Bio: Dr Meghan Chard graduated with honours from King’s College London Dental Institute, achieving second place in her year, and has worked as a general dental practitioner for over 14 years. She is co-owner of Rothley Lodge Dental Practice in Surrey, where she is committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care.   Following graduation, Meghan has undertaken extensive postgraduate training to ensure she remains at the forefront of modern dentistry. In 2013, she completed her Postgraduate Certificate in General Dentistry with the University of Kent, and in 2017 achieved a Postgraduate Diploma in Conscious Sedation at Guy’s Hospital.  Her interest in airway health developed through her work in sedation, where maintaining a patent airway is critical. This led to further training in the screening and management of adult sleep apnoea, including provision of mandibular advancement splints. Building on this foundation, Meghan’s clinical focus evolved towards paediatric airway heal

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Meghan, could you introduce yourself and share what first led you to focus on airway health and sleep-disordered breathing in your professional work? 

I’m a general dental practitioner and have been practising for 14 years. I own a practice in Surrey with my husband.  

My journey into airway health started during a postgraduate diploma in sedation, where I learned about the importance of keeping airways open, head positioning, carbon dioxide build-up, and the role of chemoreceptors. 

I then completed a snoring course for adults, which further developed my understanding of airway obstruction, oxygenation, and screening for obstructive sleep apnoea. 

I’ve always been very interested in health and longevity, including exercise, nutrition, and sleep. I believe good habits start early in childhood, such as brushing teeth, eating well, staying hydrated, exercising, and sleeping properly. 

I’ve always loved treating children, but I didn’t feel I had the tools to help with certain issues parents raised. That changed when I read Breath by James Nestor, which opened my eyes to the importance of nasal breathing and the negative impact of mouth breathing. 

From there, I explored more research, courses, and literature, and began to understand sleep-disordered breathing in children. I also recognised these issues in my own children and saw firsthand how sleep deprivation can affect behaviour, learning, and immune health. That’s when I became really passionate about this topic. 
 

What are the key signs and symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing that dental professionals should be actively screening for during routine examinations?

Once you understand this topic, you start to notice signs very quickly, even as children walk into the practice. 

Three key signs to look out for are: 

Tooth wear or grinding 
This is one of the biggest red flags. Tooth grinding is strongly linked with sleep-disordered breathing. Studies show that children with enlarged tonsils or adenoids often grind their teeth, and this can reduce or resolve once the airway obstruction is treated. 

Lack of spacing in baby teeth 
If baby teeth appear perfectly straight with no gaps, it often means there is not enough space for adult teeth. This suggests the child may not be developing along the ideal growth pathway. 

Narrow or high-arched palate 
A high, narrow palate suggests the tongue is not sitting correctly to shape the jaw. This can indicate underlying airway or functional issues. 

From your experience, how can untreated sleep-disordered breathing affect a patient’s overall health, quality of life, and long-term systemic wellbeing? 

Sleep-disordered breathing exists on a spectrum, from mouth breathing and snoring through to obstructive sleep apnoea. 

At its core, it reduces oxygen levels during sleep and disrupts deep, restorative sleep. Without that quality sleep, every system in the body is affected. 

This can result in: 

• Reduced cognitive function and processing ability 

• Changes in brain structure, including grey matter loss in children who snore 

• A weakened immune system, with significant reductions in natural killer cells after poor sleep 

• Increased long-term disease risk 

• Impaired growth and development in children due to reduced growth hormone release 

• Behavioural and learning difficulties, including strong links to ADHD symptoms 

• Associations with asthma, eczema, bedwetting, and mental health challenges 

Ultimately, poor sleep impacts emotional, physical, cognitive, and immune health, significantly reducing overall quality of life. 
 

How do you personally approach conversations with patients when raising concerns about potential sleep-related breathing issues, particularly when the topic may feel unexpected or sensitive? 

It can feel like an abstract topic, so I focus on building understanding step by step. 

I start with the basics, explaining the importance of nasal breathing, how it improves oxygenation, filters and warms the air, and helps guide facial and jaw development. 

From there, I explain how mouth breathing can negatively impact the airway and overall health. By gradually building this picture, parents begin to understand the bigger context. 

Once they understand, they are usually very receptive. Many also start recognising similar issues in themselves or other family members. 

Education is key. When people understand the why, they are much more motivated to take action. 

What are the most common misconceptions you encounter when discussing airway health with other clinicians? 

One common misconception is that airway health is only the responsibility of ENT specialists. In reality, dentists play a crucial role. 

We regularly see children who are otherwise healthy, which puts us in a unique position to screen early and act as a first line of defence. 

Another misconception is that concepts like nasal breathing and tongue posture seem too simple to be important. Because they are not complex or high-tech, they can be overlooked, but they are actually fundamental. 
 

For delegates attending your session, what practical steps or mindset shifts do you hope they can immediately implement in their next clinic session? 

After the session, delegates will be able to start screening immediately in their clinics. 

They will understand that sleep-disordered breathing is a multidisciplinary issue involving dentists, ENT specialists, orthodontists, and myofunctional therapists. 

I will also introduce a practical tool, the Bee Bite appliance, which helps encourage nasal breathing and supports correct tongue posture in children. 

This is something general dentists can begin using straight away to support their patients. 
 

What are you most looking forward to at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show this year? 

Dentistry is evolving towards a more holistic approach, looking at the whole patient rather than just individual parts. 

I am looking forward to connecting with forward-thinking clinicians who are interested in the mouth-body connection and a more preventative approach to care. 

It is a really exciting time to be in dentistry, and I am looking forward to meeting like-minded professionals. 

Is there anything else you would like to share with delegates ahead of your session? 

Even if you do not treat children, this topic is relevant to everyone. 

It can help you better understand your own health, your patients, and those around you. Breathing and sleep are fundamental pillars of health. 

It is a fascinating topic that makes sense once you start connecting the dots, and it has the potential to make a real difference to people’s lives. 
 

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Don't miss Megan's session at BDCDS "Sleep disordered breathing" on Saturday 16 May 2026, 09:15-10:00 at the BACD Aesthetic and Digital Dentist Theatre.