ASAP Pathway: THE PODCAST

In a world where discussions about sleep and airway issues dominate the dental landscape, the journey to understanding and addressing these concerns has evolved drastically. Join us as we dive into the remarkable transformation of dental care over the last decade, from overlooking airway and sleep health to making it a core aspect of treatment planning. Join us as we uncover the journey of understanding and addressing sleep and airway concerns in children. Whether you're a dedicated Dentist seeking comprehensive guidance, a health care provider wanting to collaborate and Find a Provider to work with, or a concerned Parent evaluating your child's well-being, our podcast sheds light on a clear pathway forward. To take the next step, become a member of our community or access valuable resources for your child's evaluation. Visit our website now and be a part of the positive change! https://asappathway.com/

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Unknown Host hosts ASAP Pathway: THE PODCAST, a education show with 0 episodes published.

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  Episode #3

  Ep.86, No More Dead Ends: Building the Collaborative Airway Healthcare Team, Dr. Pedro Cuartas

  Sep 21, 20261h 9mS6

  In this episode of the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Dr. Stacy sits down with Dr. Pedro Cuartas, founder of the Collaborative Airway Management Summit (CAMS) and Clinical Director of South Louisiana Dental Sleep Medicine, for a conversation about what may be one of the biggest missing pieces in airway healthcare: collaboration. With so many patients still undiagnosed, how do we actually make a meaningful dent? The answer, he believes, isn't simply more education. Knowledge without implementation doesn't change patient care.Dr. Stacy and Pedro discuss why physicians, dentists, ENTs, nurse practitioners, PAs, sleep specialists and other healthcare providers need practical systems for screening, referral, treatment and—perhaps most importantly—communication.They also explore why sleep apnea treatment doesn't have to be an either/or decision. CPAP, oral appliance therapy, Inspire, weight management, positional therapy, lifestyle changes and other approaches may sometimes work together as combination therapy, creating a treatment plan built around the individual patient rather than forcing the patient into a single treatment box.The conversation expands into women and children who may be missed by traditional sleep apnea metrics, hormonal changes and midlife sleep, pediatric airway intervention, weight and craniofacial risk factors, and the importance of looking backward in a patient's story to understand how they arrived at their current health. Pedro also shares the vision behind CAMS: bringing healthcare providers from different disciplines into the same room, allowing them to learn from one another, understand each other's treatment options and ultimately return home equipped to build collaborative airway “ecosystems” in their own communities. Because the goal isn't simply to diagnose sleep apnea.It's to make sure the patient has somewhere to go next. The goal isn’t for one profession to “own” the airway. The goal is to build an ecosystem around the patient where providers communicate. Because when healthcare truly becomes collaborative, the dead ends no longer have to exist. CAMS FB Page CAMS Summit Registration Dr Pedro Cuartas LinkedIn Dr Pedro Cuartas’ Practice CHAPTERS : 00:00 Welcome to ASAP Pathway 00:50 Meet Dr. Pedro Cuartas 03:42 How Pedro Found Dental Sleep Medicine 05:07 “What Did You Do to My Patient?” 