Dr. Kimberly Santiago
Airway Architect
We have the best methodology.
Creator of the
Your Expert in Sleep, Airway, Nervous System and Oral Function
Dr. Kimberly Santiago is a leading voice in airway-centered dentistry and the founder of AirSync and the SANO Method™. Her mission is simple: to treat the root cause of disease dysfunction—not just the symptoms—by addressing the critical connection between the mouth, airway, sleep, nervous system and whole-body health.
Dr. Kimberly brings an exceptional blend of academic excellence, clinical expertise, and heartfelt dedication to every patient she serves. Her approach blends leading-edge science and the latest tools, with a patient-first philosophy that views oral and airway health as a gateway to total wellness. She has built one of the first truly airway-centric dedicated practices, delivering ever-evolving whole-body health solutions through comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. She was also the first to offer BabyLase in the Pacific Northwest, a gentler way to release tongue-ties.
A Southern California native, Dr. Kimberly graduated Magna Cum Laude in Psychology from Brandeis University, earning induction into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa honor society. After a year skiing in Colorado, she attended the University of Washington School of Dentistry, where she graduated third in her class, was the top-ranked female student, and received nearly every top award.
Qualifications and Education
Upcoming
. The Changing Minds Meeting Nov 2025 – The American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine and The Synergy Academy are excited to share a collaborative effort in educating our communities in the benefits of neuromodulation in an effort to overcome the effects of early childhood trauma on the neural circuits that control aspects of both sleep and wakefulness.
. Vienna Airway Congress, Oct 2025
Education, Continuing Education, Lectures, Special Invite Meetings
. ASAP Skeletal Expander Pathway: The Orthodontic Component 2025, Sept 2025
. Clearly Next Level … Aug 2025
. Kois Symposium July 2025
. BabyLase/RestOraLase (yes, again) with Dr. Angie Tenholder May 2025
. Oxidative Therapy – personalized course to offer non-surgical reduction of inflamed airway tissues (nasal passages, adenoids, tonsils)
. Craniocervical, Craniomandibular Pathophysiology Approach to Treatment w. Dr. Mariano Rocabado Apr 2025
. Intro to Functional Health and Nutritional Strategies, Drs. Bob Walker and Kaye MacArthur Feb 2025
. CAFF Inaugural Advisory Board Meeting, Seattle, WA Feb 6-8, 2025
. Beyond Periodontal Orthodontics Limits w. Drs. T. Scheyer, D. Ramos, M. Evans, & D. Alfi 1/2025
. Chirodontics: Headache Solutions and Advanced Cranial Concepts w. Dr. Bob Walker, Nov 2024
. World Dentofacial Sleep Society 2nd Annual Symposium Nov 2024, San Francisco
. Orofacial Recovery Institute: Orofacial Pre-habilitation and Rehabilitation with Lymphatic Drainage and Scar Tissue Mitigation (for the tongue-tie patient, TMJ patient, pre-/post jaw surgery) w. Rebecka Clark, RDH, LMT, CSOM, October 2024
. Applied Integration Academy (AIA) The Body and The Bite, October 2024
. Functional Approach to Sleep Medicine w. Dr. Bob Walker, August 2024
. C-GASP Task Force Member – building a validated parental questionnaire to efficiently identify children at risk/unidentified with breathing disordered sleep
. Dr. Karen Parker Davidson Private Course (by invitation only) – 4 Phase Rhinomanometry Nasal Function Metrics for Precise and Optimal Airway Treatment Outcomes – May, 2024.
. BabyLase / OraLase Update 5/2024
. Chirodontics: TMJ, Cranial, and Occlusal Concepts Part 2 w. Dr. Bob Walker, March 2024.
. Beyond Periodontal Orthodontic Limits w. Drs. T. Scheyer, A. Yoon, M. Evans, & D. Alfi 1/2024
. The Breathe Institute Ambassador Update – The MOST current tongue-tie protocols were taught at this course – 11/2023
. Chirodontics: TMJ, Cranial, and Occlusal Concepts Part 1 w. Dr. Bob Walker 10/2023
. BreathRx Meeting of the Masterminds – Cornell U., 10/2023 Guest Lecturer and Clincial Advisor.
