More Than a Smile: Dr. Thomas’s Family-Centered Approach to Airway-Aware Dentistry

Published on
January 21, 2026
Blog

You expect your dentist to care for your teeth, but what if your child’s restless sleep, chronic mouth breathing, or speech delay had a connection to their oral health you never knew about? At Thomas Family Dental in Columbia, MO, Dr. Letrisha Thomas is reshaping the way families think about dentistry. 

Her family-centered, airway-aware approach goes beyond traditional cleanings and checkups. Rather, it focuses on whole-body health, better breathing, and personalized care that grows with you and your child. Because when a dental practice sees each patient as a unique individual with a story, care becomes more than clinical. It becomes transformational!

What Is Airway-Aware Dentistry, and Why Does It Matter?

Airway-aware dentistry focuses on identifying and addressing oral and facial development issues that impact breathing. It's a preventive and integrative approach that looks beyond teeth alignment to examine how factors like a small jaw, tongue position, and lip-ties or tongue-ties (known as tethered oral tissues, or TOTs) can interfere with proper airflow, especially during sleep.

These conditions can affect patients of all ages. For growing children, these disruptions can affect behavior, focus, and development. And for adults, they can lead to fatigue, headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues, and long-term health complications.

At its core, airway-focused dental care is about improving life quality, not just oral health. Dr. Thomas prioritizes early detection and tailored treatment strategies that help children thrive and adults finally breathe easy. It's not just about straighter teeth. It’s also about helping patients feel better from the inside out.

Signs Your Child May Benefit from an Airway Evaluation

Parents often overlook common signs of airway issues, assuming they're part of "normal" childhood behavior. But when these symptoms persist, it's worth taking a closer look:

  • Snoring or noisy breathing at night
  • Mouth breathing during sleep or waking hours
  • Bedwetting beyond typical age
  • ADD/ADHD-like symptoms or trouble concentrating
  • Daytime fatigue or hyperactivity
  • Speech delays or feeding difficulties in infants and toddlers

Dr. Thomas uses a holistic lens to assess how oral anatomy may be affecting overall function. Her warm, personalized care gives parents peace of mind that their concerns are heard, and addressed with compassion and clinical precision.

Laser-Assisted Frenectomies: A Gentle Solution for Lip- and Tongue-Ties

Dr. Thomas offers laser-assisted frenectomies using LightScalpel CO2 laser technology. These gentle yet powerful procedures release restrictive tissue in newborns, children, and adults quickly and with minimal discomfort. Traditional frenectomies can involve scissors or scalpels and often require stitches.

But the LightScalpel CO2 laser allows for pinpoint accuracy, reduced bleeding, faster healing, and less postoperative pain. And because the LightScalpel sterilizes as it cuts through tissue, there’s a lower risk of infection and inflammation. This makes it ideal for babies who are struggling with breastfeeding or children who have growing frustrations with speech or swallowing.

The Benefits of Dr. Thomas's Laser Frenectomy Approach Include:

  • Minimal pain and swelling compared to conventional methods
  • Quick in-office procedure with immediate results for many patients
  • No stitches required
  • Faster healing, especially important for infants and toddlers
  • Supportive aftercare guidance for parents and caregivers

As one of the first providers to bring this advanced technology to Columbia, MO, Dr. Thomas ensures every step, from diagnosis to recovery, is handled with care that reflects her deep commitment to excellence and patient comfort.

What to Expect During an Airway Evaluation

If you're curious whether airway-focused treatment may benefit your child, or yourself, the process starts with a comprehensive evaluation at Thomas Family Dental. Dr. Thomas will:

  • Discuss any health history, concerns, or symptoms you're noticing
  • Perform a thorough examination of the mouth, jaw, and facial development
  • Assess for tongue posture issues, lip- and tongue-ties, or breathing obstacles
  • Provide transparent, expert insights and treatment recommendations

There’s never a one-size-fits-all plan. Dr. Thomas creates patient-specific strategies, whether that includes myofunctional therapy referrals, orthodontic solutions that protect the airway, or surgical tethered tissue releases. Her approach is patient-led, unrushed, and rooted in trust, values that families recognize from their very first visit.

Airway Health Benefits That Last a Lifetime

When provided early in life, airway-focused dentistry can improve your child’s quality of life dramatically. Many airway issues drive sleep-disordered breathing, which the American Academy of Pediatrics links to behavioral problems and learning delays. By addressing subtle issues like underdeveloped jaws or restrictive tongue movement, you're helping lay a foundation for:

  • Better sleep and focus during the day
  • Improved speech and feeding coordination
  • Balanced facial growth and jaw alignment
  • Lower risk of future orthodontic or TMJ complications

And for adults living with unrecognized airway obstructions, targeted dental care can offer relief from years of poor sleep, jaw pain, and breathing challenges. In both children and adults, patients at Thomas Family Dental often say the most life-changing effects came from treatments they never realized were even possible at a dental office.

Why Families Trust Dr. Thomas with Their Airway & Dental Health

At Thomas Family Dental, oral care is about more than just treatment. It's a relationship that begins with real listening. Dr. Thomas believes every smile tells a story, and she’s passionate about helping that story unfold in the healthiest, happiest way.

From infants and toddlers to teens, parents, and grandparents, her comprehensive scope of care ensures continuity throughout every stage of life. Whether it’s your child’s first appointment or your own search for answers to snoring or jaw pain, you’re never just another chart. You’re family.

Why Choose Dr. Thomas’s Family-Centered Dentistry?

  • Personalized care and open conversations, no rushed visits
  • Advanced tools like LightScalpel laser for safer, gentler procedures
  • Clinical focus on long-term health, not just symptoms
  • Trusted provider delivering care grounded in compassion
  • A peaceful, supportive space for families to feel heard and understood

Take the First Step Toward Stronger Health and Happier Smiles

If you've noticed signs of breathing concerns, prolonged sleep issues, or tethered oral tissues in your child, or if you're an adult still living with symptoms, you don’t have to wait for a referral or specialist. Begin your journey toward better health today with a provider who understands how airway, function, and quality of life go hand in hand.

Call Thomas Family Dental at (573) 449-2858 to schedule your airway evaluation with Dr. Thomas. Conveniently located in Columbia, MO, our practice welcomes individuals and families who are looking for a care provider who can truly listen to them, support them, and transform their lives.

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