07:10 Why Dental School Historically Missed Airway & Sleep 09:00 The 80% Undiagnosed Problem 10:00 Knowledge Without Implementation Isn't Enough 11:00 The Vision Behind the CAMS Summit 14:00 Giving Healthcare Providers a “Now What?” 17:00 Why Sleep & Airway Care Still Falls Through the Cracks 20:00 Building CAMS: Collaboration Over Competition 23:17 Expanding Airway Collaboration Into Midlife Health 27:12 Hormones, Sleep & Pedro's Unexpected Midlife Story 31:00 Why Every Specialty Belongs in the Airway Conversation 40:00 Understanding the Pain Points of Medical Providers 44:00 Creating Better Referral & Treatment Pathways 47:00 Building Local Airway Healthcare Ecosystems 49:20 Why Combination Therapy Matters 50:30 A Real Patient Example: CPAP + Oral Appliance + Weight Management 52:30 Going Back in the “Airway Time Machine” 55:00 Patients May Have to Help Connect Their Providers 56:00 Why Continuity of Care Matters 58:00 Communication Can Build Better Healthcare Relationships 1:01:00 Be Your Own Advocate—Without Becoming the Doctor 1:04:02 Who Should Attend CAMS? 1:05:42 Three Random Questions With Pedro 1:08:07 Closing Thoughts LEARNINGS : Knowledge needs implementation. Education only changes care when providers know how to screen, refer, treat, and follow up. Dentistry belongs in the airway conversation. Dentists are uniquely positioned to recognize signs of sleep-disordered breathing and help connect patients to care. No more dead ends. A diagnosis should lead to a clear next step—not leave patients wondering where to go or what to do. Sleep treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. CPAP, oral appliances, Inspire, weight management, positional therapy, and other options can sometimes be used together. Collaboration improves care. Physicians, dentists, ENTs, sleep specialists, and other providers each bring an important piece of the puzzle. Communication closes the loop. Referrals, treatment updates, efficacy testing, and follow-up should be shared across the patient’s healthcare team. Look beyond the stereotype. Women and children may present differently and can be missed by traditional sleep apnea screening and metrics. Weight isn’t the whole story. Craniofacial anatomy, airway development, sleep quality, and other factors can contribute to OSA risk. Earlier intervention may change the trajectory. Pediatric airway care gives providers an opportunity to recognize risk factors before they become larger adult problems. Patients need an airway healthcare ecosystem. The goal is a connected community of providers where patients always have a pathway forward. This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. Don't miss this exciting launch into a world of knowledge and transformation. Because Kids Can't Wait... CLICK HERE To Find an ASAP Pathway Provider CLICK HERE To Become an ASAP Pathway Provider CLICK HERE FOR ASAP Pathway IN-PERSON COURSES CLICK HERE To See If Your Child Is At Risk! ASAP FREE GIFT AND E NEWSLETTER SUBCRIBE AND SHARE AT OUR OTHER PLATFORMS BELOW ⬇️ ASAP YouTube ▶️ ASAP YouTube Music ASAP on Spotify ASAP IHeartRadio ❤️ ASAP Amazon Music ASAP Apple Podcast ASAP Pathway MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, LEARNING and COURSES BELOW ⬇️ 2026 ASAP Pathway Courses 2027 ASAP Pathway Courses WANT TO BE A MEMBER IN ASAP Pathway? ASAP Membership Options BELOW: ASAP Immersion Membership OR Comprehensive ASAP Pathway Membership