. Advanced MARPE and Complication Management w. Dr. Ilya Lipkin, 10/2023
. Early Intervention Orthodontics Part 2 w. Dr. Courtney Lavigne, 9/2023
. TMJ and Orthodontics w. Dr. Ilya Lipkin, 3/2023
. Advanced MARPE w. Dr. Ilya Lipkin 10/2022
. AIR Mini Residency 2 – NYC, 10/2023 Guest Lecturer
. Early Intervention Orthodontics Part 1 w. Dr. Courtney Lavigne, 2022
. AIR Mini Residency Part 2 – Dallas, TX, 4/2022 Guest Lecturer
. MARPE w. Dr. Ilya Lipkin 3/2022
. Motor Nerve Reflex Testing – Dr. Steve Olmos — 2021
. NightLase, NaseLase, SmoothLase, TonsilLase Training w. Fotona 2021.
. AIR Institute Mini Residency Part 1 — 2021
. Digital Smile Design Residency I — 2021
. MARPE Advanced Education with Dr. Richard Ting 2021
. Periodontal-Orthodontics Beyond The Limits with DSD and Dr. Todd Scheyer – 2021
. BabyLase/OraLase Training 2022
. ALF InterFACE Academy Advanced Continuum w. Darick Nordstrom: ALF Foundations, ALF Genesis, ALF Grow, ALF Guide Courses 2022
. Homeoblock Personal Mentorship with Dr. Ted Belfor 2020, 2021
. MARPE/MSE education with Dr. Won Moon – 2020, 2021
. Postural Orthodontics Advanced Continuum and personal mentorship with Dr. Simon Wong – 2020, 2021
. ASAP Pathway (Airway, Sleep, & Pediatrics) Founding Member, since 2020
. University of Kentucky College of Dentistry TMJ Mini-Residency 2020
. MARPE/MSE education with Dr. Won Moon – 2020, 2021
. Vitamin D RightSleep Protocol Clinical Training with Dr. Stasha Gominak
. MARPE/MSE education with Dr. Marianna Evans – 5/2020
. MARPE/MSE/DOME with Dr. Audrey Yoon – 2/2020
. Training with Dr. Steve Galella of The Facial Beauty Institute – 2019, 2020
. ALF Education with Dr. Ljuba Lemke- 2019, 2021
. SFOT Personal Mentorship with Dr. Rick Roblee, 2020 – 2022
. Surgically Facilitated Orthodontic (SFOT) training with Dr. Rick Roblee – 2018, 2020
. The Breathe Institute Functional Frenuloplasty and Sleep Course TBI Ambassador Distinction – 3/2018, 7/2019, 11/2019, 2/2022, 11/2023
. Airway Collaborative Airway Mini-Residency 2.0 – 2020
. MyoBrace Activities Group/Member – since 2018
. Airway Collaborative Airway Mini-Residency (AMR) – 2018
. Bale Doneen Preceptorship – 2017
. Tufts University Infant Tethered Oral Tissues Training – 2016
. Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique – 2015
. Pikos Implant Institute – 2011, 2012, 2014
. Kois Center Graduate – 2010
. University of Washington School of Dentistry, Doctor of Dental Surgery (graduating with honors, 3rd in her class) 2005
. Brandeis University – BA Psychology, (Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude), 2000
Committees & Memberships
. Children’s Airway First Foundation (CAFF) Clinical Advisory Board, The Infant and Toddler Clinical Advisor
. ASAP Pathway, Founding Member
. AAPMD: American Academy of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry, General —Member and Community Liaison, Seattle Chapter
. The Breathe Institute Ambassador, 6x Participant (most current 11/2024)
. World Detofacial Sleep Society – Active Member
. Kois Center Graduate, 2010
. Airway Collaborative Airway Mini Residency Graduate – 2x
. American Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine: Active Member
. ICAP: International Consortium of Oral Ankylofrenula Professionals, Active Member since 2018
. MyoBrace Membership Program, 2018
. Foundation for Airway Health
. Weston A. Price Foundation
. Airway Circle Member
. ADA/WSDA/SKCDS: American Dental Association, Washington State Dental Association, Seattle King County Dental Society
. AGD: American Academy of General Dentistry
. AAOSH: American Academy of Oral and Systemic Health Member
My Story
Before Founding AirSync, I was a patient!
Throughout high school, I struggled with constant fatigue—despite healthy habits and good sleep hygiene. In 2014, I was diagnosed with mild obstructive sleep apnea. A lower jaw appliance didn’t help, but CPAP gave me relief—for a while. I thought that would be my lifelong solution.
Being diagnosed with sleep apnea was the beginning of getting treatment for me, but the truth is, it was a result of many other issues in the cranial-facial area—issues that could have been addressed years earlier if, when I was younger, someone could have seen how my apnea would develop from my small jaws, extraction and retraction orthodontics, my birth process, and more. That realization changed everything. It’s what inspired me to become the doctor I am today—one who treats root causes, not just symptoms.
Awaken to living fully
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