Dr Kristen Geist, DDS Theme Airway Awakening in Dentistry — From Personal Diagnosis to Clinical M

Sleep Apnea, UARS & Tongue Ties: Airway Red Flags Dentists Shouldn’t Miss (with Dr. Kristen Geist)Whole-body wellness starts in the mouth—and this episode goes straight to the root. Amanda and Heather sit down with Dr. Kristen Geist, a general dentist who shifted her focus to airway, sleep apnea, and adult laser tongue-tie release after her own diagnosis of Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS). They break down sleep apnea vs. UARS, why traditional screening often misses women, and the red flags hygienists and dentists can spot daily—like dry mouth, clenching/grinding, reflux, headaches, anxiety, and nighttime bathroom trips. Dr. Geist shares practical referral “cheat codes,” explains treatment options from CPAP and oral appliances to expansion and soft palate laser therapy, and highlights why early screening matters. If you’re ready to connect oral health to real-life energy and healing, hit like, subscribe, and share this episode!00:00 Welcome to Functional Roots00:42 Meet Dr Kristen Geist02:43 Her Sleep Struggle04:11 Accidental Sleep Test06:47 Apnea vs UARS08:23 Hidden Symptoms in Women11:07 Reading Sleep Study Scores15:00 Finding Airway Referrals17:48 Self Referral Sleep Testing19:08 Beyond CPAP Options21:44 Airway Screening Workflow25:25 Red Flags in Oral Exams30:51 Mouth Space and Mallampati32:42 Adult Treatment Paths35:19 Expansion Options Overview36:34 Simple Sleep Fixes37:26 Nasal Hygiene Routine39:58 Nasal Inhaler Hacks41:45 Mandibular Expansion Limits44:32 Braces vs Invisalign Debate46:30 Tongue Posture Retention49:08 Adult Tongue Ties Explained52:56 Laser Treatments and Fascia59:19 Where to Find Kristen01:00:57 Retreat and Final Wrap