It's a seismic shift that has the potential to fundamentally change the way we approach not only pediatric dental care, but total health for our children. Airway-centric dentistry focuses on the root causes and can address the underlying issues that lead to sleep apnea, snoring, sleep deprivation, and yes, cavities and tooth decay. Driven first by her intuition as a mother to children with chronic health issues, Dr. Lauren Ballinger, who is a board-certified pediatric dentist, was not satisfied by the traditional Western medicine options of addressing the symptoms. She knew there was a better way, and there was no going back. Dr. Lauren experienced what she describes as her "breakthrough," leaving her family's practice to take a great leap on a new venture: Good To Grow Airway Pediatric Dentistry. The approach is leading to excellent health outcomes for patients and she hopes the health and dental establishment will take the steps to support the growth of airway-centric dentistry within the dental community. In this episode we also cover: the fundamentals of the airway approach compared to the a symptom-based (tooth-focused) approach, the importance of breathing through the nose rather than the mouth, the importance for deep sleep for children and brain growth, the concept of increasing the boney border of an airway, the American Dental Association (ADA) gradually warming up to airway-centered dentistry, Dr. Lauren essentially reinventing her career at a time when many are considering their path to retirement, relearning from Native American traditions from the 18th century to improve airway health for children, and following her mission to truly help people the best way she knows how. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Lauren Ballinger, DDS, CSOM (certified specialist in orafacial myology).
Book references in this interview:
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor
Shut Your Mouth and Save Your Life by George Catlin
Dr. Lauren Ballinger is a Board Certified pediatric dentist who, after 15 years at her family’s traditional pediatric dental practice, left to open her own practice to help prevent children's suffering - before it happens. Good to Grow Airway Centric Pediatric Dentistry and Frenectomy Center is a sanctuary for families everywhere. Good to Grow is completely devoted to proper airway and dental wellness, the prevention of disease, and true collaborative care amongst the childrens’ doctors and family.