#152 - Finding Optimal Health with Dr. Zink, Airway Dental Medicine

Today’s guest, Dr. Sam Zink, is a dentist who focuses on airway dental medicine. Dr. Zink’s practice is rooted in the belief that all dentistry should support and enhance an optimal airway. 

In today’s episode, Dr. Zink shares how having his three sons struggle with upper airway resistance syndrome drew him into this specialization. 

We hear about why tongue and lip ties often go undiagnosed and the importance of finding a team that understands what it takes to diagnose and treat these issues. 

For so long, these problems have been diagnosed on appearance alone, but as Dr. Zink highlights, there is a spectrum, and as such, you should be looking for functional signs rather than ones based on appearance. 

We also discover how tongue-ties can manifest in adults and some tell-tale signs that you might have one. 

Gain insights into tongue-tie release surgery and the vital role of aftercare, and why constricted airways can put you in a state of chronic stress. 

Be sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Get to know Dr. Zink and how he got into a career in dentistry after working in IT. 
• Why Dr. Zink decided to focus his practice on tongue-ties; his personal experience. 
• Some of the reasons why tongue ties often go undiagnosed. 
• The importance of defining optimal health. 
• An overview of what a tongue and lip tie are and some of the common symptoms. 
• Why you cannot diagnose tongue and lip ties on appearance alone. 
• What fascia is and the role it plays in the body. 
• The importance of finding the right team when it comes to treating you or your child’s tongue-tie. 
• How the process of releasing an adult and a baby tongue-tie differs. 
• The bureaucracy and politics around diagnosing tongues-ties; what to be aware of. 
• Why Dr. Zink usually does not recommend letting a lip tie split on its own. 
• A look at what the procedure entails and the team approach that Dr. Zink uses. 
• What can happen if you do not do post-op stretches and care correctly. 
• What compensating for a small airway can lead to; your body is in constant fight or flight. 
• The role that genetics and environment play in tongue-ties. 

Be sure to check out the show notes on our blog at  Harkla.Co/Podcast.

Brought To You By Harkla

This podcast is brought to you by Harkla.  Our mission at Harkla is to help those with special needs live happy and healthy lives. We accomplish this through high-quality sensory products, child development courses, & The Harkla Sensory Club.

Podcast listeners get 10% off their first order at Harkla with the discount code "sensory". Head to Harkla.co/sensory to start shopping now.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Harkla
All Things Sensory on Instagram
All Things Sensory on Facebook
Discount Code — SENSORY
Zink Dental
Dr. Sam Zink
A Pattern Language