Dr. Sara Stock in Smile Brookline is now redefining what modern dentistry can do for children. Her journey into airway-focused dentistry represents a profound shift from traditional dental practice, as she delivers a more holistic approach to children’s health, which all begins in the airway and early jaw development. As a dentist, she integrates her clinical expertise with a deep awareness of how sleep, breathing, and jaw development influence overall health. Her work emphasizes the philosophy that dentistry extends beyond teeth and that it could be connected to children’s health, growth, and well-being.
Her commitment to this field was inspired by her personal experiences and professional encounters. Reflecting on her introduction to airway dentistry and the Vivos treatment, she explained that once she began to understand its principles, her perception of everything around her changed. “Once you learn it, you can’t unsee what you learn. When I came back, I looked at everyone differently,” she said. After witnessing the transformative results of airway-centered treatment in children. “What I saw that they could do with kids, with these appliances was life changing. I was completely blown away, and it connected all the dots.”
Her dedication to improving children’s quality of life is reflected in her approach to care. She recounts a special case of a Brookline family with a young child who had an extreme underbite. Through consistent collaboration and compliance, Dr. Stock achieved remarkable progress in just eight months. “I started her in December, and by August, we had corrected her underbite into the correct position where her lower teeth were now behind her upper teeth,” she shared. “She would have otherwise needed several years of braces and painful reconstructive jaw surgery.” Instead, through Dr. Stock’s airway-focused approach, the child avoided invasive surgery and achieved correction. “To me, that was so rewarding,” she reflected. This case demonstrates not only Dr. Stock’s technical expertise but also her compassionate investment in each patient’s well-being.
Dr. Stock’s philosophy centers on her belief that oral health is inseparable from overall wellness. “My dad snored, and he had to sleep with a CPAP. I had no idea about any of these treatment paths. Looking back, he had strokes and high blood pressure which was most likely linked to his untreated airways,” she recalled. She observed patterns in her own children as well. The idea of expanding a child’s palette and correcting the jaw was unheard of while she was trying to understand why her children were mouth breathers. This familial pattern finally broke after her introduction to the Vivos treatment.
Through airway-centered dentistry, Dr. Stock helps children grow, breathe, and thrive. “It’s about really seeing these kids develop with a more normal and healthy airway.” She explains that there is a throughline between children who struggle to sleep, children who snore, children who breathe through their mouths. The underlying cause is a restricted airway. “Doing dentistry is rewarding,” she reflected. “But this takes it to a different level because it’s about your overall health.”
Sara Stock, DDS, founder of Smile Brookline, brings over 25 years of experience in cosmetic, restorative, and preventative dental care. She was named one of “America’s Top Dentists” in the Guide to America’s Top Dentists from 2018-2025. Since 1989, Dr. Stock has practiced restorative and preventive dentistry, graduating from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry and opening her Brookline practice in 1992. In 1998, she expanded into a state-of-the-art facility offering comprehensive dental treatment in a collaborative setting. She specializes in Airway and Sleep-disordered breathing, Invisalign, CEREC CAD/CAM technology, and restorative dentistry, and is an active member of the American Dental Association and the Massachusetts Dental Society.
If your child struggles with sleep, mouth breathing, or jaw development issues, early intervention can make all the difference. For dental emergencies or urgent care, call 617-731-3364, often with same-day appointments.
Smile Brookline is located at 1425 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA 02446, and can also be reached at 617-731-3364. We are open Tuesday through Saturday, and appointments can be booked online or by phone. Don’t wait and take the first step toward better sleep, better breathing, and a healthier, happier future for your child.
