Infant Feeding Solutions
Tongue-Tie Clinic
Because of Dr. Holman’s passion for helping mothers and infants with breastfeeding issues, she has brought together a highly qualified team of professionals. In addition to her oral health expertise, we have a lactation consultant and an infant bodyworker/massage therapist to diagnose and provide solutions. All appointments are one-on-one with our practitioners and your privacy is respected.
Helping Infants
An infant’s struggle with breastfeeding can often be solved by a lactation consultant or bodyworker helping with posture and latching. However, there are cases when a baby’s lip or tongue are tethered in a way that makes nursing painful or ineffective. In these instances, a release (Frenectomy) of their lip or tongue attachment (frenum) may be necessary.
Helping Mothers
A frenectomy can help mothers relieve the pain of breastfeeding and regain healthy nipples and breasts, stimulate milk production by adequate stimulation, encourage bonding with her baby, and ensure adequate feeding and growth of the baby.
Laser Treatment
All frenectomy procedures are completed using the precision LightScalpel CO2 laser. This laser does not emit heat or water and cauterizes as it works. As a result, there is minimal trauma, bleeding, and scar tissue.
Meet Our Team
Shaina Holman, DDS, PhD
As a mom of two breastfed children as well as a highly-trained oral health and breastfeeding clinician, Dr. Holman is dedicated to helping moms experience the joys of breastfeeding. While completing her Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy at Duke University, she wrote her honors thesis on the links between dental anatomy, feeding function, and diet. She went on to write her post-graduate dissertation on the role of oral sensory information during infant suckling while completing her D.D.S. and Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Maryland. She has published over a dozen peer reviewed papers in top journals related to dysphagia and suckling physiology.
Dr. Holman’s Education in Airway/Tongue Ties/Myofunctional Therapy
- 2020 UNC Dental Sleep Medicine Mini-Residency
- Frenectomies & Beyond: A Modern Approach to Laser Education that Challenges Traditional Methods Addressing Ankyloglossia and Tethered Oral Tissues, with Karen Wuertz, DDS, COM
- Tethered Oral Tissues Specialty Training, with Autumn Henning, MS, CCC-SLP, QOM, DABLS
- Orofacial Myology: From Basics to Habituation, with Sandra Hotzman, MS, CCC-SLP, COM, QOM
- Functional Sleep and Breathing/Frenuloplasty, with Dr. Soroush Zaghi
- Sleep Apnea 101- Implementation, with Dr. Erin Elliott
Victoria Facelli
Victoria Facelli provides lactation support. Trained as an IBCLC through the Mary Rose Tully Training Initiative, she has an extensive clinical background in both inpatient and outpatient lactation work. She runs her practice at Durham Lactation and is a TOTS (tethered oral tissue) trained provider. Her focus is on formula positive, shame free and goals based infant feeding care.
Ayden Cox
Ayden Cox provides bodywork support for newborns prior to the revision, and as follow-up support when needed. She has been a Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist since 2011, and has spent over 200 additional hours in training in Craniosacral Therapy and Myofascial release in the pediatric population. She has a background in midwifery and has trained with many professionals in the field of Ankyloglossia, including Carol Gray, Michelle Emanuel and Autumn Henning. She is also a TOTs trained provider.
Clinic Information
Our clinic is run on Mondays or as needed. For questions about the clinic, billing and scheduling please call us during business hours. Patients must be under the age of 1 and must have a vitamin K shot. It is preferred that patients are referred after working with a lactation consultant and/or body worker first. Paperwork should be filled out before the appointment to make things as smooth as possible when you arrive.
we can't wait to meet you
We invite you to experience Holman Family Dental Care. Call today or click below to set up your first visit.
(919) 932-7811
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