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  Episode #2

  Ep.85, The Least We Can Do: Why Every Dentist Should Be Screening for Sleep, Crystal May

  Sep 7, 20261h 16mS6

  In this episode of the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Dr. Stacy sits down with dental sleep medicine expert Crystal May, Vice President of Dental Sleep Medicine at Happy Sleep, for a wide-ranging conversation about why sleep screening needs to become a routine part of healthcare—and why dentistry may be one of the best places to start. Crystal shares her 20-year journey through dentistry, medical billing, practice ownership, sleep medicine, technology, and implementation. She also shares something much more personal: despite being a young, fit woman who didn’t fit the stereotypical picture of a sleep apnea patient, Crystal was eventually diagnosed with a sleep-related breathing disorder after years of nearly daily headaches. For dental professionals, the message is refreshingly simple: you do not need to build an entire dental sleep medicine program to make a difference. Start by screening. Adding just a few questions to the medical history may identify patients who have been suffering silently for years. They also explore sleep quantity versus sleep quality, hormones and metabolism, simple sleep-hygiene strategies, night-to-night variability in testing, oral appliance therapy, and Crystal’s current work to bridge the longstanding divide between medicine and dentistry. Because better sleep isn't simply about getting through the night. It is about giving the body and brain the opportunity to heal, regulate, recover—and thrive. Crystal May LinkedIn Happy Health LinkedIn Email Crystal May: Crystal@oralowl.com CHAPTERS : 00:00 Welcome to ASAP Pathway with Crystal May 02:44 Crystal’s 20-Year Journey Into Dental Sleep Medicine 05:33 The Sleep Course That Changed Everything 06:24 Why Sleep Medicine Is So Difficult to Implement 09:44 The Real Problem: Implementation 10:36 Why Every Dentist Should Be Screening for Sleep 14:16 Sleep Screening Doesn't Have to Be Complicated 18:32 Three Questions Dentists Can Start Asking Monday 20:58 Crystal’s Daily Headaches—and Her Sleep Apnea Diagnosis 23:42 Why “Mild” Sleep Apnea Doesn't Mean Mild Symptoms 29:25 How Oral Appliance Therapy Changed Crystal’s Life 33:21 Sleep Isn't Wasted Time: Why Quality Sleep Matters 37:22 Beyond AHI: RDI, RERAs and Sleep Disorders in Women 45:04 Why an Old Negative Sleep Test May Not Tell Today's Story 47:53 Sleep Hygiene: Simple Ways to Improve Your Sleep 56:25 Bridging Medicine and Dentistry with Happy Sleep 59:48 The Problem With One-Night Sleep Testing 1:04:06 How Physicians, Dentists and Patients Can Get Involved 1:08:04 The Final Call to Action: Just Start Screening 1:10:23 Dawn or Dusk? Three Fun Questions with Crystal Learnings : Sleep screening should become a routine part of dentistry. Dentists and hygienists are uniquely positioned to identify potential sleep problems because they see patients regularly, examine the craniofacial and oral structures, and already collect detailed health histories. Screening does not require building an entire dental sleep medicine practice. Start with three simple questions: tiredness, snoring and headaches. Crystal recommends daytime tiredness, snoring and headaches as easy conversation starters. These common symptoms can help dental teams identify patients who may benefit from further sleep evaluation. Stop normalizing exhaustion. Many people assume being tired, relying on caffeine, waking unrefreshed or living with frequent headaches