Parents searching for an airway dentist near them in Kirkland often find a long list of options with no clear way to tell who actually has the training to help. At Evergreen Pediatric and Airway Dentistry, Dr. Susan Kim, a Columbia University College of Dental Medicine graduate, certified Vivos and HealthyStart provider, and Seattle Met Top Pediatric Dentist since 2012, specializes in identifying and treating the airway and breathing issues that affect how children sleep, grow, and develop. Families in Totem Lake, Juanita, and Kingsgate bring their children to Evergreen Pediatric because Dr. Susan has the credentials, the tools, and the training to back up what she recommends.
Most general dentists do not screen for airway problems. They check teeth, gums, and bite. An airway-centered practice does all of that and then asks a different set of questions: Is your child snoring? Mouth breathing? Waking unrefreshed? Struggling in school? A 2022 review published in the journal Children confirmed that dental providers play a critical role in detecting and treating sleep-disordered breathing because the mouth and jaw are the first visible indicators of airway compromise in growing children. Parents in Highlands, Bridle Trails, and North Rose Hill who have never had these questions asked at a dental visit are not alone.
What Makes an Airway Dentist Different from a General Pediatric Dentist
An airway dentist looks at the relationship between the mouth, jaw, tongue, and airway as a connected system rather than a set of isolated parts. General pediatric dentists focus on teeth and gums. An airway-centered dentist also evaluates jaw width, palate shape, tongue posture, tonsil size, and nasal breathing patterns at every visit. The difference is not that one is better than the other. It is that an airway dentist is trained to see a different set of problems.
At Evergreen Pediatric and Airway Dentistry, every visit includes an airway screening alongside the standard dental exam. Dr. Susan evaluates how a child breathes, how their jaw is developing, and whether any early signs of airway restriction are present. For families in Moss Bay, Houghton, and South Rose Hill whose child has been seen by multiple dentists without anyone flagging a breathing concern, that first airway-centered visit often changes the conversation entirely.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Pediatric Airway Dentist
Not every dentist who uses the word airway has the training to match. Before booking a first appointment, parents should ask specific questions about credentials, tools, and treatment approach. The answers reveal quickly whether a practice has a genuine airway focus. Here are the questions every parent should ask when evaluating a pediatric airway dentist near them:
- Vivos or HealthyStart certification
- Airway screening at every visit
- Tongue tie and lip tie evaluation
- Digital records and growth tracking
- Referral network with ENT and sleep medicine
- Training beyond general dentistry in craniofacial development
A qualified airway dentist should answer all of these without hesitation. Dr. Susan Kim holds Vivos, HealthyStart, Myobrace, and LightScalpel CO2 laser certifications, screens every child for airway concerns at every visit, and evaluates tongue and lip tie as a routine part of her exam at Evergreen Pediatric in Kirkland.
How Airway Dentistry Compares to a Standard Pediatric Dental Visit
Parents who have only experienced conventional pediatric dental care often do not know what they are missing until they see the difference side by side. Dr. Susan welcomes that comparison because the contrast makes clear why an airway-centered practice matters for a growing child. The table below shows exactly how the two approaches differ at Evergreen Pediatric and Airway Dentistry.
| Standard Pediatric Visit | Airway-Centered Visit at Evergreen Pediatric |
| Teeth cleaning and cavity check | Teeth cleaning and cavity check |
| Fluoride or sealant application | Biocompatible material selection |
| Basic bite assessment | Jaw width, palate, tongue posture evaluation |
| No airway screening | Airway screening at every visit |
| No sleep history review | Sleep and breathing history reviewed |
| Referral only if obvious problem | Proactive early airway risk identification |
| No tongue or lip tie screening | Routine tongue and lip tie evaluation |
A child who only receives standard care may have an airway problem that goes undetected for years. Early identification during the growth window is when treatment is simplest and outcomes are strongest.
