The big picture: it`s all about structure, function and behaviour - airway risk assessment across different age groups

Airway health is never defined by a single factor—it is the interplay of structure, function, and behavior that determines long-term stability and resilience. Across childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, these elements shape adaptation and compensation patterns that may protect for a time, but ultimately conceal underlying risks.

In this lecture, we will look at airway risk-assessment through a lifespan perspective, exploring how early structural and functional signs can be recognized and how compensation may delay, but not prevent, dysfunction. Topics include diagnostic strategies for screening and evaluation, interdisciplinary tools for risk-management, and evidence-based treatment options ranging from functional training and orthodontics to comprehensive rehabilitation concepts.Participants will gain a practical framework for integrating airway-focused diagnosis into daily practice, aligning treatment pathways with age-specific needs and ensuring that prevention, intervention, and long-term outcomes remain at the center of care.

Learning Objectives – Breakout Session

1. Recognize structural, functional, and behavioral interactions in airway-related risk across different age groups.

2. Apply diagnostic and screening tools to distinguish compensation from underlying dysfunction.

3. Implement evidence-based strategies for airway risk-management and treatment, integrating orthodontic, restorative, and interdisciplinary approaches.

Dr. Christian Leonhardt is a dentist and international speaker from Augsburg, Germany, with advanced training in esthetics, prosthodontics, orthodontics, and airway-focused dentistry. He is a mentor at the Kois Center in Seattle, an EAED Affiliate, and clinical director of the interdisciplinary curriculum The Art of Digital Dentistry.