Pediatric dentistry is ever evolving, with new approaches and technologies transforming how we care for children’s oral health. As practicing dentists, we’re uniquely positioned to impact not just our patients’ teeth, but their overall development and wellbeing.
Oral health is crucial from the very beginning of life. There is a critical connection between oral health and overall wellbeing, starting from infancy, and the science surrounding this grows every year. As pediatric dentists it’s our job to thoroughly evaluate and monitor a child’s facial growth and development to identify abnormalities early, before they lead to serious problems, and when issues are diagnosed, to utilize the most effective and advanced techniques to guide the bones and musculature into balance without the need for invasive or traumatizing procedures.
By addressing oral-systemic health issues in the earliest stages using the most innovative technology available, we can successfully and impactfully affect the trajectory of infant growth and development.
The C.A.R.E. Approach
At Ashburn Children’s Dentistry, we utilize a comprehensive model that integrates cutting-edge therapies with a whole-health perspective, yielding remarkable results in areas ranging from breathing patterns to neurological development. We have developed the C.A.R.E. Approach to revolutionize pediatric dental care. This method allows us to provide comprehensive, personalized treatment for each child, utilizing the latest knowledge, techniques and therapies.
- Comprehensive Assessments: The utilization of advanced imaging and diagnostic tools to evaluate not just dental health, but also airway function and orofacial development.
- Advanced Therapies: Integration of cutting-edge treatments like Babylase therapy and myofunctional devices, tailoring interventions to each child’s unique needs.
- Responsive Care: Maintain close communication with families, adjusting treatment plans as children grow and their needs evolve.
- Education: Provide in-depth guidance to parents on home care techniques, nutrition, and the importance of early intervention.
By implementing the C.A.R.E. Approach, we’ve seen significantly impactful improvements in our patients’ oral health outcomes and overall wellbeing. This method forms the foundation of our practice, guiding everything from routine check-ups to complex treatments.
Innovative Therapies
The evolution of pediatric dentistry through history only becomes more rapid and drastic through innovations with every year. As research continues to uncover the connections between oral health and systemic health, the importance of early intervention and comprehensive care utilizing the latest advancements in pediatric dental care only becomes more evident. Innovations in therapies continue to transform pediatric dental care, and as dentists, it’s in our hands to embrace and use the most-cutting-edge science in our practices, which can have a lifelong impact on our young patients.
- Babylase Therapy
Babylase therapy is an innovative, non-invasive 1064 nm wavelength laser light treatment designed to address various oral issues in infants, promoting better breastfeeding outcomes and enhancing overall oral health. Babylase therapy is the most advanced and gentle treatment available for infant tongue tie and lip tie. This method is easier on both mother and child when compared with more traditional surgical approaches.
Impact on Neurological Function and Muscle/Fascial Restrictions
Babylase therapy is a revolutionary therapy that not only improves oral function but also positively impacts neurological function by facilitating better muscle coordination and movement patterns in the mouth.
By releasing muscle and fascial restrictions, Babylase therapy has a multitude of benefits, helping relieve tension and promoting better jaw posture and alignment, leading to improved speech development, feeding efficiency, and the reduction of discomfort and inflammation, as well as stimulation of natural blood flow and the nervous system — all of which aid in comprehensive whole-health healing and re-integration of the treated tissue. These corrections are critically impactful on long-term, healthy development in infants, and Babylase is the most sophisticated technology available to enhance oral health and development in babies.
- The Munchee Device
The Munchee device is a simple yet effective, myofunctional chewing appliance designed for children who are six months old to 24-30 months old, that promotes proper oral development and function from an early age. By encouraging natural chewing habits, the Munchee device helps develop strong jaw muscles and proper alignment, supporting jaw development, enhancing oral muscle strength and function.
How It Works
This tool is typically chewed on, held in the mouth, or mouthed for 10-30 seconds multiple times throughout the day to stimulate nerves, strengthen key muscle groups, assist in teething, and/or help transition from pacifiers. The consistent use of the Munchee device during infancy and childhood substantially enhances healthy oral habits and can help prevent common dental issues such as misalignment and poor oral muscle tone.
- Froggy Mouth Therapy
Froggy Mouth therapy is an innovative method that helps correct oral posture and breathing patterns in infants. This device is particularly effective in promoting nasal breathing and facilitating proper swallow patterns by discouraging mouth breathing, which can lead to various oral health issues and associated dental problems.
How It Works
The device is used during specific exercises that encourage children to swallow correctly by forming new neural circuits without recruiting their lips for suction. This therapy has shown impressive results in functional swallow rehabilitation and correcting oral posture, leading to better jaw alignment, facial development and overall oral health.
Advancing Pediatric Dental Care in Your Practice
These innovative therapies, when integrated into a comprehensive treatment plan for pediatric dental patients, offer an opportunity for enhancing the results of improving not just oral health, but overall physical development in children. As pediatric dentists, it’s crucial that we stay at the forefront of these advancements and approaches, so we can provide children with the best possible foundation for lifelong health, starting from infancy.
We invite fellow practitioners to explore these innovative therapies and consider their potential in enhancing the oral and systemic health of our young patients. By doing so, we can elevate the standard of pediatric dental care and make a lasting impact on the lives of the children we treat.
About the Doctors:
Drs. Lynda and Krystle Dean-Duru are industry-leading pediatric dentists at the forefront of emerging research and techniques. Their practice, Ashburn Children’s Dentistry, is Virginia’s most awarded integrative, functional, and holistic pediatric dental practice, setting a new standard for children’s oral health with state-of-the-art treatments and technology. As they continue to innovate and inspire, Drs Dean-Duru are committed to their mission of transforming children’s lives.