is simply part of being busy. Crystal's own experience demonstrates how symptoms can become someone's “normal” even when an underlying sleep disorder is contributing to them. Sleep apnea doesn't have a “look.” Crystal did not fit the stereotype of the older, overweight male with sleep apnea. The conversation emphasizes that women, younger people, fit individuals and even children can experience sleep-related breathing disorders—which is why screening should not be based on appearance alone. “Mild” sleep apnea doesn't necessarily mean mild symptoms. A diagnostic category doesn't always reflect how significantly disrupted breathing is affecting someone's quality of life. Patients with so-called mild disease may still experience substantial fatigue, headaches, fragmented sleep and other symptoms. AHI may not tell the whole story—especially in women. Crystal explains that her AHI alone would have fallen within normal limits, while her RDI was in the 16s. Looking at RERAs and breathing disturbances that fragment sleep helped identify what AHI alone would have missed. After treatment, her RDI dropped to approximately two and her symptoms dramatically improved. Sleep quantity is not the same as sleep quality. Sleeping eight or even ten hours does not guarantee restorative sleep. If breathing disruptions repeatedly fragment normal sleep architecture, the body may not get the recovery it needs regardless of how much time is spent in bed. Treating sleep can create a positive ripple effect throughout health. Better sleep gave Crystal more energy to exercise, make healthier choices and reduce her dependence on caffeine. The episode also explores sleep's relationship with hormone regulation, appetite, metabolism and overall ability to function during waking hours. Simple habits can support better sleep—but symptomatic patients still need evaluation. Consistent sleep and wake times, a dark sleeping environment, morning sunlight and reducing nighttime screen stimulation are practical strategies discussed in the episode. But good “sleep hygiene” should not substitute for appropriate testing when symptoms suggest an underlying sleep or breathing disorder. The future of sleep medicine requires medicine and dentistry to work together. Neither profession needs to do everything. Sleep specialists can diagnose disease and prescribe treatment while dentists can screen, recognize oral and craniofacial risk factors, evaluate dental candidacy and provide appropriate oral appliance therapy. Breaking down the silos between the professions could allow far more patients to be identified and treated. The overarching message: We don't have to solve everything at once. Start by screening. It's the least we can do—and it could change the trajectory of someone's life. This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. Don't miss this exciting launch into a world of knowledge and transformation. Because Kids Can't Wait... CLICK HERE To Find an ASAP Pathway Provider CLICK HERE To Become an ASAP Pathway Provider CLICK HERE FOR ASAP Pathway IN-PERSON COURSES CLICK HERE To See If Your Child Is At Risk! ASAP FREE GIFT AND E NEWSLETTER SUBCRIBE AND SHARE AT OUR OTHER PLATFORMS BELOW ⬇️ ASAP YouTube ▶️ ASAP YouTube Music ASAP on Spotify ASAP IHeartRadio ❤️ ASAP Amazon Music ASAP Apple Podcast ASAP Pathway MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, LEARNING and COURSES BELOW ⬇️ 2026 ASAP Pathway Courses 2027 ASAP Pathway Courses WANT TO BE A MEMBER IN ASAP Pathway? ASAP Membership Options BELOW: ASAP Immersion Membership OR Comprehensive ASAP Pathway Membership

