike DeLuke - TheOrthoCoach.com | [e-mail]
• Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/
• Check out the DOC website: https://theorthocoach.com/