What is airway centered dentistry?

Dr. Sarah Kinard is dedicated to the oral health and overall physical well-being of our patients. She practices Airway-Centered Dentistry in San Antonio, TX to address a wide range of concerns that impact the oral health and everyday quality of life of patients of all ages. Dr. Kinard has been specially trained in the areas of Sleep and Airway Dentistry.  Dr. Kinard is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, which means she has completed specialized training to treat airway disorders with oral devices.  She is also a VIVOS integrated dental practitioner completing intensive certification courses to treat children and adults with biomemetic appliances and guides. 

The science of Airway Dentistry continues to develop, focusing on how we breathe and what factors are leading to common sleep problems. The mechanics of natural breathing rely on an open airway that is supported by stable oral health, functional jaw joints, and unrestricted airflow through our nasal passages. When a component of this natural process is compromised in some way, it can lead to health effects that are often chronic. As a dentist, Dr. Kinard has an in-depth understanding of the tissues in the mouth and throat that facilitate airflow. She has advanced training in the diagnosis of oral conditions that impact airway and a range of therapies and treatments for children and adults.  Dr. Kinard uses the airway-centered approach to your care in our office to identify the underlying structural cause of a sleep issue and resolve symptoms.

Airway dentistry focuses on addressing common and complex concerns related to the structure of the bite and palate, which affects how you breathe. The science of Airway Dentistry has shown that many adult sleep issues are related to undiagnosed oral development concerns. Malocclusion, jaw structure abnormalities, and tooth alignment can affect our growth and our ability to breathe deeply and comfortably in our sleep. What may begin as mouth breathing when we are young can lead to sleep apnea and upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS).

Treating the effects of sleep issues as early as possible is important for healthy growth and development in children. In adults with sleep problems, treatment is designed to resolve symptoms, restore improved oral health, and overall physical wellbeing.

What can Airway Dentistry Treat?

Dr. Kinard uses the airway-centered approach to treat a growing list of oral and overall health concerns that can be tied to sleep issues.  

• In adults, oral appliances can be used to treat obstructive sleep apnea and upper airway resistance syndrome as an alternative to CPAP.

• In young children, sleep disturbance caused by an airway issue can lead to behavioral problems, bedwetting, and chronic allergies. Airway dentistry could minimize the need for a pharmaceutical approach to a behavioral problem such as ADHD.

Dr. Kinard works with adult and pediatric patients to evaluate their breathing and the structure of the jaw and palate. Using a range of therapies or treatments to restore better breathing and sleep is the key to addressing problems with lasting results.

Airway dentistry seeks to address the airway structure problems using oral appliances, orthodontics and other minimally invasive dental treatments.

What is Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome?

UARS is similar to sleep apnea, but studies are still ongoing to determine if there is any relationship between them. Patients with UARS syndrome can experience symptoms such as fatigue and interrupted sleep. UARS causes the airway to be partially blocked by a collapse of soft tissue at the back of the mouth and the flow of air may be minimized enough to cause arousal when sleeping. There are often specific structural characteristics in patients with UARS including a narrow palate at the back and overjet in the bite.