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  Episode #1

  Ep.84, When 51 Gets Weird: Hormones, Sleep & the Midlife Wake-Up Call, ASAP Pathway Founders

  Aug 31, 20261h 3mS6

  Season Six of the ASAP Pathway Podcast starts with the three ASAP Pathway co-founders together at the table: Drs. Stacy, Tracy, and Michelle—and this one gets personal. What actually happens to women’s sleep when hormones begin changing? Why does obstructive sleep apnea become much more prevalent in women around midlife? Why can women feel exhausted, foggy, anxious, achy, restless and simply say, “I don’t feel like myself anymore”—yet still have a sleep study that doesn’t look particularly alarming? And what do estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, jaw pain, clenching, TMD, airway anatomy and even heart health have to do with one another? The founders dive into the changing conversation around perimenopause and menopause, including why traditional sleep apnea screening may fail to identify many women. They discuss the limitations of relying only on oxygen desaturations and AHI, and explain RERAs—respiratory effort-related arousals—events that may repeatedly fragment sleep without necessarily meeting the traditional definition of apnea. The conversation also looks forward: new ASAP Pathway education, expanded MARPE training, restorative and clear-aligner planning, mentorship, Immersion, community support and where the founders see the education evolving next. It’s funny, candid, occasionally vulnerable and full of the kind of conversation that happens when three friends, clinicians and founders start connecting the dots. Because sometimes the symptom isn’t the diagnosis—and sometimes “I just don’t feel right” deserves a much deeper look. Dr Tracey Nguyen IG Dr Michelle Weddle IG Dr Stacy Becker IG CHAPTERS: 00:00 Season 6 Begins With the ASAP Founders 01:39 Women, Sleep & the Midlife Health Shift 03:38 Why Sleep Apnea Changes for Women After 40 05:09 Hormones, Menopause & Women’s Health 07:54 Are Women Being Treated for Symptoms Instead of Causes? 09:15 Dr. Stacy Shares Her Personal Heart Health Journey 12:41 Why We Have to Read Research Differently 14:38 Hormone Replacement Therapy & the Changing Conversation 16:31 Progesterone, Cortisol & Sleep 17:04 Why Traditional Sleep Apnea Testing Can Miss Women 20:41 What Are RERAs? 23:51 Perimenopause, TMD & Poor Sleep 24:39 Estrogen, Joint Pain & the TMJ 25:40 When Anatomy Becomes a Bigger Risk Factor 28:32 What Does a Constricted Bite Look Like? 31:20 The TMD “Discovery Phase” 32:05 Weaners vs. Phase Two TMD Treatment 33:53 Proper Oral Rest Posture & Clenching 37:45 Why Sleep and Function Still Matter 40:32 Why Hormones Belong in Airway Screening 42:17 What’s Coming Next From ASAP Pathway 43:19 Expanded MARPE Hands-On Training 45:50 Planning the Final Result Before You Start 47:45 How ASAP Pathway Education Is Evolving 49:17 What Is ASAP Immersion? 53:01 Three Random Questions With the Founders 1:02:08 Closing Thoughts LEARNINGS: Women may experience sleep-disordered breathing differently than men. Traditional screening tools and scoring systems often emphasize characteristics more commonly associated with male obstructive sleep apnea, including oxygen desaturation and certain demographic risk factors. The founders discuss why that can leave symptomatic women unidentified. Hormonal changes may help explain why sleep problems increase around midlife. The episode discusses the dramatic hormonal transition occurring during the perimenopausal and menopausal