You pay at the time of your visit, and we’ll file your insurance claim for you — your insurance will reimburse you directly based on your plan’s coverage.
Our membership plans make it easy to prioritize your child’s oral health and overall wellness without the stress of insurance limitations or unexpected costs.
We’ll always provide detailed treatment estimates and work with you to find payment solutions that fit your family’s budget and healthcare goals.
When your infant struggles to latch or your toddler can’t seem to lift their tongue during speech sounds, the answer may be hiding in plain sight. A short, tight lingual frenulum restricting tongue movement from day one. Tongue-tie, also known as ankyloglossia, is a congenital condition that can affect a child’s ability to breastfeed, eat, speak, and even breathe properly as they grow. According to research, ankyloglossia has been linked with breastfeeding difficulties, speech disorders, and malocclusion, and the condition requires careful, individualized evaluation before any path forward is determined.
At Wellness Pediatric Dentistry & Airway, our approach to tongue-tie and lip-tie evaluations reflects everything we believe pediatric dental care should be: transparent, parent-driven, and rooted in whole-child wellness. Dr. Christi Wengler is a Board-Certified Diplomate and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), and holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences. Families from Terrell Hills and across Bexar County trust our practice because we take the time to explain every finding and walk you through your options with full clarity.
A tongue-tie evaluation is a structured clinical assessment of your child’s lingual frenulum — the small band of tissue connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. When that tissue is unusually short, thick, or tightly anchored, it can limit the tongue’s range of motion, affecting breastfeeding in newborns, food management in toddlers, and articulation in school-aged children.
Not every tongue-tie requires intervention, and a thorough evaluation is the only way to determine whether your child’s frenulum is actually causing functional problems. Rushing to treatment without a comprehensive assessment can lead to unnecessary procedures and missed root causes. That is precisely why the evaluation step is so critical, and why finding a provider with both lactation training and pediatric dental credentials makes a meaningful difference in the accuracy of the assessment.
The evaluation at our practice goes well beyond a quick visual check. Dr. Wengler assesses tongue mobility, elevation, lateralization, and extension while reviewing your child’s full health and feeding history. For newborns and infants, nursing history is a central part of the picture. Dr Wengler’s credentials as a Certified Lactation Counselor mean she understands breastfeeding mechanics at a clinical level, not just a general one.
During your child’s evaluation, we assess for each of the following factors:
Every finding is shared with you directly, so you leave our office with a clear picture of what we observed and what, if anything, we recommend as a next step.
One of the most overlooked dimensions of tongue-tie is its connection to airway development. A tongue with limited mobility often rests low in the mouth rather than against the palate, which can affect the natural widening of the upper jaw and contribute to narrow dental arches over time. Children with restricted lingual movement are more likely to become mouth breathers, which carries its own cascade of effects on sleep, facial development, and overall wellness.
Our practice is built around airway-focused orthodontics and pediatric care, which means tongue-tie evaluations are never considered in isolation here. We look at the full picture of how your child’s oral structures are functioning together, and we screen for sleep-disordered breathing as part of our comprehensive airway assessments. For families near Terrell Hills who want a provider thinking ahead about jaw growth and development, this integrated approach is what sets Wellness Pediatric Dentistry & Airway apart.
Many parents come to us after months of searching for answers. Others are referred by lactation consultants, speech therapists, or pediatricians who want a second set of clinical eyes on a situation they’re not sure how to classify. A tongue-tie evaluation is appropriate if your child shows any of the following:
Older children and adolescents can also benefit from an evaluation, particularly when speech articulation concerns have not fully resolved despite prior therapy. Dr. Wengler’s understanding of how oral function, nutrition, and holistic pediatric dentistry intersect allows her to connect dots that a single-specialty provider might miss.
Experience the difference that holistic pediatric care can make for your child. Our comprehensive approach combines gentle techniques with transparent communication to create positive dental experiences that last a lifetime. We’re here to partner with you in supporting your child’s overall health and development through expert oral care.
From fluoride-free alternatives to airway-focused orthodontics, we offer the choices and expertise your family deserves. Schedule your consultation today and discover how our unique approach can benefit your child’s health and wellness journey.
If you are near Terrell Hills and wondering whether your child’s feeding difficulties, speech patterns, or airway concerns could be tied to restricted lingual movement, we would be glad to help you find answers. Dr. Wengler brings an unusually complete set of credentials to this evaluation, including board certification in pediatric dentistry, training in lactation counseling, a background in nutritional sciences, and deep experience in airway-focused care.
Follow along on Instagram and Facebook for holistic pediatric dental tips and updates from our practice. To schedule your child’s tongue-tie evaluation, use our contact form. We look forward to meeting your family and helping you take the next step with confidence.
When you bring your child to Wellness Pediatric Dentistry & Airway, they’ll be cared for by a board-certified pediatric dentist who believes parents deserve to know exactly what materials and methods are being used in their child’s care.
Dr. Christi Wengler, DDS, is the founder of Wellness Pediatric Dentistry & Airway — San Antonio’s first holistic pediatric dental practice. A San Antonio native and Board Certified Diplomate and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. She earned her undergraduate degree in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin and her DDS from the University of Texas Health San Antonio. She is also a United States Air Force veteran, serving 11 years.
Dr. Wengler is a Certified Lactation Counselor since 2019 and Airway Health Solutions certified provider. She brings a unique combination of advanced pediatric expertise, nutritional science knowledge, and airway-focused orthodontic training to every patient. Her goal is to empower parents with choices and provide gentle, transparent care that supports the child’s complete development.
We understand that choosing out-of-network care is a big decision. That’s why we make it easy to understand your benefits and offer multiple ways to keep your child’s holistic dental care affordable — because the quality of materials in your child’s mouth matters.
We accept and submit claims to all PPO dental insurance plans. Our team helps you maximize your out-of-network benefits so your family receives the highest-quality biocompatible materials and personalized care.
We partner with CareCredit to offer flexible monthly payment plans. Break your child’s treatment into manageable payments with low or no interest options — so cost never stands between your child and the care they need.
No insurance? Our in-house membership plan gives your family affordable access to preventive care and discounted treatments — one simple plan, no surprise bills, and no compromise on quality materials.
Questions about coverage or financing? Call us at (210) 352-9028 — we’re happy to walk you through your options.
Parents choose Wellness Pediatric Dentistry & Airway because they want a practice that listens, explains, and puts their child’s whole-body wellness first. Here’s what San Antonio families are saying.
Whether you’re looking for a second opinion, concerned about what materials are being used in your child’s care, or searching for a dentist who treats the whole child — not just their teeth — you’ve found the right place.
At Wellness Pediatric Dentistry & Airway, every treatment option is presented with full transparency about materials and methods. Because parents deserve choices, and children deserve gentle, holistic care that supports their natural development.
The content on this website has been reviewed by Dr. Christi Wengler, DDS, for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Treatment outcomes vary based on individual needs. Contact Wellness Pediatric Dentistry & Airway at (210) 352-9028 for personalized care or dental emergencies.
