You pay at the time of your visit, and we’ll file your insurance claim for you — your insurance will reimburse you directly based on your plan’s coverage.
Our membership plans make it easy to prioritize your child’s oral health and overall wellness without the stress of insurance limitations or unexpected costs.
We’ll always provide detailed treatment estimates and work with you to find payment solutions that fit your family’s budget and healthcare goals.
Children breathe, sleep, and grow, and when something interrupts that process, the effects can ripple far beyond a restless night. Narrow airways, restricted jaw development, and mouth breathing in children are increasingly linked to sleep-disordered breathing, behavioral challenges, and developmental delays, yet these issues often go unaddressed in conventional dental settings. Parents in and around Alamo Heights deserve a provider who looks beyond the teeth and asks the harder questions about how their child breathes, sleeps, and develops.
This is exactly our approach at Wellness Pediatric Dentistry & Airway, a holistic pediatric dental practice rooted in the belief that oral health is inseparable from whole-child wellness. Our board-certified pediatric dentist serving Bexar County brings advanced airway-focused training alongside a B.A. in Nutritional Sciences and a Certified Lactation Counselor credential, creating a uniquely comprehensive lens for evaluating your child’s development from the very beginning. As San Antonio’s first holistic pediatric dental practice, we are pioneering a standard of care that most families in this region have never had access to before.
Airway dentistry is a proactive, preventive approach that evaluates how the structure of the mouth, jaw, and airway affects breathing, sleep, and growth. Rather than waiting for a problem to become obvious, airway-focused providers assess early warning signs, including mouth breathing, snoring, crowded teeth, underdeveloped jaws, and restricted tongue function, and intervene during the most critical developmental windows.
Research published in American Family Physician from 2022 highlights that obstructive sleep-disordered breathing in children is associated with neurobehavioral problems, growth deficits, and cardiovascular effects, highlighting the importance of early detection and intervention. At Wellness Pediatric Dentistry & Airway, we screen for these concerns as part of routine visits, using sleep questionnaires for children ages five and older to identify risk factors before they compound. We also incorporate nutrition counseling into our evaluations, recognizing that diet and airway function are often intertwined factors in a child’s overall health picture.
Airway orthodontics goes beyond simply straightening teeth. It focuses on guiding jaw and palate development to create the space the airway needs to function properly. When a child’s palate is narrow or their jaw is underdeveloped, the tongue has nowhere to rest properly. This causes the airway to constrict during sleep, which compromises breathing.
Our airway orthodontics services are designed to intervene during peak developmental years, ideally before age six, when the majority of jaw growth occurs. Palate expansion and other growth-guiding appliances can widen the arch, improve tongue posture, and create conditions in which children breathe freely through their nose, sleep deeply, and develop with structural balance. We pair these interventions with thorough parent education so families understand both what we are doing and why it matters. Parents at our practice are never handed a treatment plan without a full explanation of the reasoning, the materials, and the alternatives.
Early orthodontic treatment and airway care are deeply connected. A narrow palate creates crowding for the teeth, but it also contributes to a constricted nasal cavity and airway. Addressing palatal width in early childhood does double duty by creating room for permanent teeth and, more importantly, opens the pathway for nasal breathing.
Our palate expander services are designed for this exact purpose, used strategically to guide the developing jaw and reduce the cascade of issues that arise when children habitually breathe through their mouths. For older children and teens, we also offer Invisalign Teen as part of a broader orthodontic approach that still keeps airway function at the center of treatment planning. Whether your child is five or fifteen, there is a window of opportunity for intervention, and we work with each family to identify the right timing.
At Wellness Pediatric Dentistry & Airway, we never treat a symptom in isolation. Every assessment considers diet, posture, tongue function, sleep patterns, and breathing habits alongside the structural findings in the mouth. Our practice is built completely on transparency. Parents have the right to understand every tool, material, and method we use, and we present treatment options fully so you can make informed decisions that align with your values.