years and how those changes may affect sleep, airway stability, mood, pain and overall health. A normal-looking AHI does not necessarily mean someone is sleeping well. Women may experience repeated breathing-related arousals without dramatic oxygen drops. Looking only at the apnea-hypopnea index can miss important sleep fragmentation. RERAs matter. A respiratory effort-related arousal is a breathing-related event that causes the brain to arouse from sleep without necessarily meeting the traditional criteria for apnea or hypopnea. Repeated arousals can severely affect sleep quality even when oxygen levels appear relatively stable. TMD and sleep should often be evaluated together. When a woman presents with jaw pain, clenching, grinding or TMD—particularly during a period of hormonal change—the founders encourage clinicians to ask about sleep rather than treating the jaw as an isolated problem. Hormonal transitions can change how much compensation the body can tolerate. A bite or airway anatomy that caused few noticeable problems earlier in life may become more symptomatic as hormonal protection changes. The anatomy may not suddenly be different—the body's ability to compensate for it may be. Tooth wear can provide clues that the bite and function deserve closer evaluation. Progressive wear of the front teeth, chipping, heavy tooth contact or patients naturally moving their lower jaw forward because it “feels better” may provide clues that their current bite deserves further investigation. A TMD appliance can be part of the diagnosis—not just the treatment. Drs. Tracy and Michelle describe using an appliance as a discovery phase: decompressing the joint, reducing symptoms and finding where the patient functions comfortably before deciding whether orthodontic or restorative changes are actually necessary. Function may ultimately determine whether treatment remains stable. Anatomy matters, but so do nasal breathing, posture, oral rest posture and daytime clenching habits. Proper oral rest posture discussed in the episode includes lips together, tongue at the roof of the mouth, teeth slightly apart, nasal breathing and a relaxed posture. Healthcare increasingly requires the patient to become an informed advocate. One of the strongest themes throughout this founders’ conversation is that symptoms should not simply be dismissed because someone doesn't fit the traditional picture of disease. Ask questions. Look deeper. Understand your hormones, sleep, cardiovascular health and other risk factors—and find clinicians willing to connect the pieces. This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. Don't miss this exciting launch into a world of knowledge and transformation. Because Kids Can't Wait... CLICK HERE To Find an ASAP Pathway Provider CLICK HERE To Become an ASAP Pathway Provider CLICK HERE FOR ASAP Pathway IN-PERSON COURSES CLICK HERE To See If Your Child Is At Risk! ASAP FREE GIFT AND E NEWSLETTER SUBCRIBE AND SHARE AT OUR OTHER PLATFORMS BELOW ⬇️ ASAP YouTube ▶️ ASAP YouTube Music ASAP on Spotify ASAP IHeartRadio ❤️ ASAP Amazon Music ASAP Apple Podcast ASAP Pathway MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, LEARNING and COURSES BELOW ⬇️ 2026 ASAP Pathway Courses 2027 ASAP Pathway Courses WANT TO BE A MEMBER IN ASAP Pathway? ASAP Membership Options BELOW: ASAP Immersion Membership OR Comprehensive ASAP Pathway Membership

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  Episode #16

  Ep.83, Why Dentists Should Collaborate with Physical Therapists, Dr. Jenny Hobson

