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Watch your child sleep for a few nights and you may notice something: an open mouth, some snoring, a restless shift every hour or so. It is easy to write off as a phase, but persistent mouth breathing is one of the more overlooked signals in a child’s development. At University Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Funny and our team see this pattern often. We know it is rarely just about how a child breathes at night, and our evaluations for tongue tie and lip tie often start with exactly this kind of observation from a parent. Mouth Breathing and What It Looks Like Mouth breathing is exactly what it sounds like: a child relying on their mouth instead of their nose for regular breathing, whether awake or asleep. It can show up as an open resting mouth, snoring, restless sleep or grinding at night. Parents often notice it first at bedtime,

Hearing that your child needs sedation or general anesthesia for a dental visit can feel overwhelming. You may wonder how the appointment will go, how your child will feel afterward and which option is safest for their specific needs. Every child is different, and the sedation approach that works well for one patient may not be the right fit for another. At University Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Funny and our team evaluate each child individually before recommending a sedation approach. Rather than offering the same option to every family, we look at medical history, behavior and the scope of treatment needed before recommending the right sedation option for your child. This guide walks through the two approaches we use most, nitrous oxide and general anesthesia, so you know what each one involves before your child’s visit. Nitrous Oxide for a Calmer Dental Visit Nitrous oxide, sometimes called laughing gas, is a

A baby tooth falling out ahead of schedule might seem like nothing more than an early trip from the tooth fairy, but it can quietly reshape how your child’s permanent teeth come in. When a tooth is lost too soon, the teeth beside it can drift into the open space, leaving less room for the adult tooth waiting to erupt. That can mean crowding, crooked teeth or a bite that does not line up the way it should. At University Pediatric Dentistry, we watch for early tooth loss and step in with the right solution before it becomes a bigger problem. Dr. Funny and our team bring over 15 years of pediatric dental experience to every visit, and we know how to protect the space a growing smile needs. If your child has lost a tooth earlier than expected from an injury, decay or another cause, we can help you

Something feels off, but you cannot quite name it. Feedings take forever, your baby seems frustrated at the breast, and the latch that worked yesterday is not working today. For many new parents, this exhausting cycle is the first sign that tongue tie may be at the root of the struggle. At University Pediatric Dentistry, tongue-tie and lip-tie treatment is one of our most sought-after services. Dr. Funny is a board-certified pediatric dentist with over 15 years of experience evaluating and treating oral restrictions in infants and children, and as a mother herself, she understands the urgency parents feel when something is not right. Why a Tongue Tie Is Easy to Miss Tongue tie, known medically as ankyloglossia, occurs when the band of tissue connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth is too short or tight. This restricts how freely the tongue can move, which

You have tried every position, worked with a lactation consultant, and adjusted your latch more times than you can count. The pain has not gone away, your baby still seems unsatisfied after long nursing sessions, and your milk supply is starting to slip. When breastfeeding challenges persist despite doing everything right, a tongue tie is often what nobody has checked for yet. At University Pediatric Dentistry, tongue tie and lip tie treatment is one of our most distinctive services Dr. Funny provides, and families travel from across the Charlotte region to receive her care. With over 18 years of experience as a board-certified pediatric dentist and 15 years as a private practice owner, Dr. Funny built her evaluation process around one principle: getting the diagnosis right before recommending any procedure. What a Tongue Tie Does to a Breastfeeding Baby Tongue tie, known clinically as ankyloglossia, occurs when the band of

Most toddlers suck their thumbs and fingers, and for a while, that’s completely normal. It’s a soothing behavior that helps little ones self-regulate, and most children naturally outgrow it between ages two and four. But when a parent has tried stickers, gentle reminders, essentially every bedtime trick they can think of, and the habit still won’t budge, it’s fair to wonder what comes next. That’s where University Pediatric Dentistry comes in. Dr. Funny and our Charlotte team see this exact situation often, and we have a clear, gentle path forward for families whose child’s thumb-sucking has moved past the toddler stage and started affecting how their teeth and jaw are developing. Why Some Children Struggle to Stop Thumb-sucking isn’t a bad habit in the way parents sometimes fear. It’s a self-soothing behavior, and for many kids, it’s tied to comfort during stress, tiredness, or transition. That’s exactly why willpower alone