Meet Dave! A Leader in Whole-Person Care & a Collaborative Approach

Meet Dave Henrichsen! He is an RDH and oral myofunctional therapist working hybrid seeing patients and teaching. Dave is a proud member of NNHH and a Certificate Holder in Oral Systemic Education (CH-OSE). Dave owns a myofunctional therapy practice in the state of Washington (Kenmore Myo), working collaboratively with dentists, oral surgeons, periodontists, ENT physicians, orthodontists, massage therapist, mental health therapists, primary care physicians, pediatricians, chiropractors, naturopaths, sleep specialists, TMJ specialists, and physical therapists.

We sat down with Dave to learn a little more about his unique role and why he transitioned from being a clinical dental hygienist to a new career pathway.

Tell us about yourself Dave, what made you shift gears beyond clinical hygiene, join NNHH and complete the Oral Systemic Educator Certificate Program (OSECP)?

My vision is to bring attention to the connection between the breathing and the muscles of the mouth and face and how that connects to oral and systemic conditions. For my OSECP capstone project I built and taught a course to physical therapists about the importance of nasal breathing and identification of tongue tie and tongue thrust swallow in an effort to collaborate with the physical therapy world while correcting oral dysfunction. I specifically love working with teenagers and young adults.

Do you have a personal story attached to that?

I have found that through orofacial myofunctional therapy patients are able to gain control of their breathing, tongue posture, lip seal and swallow and bring dysfunction into normal function.  As we approach the end of therapy I begin talking about the power and control they have executed in changing 4 fundamental functions of the human body and with that power to change these things, that they truly have the power to do almost anything they want to do in their lives. 

I have seen patients take control of their oral motor functions and then use that as the jumping off platform to take control of other aspects of their life: starting to do crossfit or pilates, starting a new business, deciding to take charge of their financial life by getting out of debt, going back to college, starting a new relationship. 

One example of a patient like this was a young man that was struggling with mouth breathing, tongue thrust swallow, orthodontic relapse, snoring, sleep apnea, anxiety and depression. We started therapy together, he had a tongue tie release, orthodontic expansion, established nasal breathing, tongue posture in the roof of his newly expanded mouth, corrected his swallowing and finally moved forward in his life. He started a real estate business, married and started a family. Today he lives without sleep apnea; his anxiety and depression are managed, and his real estate business has grown to the point I see his name on real estate signs all over town. 

I believe in massive human potential and elimination of roadblocks to growth. Sleep and breathing can unlock roadblocks in my patients life and I can have a small part in helping my patients to grow and succeed in life to find a path that leads towards health, happiness and joy.

What type of role / job description do you dream of?

I am living my dream! I own and operate my own solo in-person and virtual myofunctional therapy practice, and I am sharing my knowledge with my dental colleagues and other healthcare providers as an educator.

Why did you enroll in the Oral Systemic Educator Certificate Program? What made you want more than just CE?

I wanted to tie all the various educational programs I have taken together. For the last 15 years I have been taking CE courses in things that connect the dots between the mouth and the rest of the body, and the Oral Systemic Educator Certificate Program was an excellent summation of all of those courses and allows me to demonstrate the knowledge I have acquired.

How did it help you expand your career?

It pushed me outside the dental box. I have focused on teaching CE courses to dental professionals and the OSE framework pushed me to think outside the space of dental providers. The courses filled in the gaps in my knowledge base of oral-systemic connection. The sections on oncology and endocrine disorders were most especially helpful for my line of work.

How did it help you gain confidence collaborating?

A few weeks after taking the course that talked about the connection between aspiration pneumonia and poor oral care in hospital settings, my Mom fell and broke 9 ribs and spent a week in the ICU. I confidently talked with nurses, physicians, and CNAs about the need for oral care in the ICU as a method of reducing risk of inhalation of oral pathogens, and demonstrated toothbrushing technique to the CNA staff who was caring for her.

What would you say to hygienists considering taking the program?

In hygiene school we talk a little bit about the connection between the mouth and the rest of the body, but there is not very much in-depth discussion about these subjects. While working as a hygienist, you are not working on a mouth; the teeth are connected to a body and that body all interacts and interfaces with all the systems and the body is connected to a human who lives and breathes and interacts with other humans. When we look at caries, or periodontal disease we can't just look at the teeth or the gums to really truly treat the disease to truly treat that human. The concept of a Healthcare Hygienist with the Oral Systemic Educator Certificate Program changes the zoom lens from the microscopic to the holistic view. The program is well laid out to help a practicing hygienist to be able to view their patient as a whole person, not just a patient with dental disease. Treating whole people brings great joy, increased job satisfaction and prevents burn out. I highly recommend it!

Connect with Dave at [email protected]  or kenmoremyo.com 

Click below to learn from Dave in his new webinar so that you don’t miss the signs of airway issues in your family or patients (earn 1 Free AGD PACE Credit Hour)