  Jul 13, 20261h 1mS5

  What happens when dentistry and physical therapy stop working separately? In this episode of ASAP Pathway: The Podcast, Dr. Stacy Becker welcomes airway-focused physical therapist Dr. Jenny Hobson for an eye-opening discussion about the powerful relationship between posture, breathing, TMJ, craniofacial development, and airway health. Dr. Hobson shares her unique journey training under legendary TMJ expert Dr. Mariano Rocabado and explains why successful airway treatment often requires much more than orthodontics, surgery, or oral appliances alone. Together they explore how mouth breathing, forward head posture, dysfunctional swallowing, poor body mechanics, and altered breathing patterns can influence everything from chronic pain and TMJ disorders to sleep quality and long-term health. Topics include: Why dentists and physical therapists need to collaborate How posture changes occlusion and jaw function Why some patients still can't breathe through their nose after surgery The role of breathing retraining and functional rehabilitation Mouth breathing, CO₂ tolerance, and Buteyko breathing Why tongue posture and negative pressure matter Pediatric airway development and parent involvement The importance of gait, movement, diaphragm function, and whole-body alignment Practical strategies clinicians can immediately apply with patients If you've ever wondered why some patients continue to struggle despite excellent dental treatment or why airway medicine requires a whole-body approach—this episode is a must-listen. To get in touch with Dr. Jenny Hobson: Dr. Jenny Hobson: IG Dr. Jenny Hobson: FB Dr. Jenny Hobson: YouTube Dr. Jenny Hobson: LinkedIn Dr. Jenny Hobson: Link Tree Schedule FREE 15 min Consult with Dr. Jenny Hobson Schedule 25 min Virtual Consult with Dr. Jenny Hobson Schedule 50 min Virtual Consult with Dr. Jenny Hobson Dr. Jenny Hobson's Podcast with Mariano Rocabado, PT (The Breathing Lab - Episode #28 | Meet the Pioneers of Craniofacial Therapy) Dr. Jenny Hobson's Podcast: The Breathing Lab - Episode #10 | My Mentor and TMJ Expert CHAPTERS: 📖 00:00 Welcome to ASAP Pathway 01:25 Meet Dr. Jenny Hobson 03:30 Training with Dr. Mariano Rocabado 06:20 Why Neck Position Changes Your Bite 08:10 Breaking Down Healthcare Silos 1 0:15 The Whole-Body Connection to Airway Health 12:00 Why Some Patients Can't Breathe After Nasal Surgery 15:15 Retraining the Nose After Surgery 18:15 Buteyko Breathing & Air Hunger Explained 21:35 How PTs Work with Dentists and Orthodontists 25:00 TMJ, Clenching & Airway Compensation 28:30 Why Walking, Posture & Movement Matter 33:45 Forward Head Posture and Airway Development 37:45 The Uplocker, Tongue Posture & Functional Therapy 45:40 Parents Are the Most Important Part of Treatment 50:00 Teaching the Correct Swallow 52:00 Airway Education for Healthcare Professionals 55:30 Three Fun Questions with Dr. Jenny Hobson Learnings: 💡 Airway health requires a team approach. Dentists, physical therapists, ENTs, speech therapists, myofunctional therapists, and physicians all bring unique expertise that improves patient outcomes. Posture directly affects jaw position. Forward head posture changes occlusion, increases joint loading, and can contribute to TMJ dysfunction and chronic pain. Breathing is a learned function. Many patients continue mouth breathing even after surgery because they never relearn how to use their nose effectively. Structure and function are equally important. Opening the airway anatomically is only part of treatment—patients must also retrain breathing, swallowing, and muscle function. Mouth breathing changes the entire body. Poor breathing mechanics affect posture, neck muscles, diaphragm function, rib position, and overall movement. Physical therapists offer an important missing perspective. Manual therapy, breathing retraining, posture correction, and functional movement complement dental and airway treatment. CO₂ tolerance matters. Learning to tolerate normal carbon dioxide levels through breathing retraining can improve nasal breathing and reduce overbreathing. Tongue posture creates stability. Proper tongue suction and oral posture help support the airway, stabilize the jaw, and improve swallowing function. Children benefit from consistent parent involvement. Long-term success depends on daily habits practiced at home, not just what happens during office visits. Airway treatment extends beyond the mouth. Healthy gait, rib mobility, diaphragm mechanics, and whole-body alignment all influence breathing efficiency. Functional rehabilitation can improve surgical outcomes. Patients who receive breathing retraining and functional therapy after ENT procedures often achieve better long-term nasal breathing. Great clinicians never stop learning. Dr. Hobson's career illustrates the importance of continually expanding knowledge across disciplines to better serve patients. This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. Don't miss this exciting launch into a world of knowledge and transformation. Because Kids Can't Wait... CLICK HERE To Find an ASAP Pathway Provider CLICK HERE To Become an ASAP Pathway Provider CLICK HERE FOR ASAP Pathway IN-PERSON COURSES CLICK HERE To See If Your Child Is At Risk! ASAP FREE GIFT AND E NEWSLETTER SUBCRIBE AND SHARE AT OUR OTHER PLATFORMS BELOW ⬇️ ASAP YouTube ▶️ 🔗 ASAP YouTube Music 🔗 ASAP on Spotify 🔗 ASAP IHeartRadio ❤️🔗 ASAP Amazon Music 🎵🔗 ASAP Apple Podcast 🍎🔗 ASAP Pathway MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, LEARNING and COURSES BELOW ⬇️ 🙌 Join The Practice Breakfast Club! ☕️🔗 2026 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗 WANT TO BE A MEMBER IN ASAP Pathway? ASAP Membership Options BELOW: 🎉👇 ASAP Immersion Membership🔗 OR Comprehensive ASAP Pathway Membership🔗

