{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The DOC Podcast","title":"Tragedy, Resilience, and a Mission to Transform Orthodontics (w/Dr. Bret Christensen) [Ep.142]","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/9a2c90ab\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":6731,"description":"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.\n \nDr. 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.\n \nThis 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. \n \nTIMESTAMPS:\n04:02 - Farm Kid to Orthodontist\n06:00 - Military Service & Dental School\n09:00 - Discovering Orthodontics\n11:00 - Starting Practice in Lewiston, Idaho\n14:46 - The Turning Point: Expansion & Snoring\n18:20 - Personal Health Crisis: The Heart Attack\n24:00 - Dad's Sleep Apnea Discovery\n28:00 - Introduction to Sleep Apnea Treatment\n32:00 - Collecting Data with Rhinometry\n38:00 - Kevin Boyd's Life-Changing Phone Call\n42:00 - Transitioning to MARPE & Skeletal Expansion\n56:00 - The Key to Sleep Apnea: Nasal Breathing\n1:00:00 - Recovery & Becoming an Ironman\n1:13:00 - The Bike Accident & Heart Failure\n1:18:00 - Everly's Story: Treating a 3-Year-Old\n1:21:00 - Parallels Between Dr. Mike & Dr. Brett\n1:10:00 - Facing Opposition from the AAO\n1:30:00 - Why Orthodontists Must Become Doctors\n1:38:00 - The Future of Orthodontics\n1:45:00 - Surprise Guest: Everly Visits!\n1:51:00 - Final Thoughts & Closing\n \nTHREE SIGNIFICANT QUOTES:\n\"We need orthodontists to become doctors. Most orthodontists out...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/Wf6VIMhB_ulpfJzsJlix0BOF0i4W9yk8xxJ6-5X1Y6E/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzQxOTI3LzE2OTg2/MzExNDktYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}