What an Airway Exam Looks Like at Evergreen Pediatric
An airway-centered exam at Evergreen Pediatric and Airway Dentistry covers more ground than most parents expect at a dental visit. Dr. Susan starts with the standard dental assessment and then moves through a structured airway evaluation that gives her a complete picture of how the child’s jaw and breathing are developing. The whole visit is calm and unhurried, and parents are part of every step. Here is what an airway exam includes for children in Kirkland at Evergreen Pediatric:
- Full dental and cavity assessment
- Jaw width and palate shape evaluation
- Tongue posture and function check
- Tongue and lip tie screening
- Sleep and breathing history review
- Airway risk discussion with parents
After the exam Dr. Susan explains what she found in plain language and walks parents through their options before any treatment is discussed. Families in Finn Hill, Forbes Creek, and Everest who have been wondering about their child’s snoring or mouth breathing leave that first visit with a clear picture.
Your Child’s Airway Health Starts with the Right Dentist
Parents searching for an airway dentist near them in Kirkland deserve a practice that has the training, the tools, and the time to do this work properly. At Evergreen Pediatric and Airway Dentistry, Dr. Susan Kim brings together a Columbia-trained foundation, Vivos and HealthyStart certifications, and more than a decade of recognition as a Top Pediatric Dentist to give families in Totem Lake, Juanita, and across Kingsgate a genuinely airway-centered experience at every visit.
If your child snores, mouth-breathes, wakes tired, or has never had an airway screening at a dental visit, call 425-814-3196 or book online at evergreenkidsdentist.com. One appointment can change how you understand your child’s health.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pediatric airway dentist and how do I find one near me?
A pediatric airway dentist is trained to identify and treat breathing and airway problems that affect how children sleep, grow, and develop, going beyond standard dental care to evaluate jaw width, tongue posture, palate shape, and nasal breathing patterns. Not all dentists who use the term airway have the specific certifications to back it up, so parents should look for Vivos or HealthyStart certification, airway screening at every visit, and a structured approach to tongue tie evaluation. Dr. Susan Kim at Evergreen Pediatric and Airway Dentistry in Kirkland holds all of those credentials and screens every child at every visit. A 2022 peer-reviewed review on the role of dental providers in detecting sleep-disordered breathing in children.
What signs should I look for that my child might need an airway dentist?
The most common signs include snoring, mouth breathing during sleep or at rest, restless sleep, difficulty waking in the morning, bedwetting past the typical age, and behavioral issues or difficulty concentrating in school that may be tied to poor sleep quality. These signs are frequently mistaken for behavioral or developmental issues when the underlying cause is an airway restriction affecting sleep. Dr. Susan Kim screens for all of these at Evergreen Pediatric and Airway Dentistry in Kirkland, and a first visit gives parents a clear picture of whether airway is a factor. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry supports individualized care approaches for children across a full range of oral health concerns.
What are Vivos and HealthyStart and why do they matter when choosing an airway dentist?
Vivos and HealthyStart are proprietary treatment systems that use removable oral appliances to guide jaw and airway development in children, addressing the structural causes of sleep-disordered breathing without surgery or CPAP. Certification in either system requires specific training beyond general dentistry, and not all pediatric dentists hold these credentials. Dr. Susan Kim is certified in both Vivos and HealthyStart at Evergreen Pediatric and Airway Dentistry, giving families in Kirkland access to non-invasive treatment options most general practices cannot offer. A 2023 study on the association between sleep-disordered breathing and developing malocclusion in children.
How early should my child see an airway dentist?
The earlier the better, because the jaw and palate are most responsive to guidance during early childhood when bone is still actively developing. Dr. Susan Kim at Evergreen Pediatric recommends an airway screening starting at the first dental visit, which the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises by age one or within six months of the first tooth. Early identification of narrow palates, tongue restriction, or mouth breathing habits gives families the longest window of the simplest treatment options before growth slows.