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  Episode #15

  Ep.82,The Oral Physician: Redefining the Role of Dentistry, Dr. Kimberly Santiago

  Jun 29, 20261h 19mS5

  What if Dentists are uniquely positioned to identify chronic disease before symptoms ever appear? In this conversation, Dr. Stacy Becker welcomes fellow ASAP Pathway member, educator and airway pioneer Dr. Kimberly Santiago for a deep dive into the evolving role of dentistry in airway health, craniofacial development, sleep medicine, and whole-body wellness. From breastfeeding struggles and tongue-tie misconceptions to cranial development, TMJ health, pediatric airway intervention, and the future of diagnostic technology, this episode challenges traditional silos in healthcare and asks an important question: What if dentistry has always been medicine — we just forgot? Dr. Santiago shares her journey from traditional restorative dentistry to becoming a craniofacial respiratory orthopedist focused on optimizing nasal breathing, jaw development, and sleep quality beginning as early as infancy — and even before birth. Together, Drs. Becker and Santiago discuss: Why adult sleep apnea often begins in childhood The difference between making room for teeth and making room for breathing Why early intervention may protect neurocognitive development The relationship between oral health and cardiovascular disease How dentists and hygienists can become frontline healthcare screeners Why anatomy alone is not enough and function matters just as much The emerging technologies helping clinicians better understand nasal physiology and airway function Why comprehensive treatment planning requires collaboration across disciplines This conversation isn't simply about dentistry. It's about changing the trajectory of health before disease ever has the chance to take hold. Dr. Kimberly Santiago Website Dr. Santiago IG Dr. Santiago FB TIkTok: @airsyncwellness Email: Drkimblery@airsyncwellness.com CHAPTERS 📖 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Kimberly Santiago 02:15 Buying a Practice at 25 and Building a Vision 05:10 From General Dentistry to Airway Medicine 08:45 Breastfeeding Challenges That Changed Everything 12:30 Why Personal Experiences Drive Clinical Passion 16:00 Dentistry's Role in Whole Body Health 18:20 Structure, Function, and Behavior: A New Diagnostic Model 21:15 Looking Beyond Teeth: Comprehensive Airway Evaluations 24:00 Anatomy vs Physiology in Airway Treatment 27:00 The Wellness Bus and New Brain Technologies 3 1:00 Neuroplasticity, ADHD, and Brain Health 34:00 Evidence-Based Medicine vs Clinical Experience 37:15 Why Hygienists Are Saving Lives 40:00 Oral Bacteria, Inflammation, and Cardiovascular Disease 43:00 Protecting the Brain Through Craniofacial Growth 45:30 Why Speed of Expansion Matters 50:00 Expansion for Teeth vs Expansion for Breathing 53:00 Why Nasal Breathing Grows the Face 56:00 Looking for Root Causes Instead of Symptoms 58:00 Ozone Therapy, Tonsils, and Preserving Anatomy 01:03:00 Educating Communities and Raising Awareness 01:08:00 Sleep Apnea Is a Disease, Not a Syndrome 01:12:00 The Future of Comprehensive Dentistry 01:17:00 Final Thoughts and Takeaways KEY LEARNINGS 💡 Dentistry is much bigger than teeth. The mouth is connected to cardiovascular health, sleep, inflammation, neurological function, and systemic disease. Adult sleep apnea often begins decades earlier. Many adult airway problems originate during infancy and childhood growth and development. Structure and function must be evaluated together. A beautiful CBCT means very little if physiology and breathing function are poor. Not all expansion is the same. Creating room for teeth and creating room for breathing are not necessarily the same treatment goal. Nasal breathing is a developmental force. The tongue, nasal breathing, and chewing all influence facial growth and craniofacial development. Earlier intervention often requires less intervention. Helping children at ages two and three may reduce the need for more aggressive therapies later. Dentists are frontline healthcare providers. The dental office may identify hypertension, inflammation, sleep disorders, reflux, airway issues, and cardiovascular risk before anyone else does. Hygienists are essential to healthcare screening. A dentist cannot build an oral-systemic program without a hygiene team that understands the mission. Clinical experience matters alongside literature. Today's observations often become tomorrow's research studies. Healthcare cannot continue to operate in silos. Dentists, physicians, ENT physicians, myofunctional therapists, sleep physicians, and orthodontists all play a role in improving outcomes. Technology is rapidly changing airway medicine. Functional measurements, nasal airflow testing, and physiologic data are helping clinicians personalize treatment like never before. Sleep apnea deserves to be treated like the disease it is. Minimizing sleep-disordered breathing delays diagnosis and treatment for millions of patients. The goal is health span, not simply lifespan. Living longer means very little if patients spend decades surviving rather than thriving. The future of medicine will focus on prevention. The greatest healthcare victories may happen years before symptoms ever appear. This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health take center stage, one breath at a time. VISIT: ASAP Pathway Please subscribe, share, and tune in to future episodes of how we can help children live their best lives, one breath, and restful night's sleep at a time. Don't miss this exciting launch into a world of knowledge and transformation. Because Kids Can't Wait... CLICK HERE To Find an ASAP Pathway Provider CLICK HERE To Become an ASAP Pathway Provider CLICK HERE FOR ASAP Pathway IN-PERSON COURSES CLICK HERE To See If Your Child Is At Risk! ASAP FREE GIFT AND E NEWSLETTER SUBCRIBE AND SHARE AT OUR OTHER PLATFORMS BELOW ⬇️ ASAP YouTube ▶️ 🔗 ASAP YouTube Music 🔗 ASAP on Spotify 🔗 ASAP IHeartRadio ❤️🔗 ASAP Amazon Music 🎵🔗 ASAP Apple Podcast 🍎🔗 ASAP Pathway MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, LEARNING and COURSES BELOW ⬇️ 🙌 Join The Practice Breakfast Club! ☕️🔗 2026 ASAP Pathway Courses 🙌🔗 WANT TO BE A MEMBER IN ASAP Pathway? ASAP Membership Options BELOW: 🎉👇 ASAP Immersion Membership🔗 OR Comprehensive ASAP Pathway Membership🔗

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