We use minimally invasive approaches, fluoride-free products where possible, and biocompatible materials throughout our care. PSP plates are used in place of traditional sensors for X-rays, keeping our commitment to thoughtful material choices consistent across every aspect of the visit.
For children with sensory processing differences or special needs, our special needs dentistry services include private, quiet treatment rooms designed to reduce overwhelm and build genuine trust over time. Our goal is not just a healthier airway today but a lifelong positive relationship with dental and healthcare providers.
Experience the difference that holistic pediatric care can make for your child. Our comprehensive approach combines gentle techniques with transparent communication to create positive dental experiences that last a lifetime. We’re here to partner with you in supporting your child’s overall health and development through expert oral care.
From fluoride-free alternatives to airway-focused orthodontics, we offer the choices and expertise your family deserves. Schedule your consultation today and discover how our unique approach can benefit your child’s health and wellness journey.
Families near Alamo Heights looking for a pediatric dentist who thinks about breathing, sleep, and development, not just cavities, will find a thoughtful partner at Wellness Pediatric Dentistry & Airway. Dr. Christi Wengler is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, a trained Airway Health Solutions provider, and a member of the International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine. Her background combines years of advanced pediatric training with international experience, board certification, and a genuine passion for treating children as whole people rather than a set of teeth.
If you have questions about your child’s breathing, jaw development, or sleep patterns, we encourage you to ask. Contact our office to schedule a new patient airway evaluation and begin building the foundation for your child’s lifelong health.
When you bring your child to Wellness Pediatric Dentistry & Airway, they’ll be cared for by a board-certified pediatric dentist who believes parents deserve to know exactly what materials and methods are being used in their child’s care.
Dr. Christi Wengler, DDS, is the founder of Wellness Pediatric Dentistry & Airway — San Antonio’s first holistic pediatric dental practice. A San Antonio native and Board Certified Diplomate and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. She earned her undergraduate degree in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin and her DDS from the University of Texas Health San Antonio. She is also a United States Air Force veteran, serving 11 years.
Dr. Wengler is a Certified Lactation Counselor since 2019 and Airway Health Solutions certified provider. She brings a unique combination of advanced pediatric expertise, nutritional science knowledge, and airway-focused orthodontic training to every patient. Her goal is to empower parents with choices and provide gentle, transparent care that supports the child’s complete development.
We understand that choosing out-of-network care is a big decision. That’s why we make it easy to understand your benefits and offer multiple ways to keep your child’s holistic dental care affordable — because the quality of materials in your child’s mouth matters.
We accept and submit claims to all PPO dental insurance plans. Our team helps you maximize your out-of-network benefits so your family receives the highest-quality biocompatible materials and personalized care.
We partner with CareCredit to offer flexible monthly payment plans. Break your child’s treatment into manageable payments with low or no interest options — so cost never stands between your child and the care they need.
No insurance? Our in-house membership plan gives your family affordable access to preventive care and discounted treatments — one simple plan, no surprise bills, and no compromise on quality materials.
Questions about coverage or financing? Call us at (210) 352-9028 — we’re happy to walk you through your options.
Parents choose Wellness Pediatric Dentistry & Airway because they want a practice that listens, explains, and puts their child’s whole-body wellness first. Here’s what San Antonio families are saying.
Whether you’re looking for a second opinion, concerned about what materials are being used in your child’s care, or searching for a dentist who treats the whole child — not just their teeth — you’ve found the right place.
At Wellness Pediatric Dentistry & Airway, every treatment option is presented with full transparency about materials and methods. Because parents deserve choices, and children deserve gentle, holistic care that supports their natural development.
The content on this website has been reviewed by Dr. Christi Wengler, DDS, for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Treatment outcomes vary based on individual needs. Contact Wellness Pediatric Dentistry & Airway at (210) 352-9028 for personalized care or dental emergencies.
