P R O F I L E she reopened in May of 2020 , many things had changed . “ When we came back , we were so covered up , the kids didn ’ t recognize us , so we wore big badges with our pictures on them . We missed giving our patients and parents hugs and high fives and most of all seeing their smile without a mask .” One thing she noticed during the pandemic is that kids are both fragile and resilient at the same time . “ The children adapted to wearing masks everywhere , washing their hands , and learning on zoom . Unfortunately , we saw many children struggle with sleep , missing teachers and friends , being out of routines and just an overall increase in anxiety . We did our very best to make each visit in our office as fun and comfortable as possible .” She emphasized that her goal remained focused on supporting the parents , helping children learn how to take care of their teeth and building confidence in a world full of uncertainty .
Fast forward to Spring 2022 , and the office is once again filled with children playing in the arcade and running around the office with balloon animals in tow . She has maintained her incredible staff , most of which have been with her for over 20 years , as well as her associate , Dr . Terra Compton , who has worked by her side for the last decade , consulting , and treating the children . Dr . Rozas used the last two years to educate and refine the patient experience , and the process of evaluating growth and development . “ We have seen a return to a more normal flow in our day . Some parents never stopped bringing their kids in for visits , but there were some that waited until the risk level went down or they were able to get vaccinated before returning .” Dr . Rozas reported that some of the children saw an increase in cavities due to being home and snacking all day . Returning to school not only helped children learn but it kept them out of the pantry at home as well .
One area Dr . Rozas and her staff focus more attention on is evaluating children ’ s symptoms for sleep , eating , and feeding issues . Each dental visit includes an in-depth medical history , sleep questionnaire , intra oral pictures and an oral evaluation . Dr . Rozas now has a CBCT ( Cone Beam Computed Tomography ) machine which allows her to see a 3-D image of the dentition and craniofacial bones , but also the size , shape , and location of soft tissue structures in the airway . She works with an array of specialists who can help her patients , including
Dr . Terra Compton
orthodontists , ear nose & throat physicians , oral myofunctional therapists as well as speech pathologists . “ We are finding that we can help identify sleep , speech , and feeding issues as well as structural problems and make a referral to the right source for treatment .” She tells us , “ Many of our patients that have these issues need a multidisciplinary team approach and we help parents map out the road to appointments and therapy .”
We asked her what the future holds for pediatric dentistry and for you as a business owner and employer . “ I believe as pediatric dentists , we have the knowledge , education , experience and resources to identify and address not only tooth decay and oral hygiene problems , but other issues that affect the child ’ s ability to sleep , speak , and really thrive at home and in school .” A mom of two college students and practice owner for over 24 years , Dr . Rozas has seen the impact of oral health and airway health in her patients as they have transitioned to adulthood . “ When a child becomes a patient in our office , I take a true vested interest in doing as much as I can to help them grow and succeed both in and out of the office . They become my family .”
As a business owner faced with many challenges over the last two decades and especially the last two years , Dr . Rozas explains what stands out the most in her experience . “ I grew up working in our family seafood restaurants in Galveston , and I learned from a young age that choosing your staff , training properly , and having excellent communication is the key to giving your customers amazing service . In my office , I have built a team that not only is highly educated , but they absolutely love working together and serving our pediatric population and their families .” You can tell by just walking into Dr . Rozas ’ office that there is a bond between the staff and that they are so passionate about pediatric dentistry . The future of pediatric dentistry is bright in this office !
Clinical Staff includes Christina Clark , Erika Beames , Mandy Goff , Braelyn Beattie
www . northtexasdentistry . com | NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY 7