Beyond Watch and Wait: The Developmental Story Behind Everyday Dental Findings
Joy Lantz, RDH, PHDH, COM, IBCL
What if the findings you document every day aren’t isolated concerns, but chapters in a child’s developmental story? Dental professionals are uniquely positioned to observe early clues that influence oral growth, function, and long-term health. Yet many of these findings are viewed independently or simply monitored over time rather than recognized as part of a broader developmental pattern.
This webinar introduces DEMBRA (Developmental and Environmental Monitoring Based Risk Assessment), a practical, research-informed framework that helps clinicians connect everyday chairside observations into a meaningful developmental story. Participants will learn how DEMBRA supports earlier recognition of developmental risk, strengthens conversations with patients and families, and fosters more effective interdisciplinary collaboration. By moving beyond a “watch and wait” approach, dental professionals can play a pivotal role in supporting healthier growth, function, and airway development.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Recognize how common dental findings may represent interconnected developmental patterns rather than isolated clinical observations.
- Explain how the DEMBRA framework organizes routine chairside observations into a structured developmental risk assessment.
- Apply DEMBRA to improve patient education, facilitate appropriate referrals, and strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration that supports healthy growth, function, and airway development.
Joy Lantz, RDH, PHDH, COM, IBCLC, is a dental educator, consultant, and clinician dedicated to advancing integrative, prevention-focused care. She earned her certification in orofacial myology through the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM) in 2017 and currently serves as IAOM President. In 2022, she became an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), further deepening her whole-body approach to oral health. Joy is the founder of Joy Lantz: Transforming Oral Health, where she educates patients, parents, and professionals while consulting with dental practices seeking to thoughtfully integrate airway-centered care. Her passion lies in empowering dental and medical teams to collaborate in early screening for oral myofunctional and airway disorders to support lifelong health.
1 CE credit available to AAPMD members