#5 - Balancing Dentistry, Myofunctional Therapy, and Self-Discovery with Dr. Joanna Dover

In this deeply personal episode, host Melissa Mugno sits down with Dr. Joanna Dover, a South Carolina dentist whose journey from high-achieving clinician to conscious healer will inspire every listener.

Dr. Dover opens up about building two thriving dental practices, experiencing early menopause, and how her path through plant medicine, motherhood, and airway dentistry transformed her perspective on health, balance, and healing. Together, Melissa and Joanna explore:

How stress, hormones, and emotional patterns show up in the mouth
Why myofunctional therapy is the root cause solution to so many “mystery” issues
The link between tongue posture, hearing, and emotional regulation in children
How plant medicine and nervous-system healing reshaped her life and practice

This conversation bridges science, spirituality, and dentistry, a must-listen for clinicians, parents, and anyone walking the path of self-discovery.

Dr. Joanna Dover's Offices:

Breathe Columbia: https://breathecolumbiasc.com/

Forest Drive Dental care: https://www.forestdrivedental.com/

Columbia Children's Dentistry: https://www.columbiadentistry.com/

Melissa:

melissa@melissamugno.com

Melissa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissa_the...

Faceology's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faceologymy...

00:00 Intro: Meeting Joanna + how the universe connected them
00:07:40 Early career, motherhood, and burnout in dentistry
00:15:00 Toxicity and Destruction of God Given Teeth
00:16:25 Discovering her son’s hearing & tongue posture connection
00:25:46 First plant-medicine experience and awakening
00:33:34 Emotional trauma, fascia, and tongue ties
00:39:33 Struggles integrating airway care into practice
00:54:31 Turning challenges into a children’s book about Myo
01:01:36 Redefining success and self-worth through healing
01:05:00 Plant medicine and feminine energy in leadership
01:11:25 Reflections on purpose, family, and the future of dentistry
01:21:13 Closing Remarks