Airway centric TMJ philosophy.

The airway governs our ability to breathe and to achieve a restful, oxygenated, restorative night's sleep, as well as to perform optimally during the day. Any temporomandibular joint or occlusal philosophy must address airway patency while managing pain and dysfunction, identifying contributing factors and alleviating perpetuating factors. The teeth are the last piece of the Airway Centric paradigm. The airway is the first, then joint and muscle and, lastly, the occlusion.