North Texas Dentistry Special Issue 2020 NTD SP ISSUE 2020 DE | Page 10

P R O F I L E
What is new in pediatric dentistry and particularly in your practice?
Pediatric dentists are looking at children in their practice in a whole new way. For
instance, in our practice we have incorporated so many more ways to evaluate and
diagnose feeding, speech, breathing and oral development problems. We know there is
a dynamic correlation between all of these things, and we are in a unique position to help
educate our parents early in their child’s life.
You mention breathing issues – can you explain?
We are seeing several children that have many symptoms of sleep disordered breathing.
We can look in a child’s mouth, oral structures, bite and tongue placement at rest, and
see signs of not only mouth breathing, but possible obstruction. In our office we use a
pediatric sleep questionnaire as well as having an in-depth conversation with the parent
about the child’s sleep patterns and daytime behavior in order to gain as much
information to help guide the parent towards the next step.
Can you give us an example of speech and feeding issues in children?
Babies that may have a tongue tie or lip tie, may not gain weight or thrive as newborns.
The best time to identify these ties is when the child is an infant. Children that have ties
that go undiagnosed or treated, will likely have speech and feeding issues. Toddlers with
tongue ties will likely be “picky eaters’’ and will have difficulty eating without gagging or
with certain textures. Also, a tongue restriction may likely delay speech all together or
the child can have difficulty producing sounds such as L, R, D and TH.
Dentistry for Infants, Children
and Teens, PA
632 East Sandy Lake Road
Coppell, Texas 75019
How do you treat or release a tongue tie in an infant?
Infant frenectomies are straightforward and can be completed the same day as the initial
exam, especially if the baby is losing weight. We use a carbon dioxide laser, called the
Light Scalpel, that has a pen size diameter. The CO 2 laser has the unique ability to
vaporize or ‘erase’ tissue. With the CO2 laser there is less pain, less bleeding and less
bruising. We have formed a specialized company within our practice called the
North Texas Tongue Tie Center, where infants and children can be evaluated and treated
even if they are not a patient within our practice. More information can be found on
our website.
Is the procedure the same for children and teens?
Most of our children with tongue ties have been evaluated and or are being treated by
either a speech pathologist (SLP) or oral myofunctional therapist. In these cases, the
child will be given exercises and stretches to help isolate the frenum before the release
is completed. Once the release is completed, the child will have to retrain those muscles
in the mouth to get the best result. We feel that it is best to coordinate as a
multidisciplinary team with other specialists so that the child will have the best outcome.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
[phone]
www.rozasdds.com
Dr. Loria Nahatis, Dr. Melissa Rozas and Dr. Terra Compton
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NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY | www.northtexasdentistry.com