In this episode of The DOC Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Maria Sokolina, a dentist with a fascinating journey from Russia to the U.S. Hear her struggles and successes in integrating airway, health, wellness, and myofunctional therapy into her dental practice. Discover how early challenges in restorative dentistry and orthodontics led her to dive deep into sleep medicine and its impacts on dental health.
Dr. Sokolina shares inspiring patient stories, her collaboration with medical professionals, and practical advice for young dentists navigating the corporate and private practice landscape. Learn about her passion for comprehensive care and how taking the time to learn more about your patient’s airway and breathing can lead to big changes in treatment outcomes!
00:05 Maria's Journey: From Russia to NYU
01:04 Challenges in Private Practice
01:53 Discovering Sleep Medicine
03:49 Integrating Orthodontics and Sleep Medicine
06:24 Advice for Dentists and Orthodontists
10:12 The Importance of Early Intervention
14:57 Public Awareness and Professional Responsibility
19:33 Challenges in Rural Areas and Telemedicine
21:59 Orthodontic Stability and Muscle Function
28:52 Initial Diagnostic Process
29:29 Patient Education and Evidence Gathering
30:24 Collaborating with Medical Specialists
31:22 Physical Therapy and Body Balance
33:57 Financial Aspects of Treatment
38:44 Success Stories and Treatment Outcomes
46:17 Encouragement for Young Dentists
55:46 Final Thoughts and Resources
LINKS To Dr. Sokolina’s Content:
What is The DOC Podcast?
The DOC Podcast brings you unique educational content taught by Dr. Mike DeLuke, a Board Certified Orthodontist with over 20 years of clinical and academic experience. Dr. DeLuke built his orthodontic practice from scratch in the early 2000s and grew it into a multimillion-dollar enterprise in less than 10 years. He was able to retire from private practice at the age of 46 years old, and now devotes his energy to teaching his colleagues how to succeed both personally and professionally.
Dr. DeLuke has served as a faculty member at numerous hospitals and orthodontic residency programs around the country, including as the cleft craniofacial orthodontist at Albany Medical Center in New York, and as a clinical professor at The University of Connecticut in the Department of Orthodontics. He is presently an adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University in the Department of Orthodontics.
The DOC Podcast will bring you in-depth discussions and interviews with industry leaders and experts on a variety of topics including clinical excellence, practice management, finance and wealth creation, health and wellness, taxes and accounting, fitness, and much more!