Dentistry for Children and Adolescents

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Dentistry for Children and Adolescents We are conveniently located in the Lakewood Ranch area of Sarasota, Florida. A child that loves going to the dentist will be an adult that enjoys oral care.

Dr. Maribel Santos-Cordero is a board certified pediatric dentist dedicated to the oral health of children, adolescents and children with special healthcare needs. At Dentistry for Children and Adolescents, we believe that a dentist and a patient become a team for treating an individual's dental needs. It is our goal to provide your child with positive pleasant experiences. Our office is cheerful and our team is friendly. We enjoy long lasting family-dentist relationships and look forward to sharing many years of healthy happy smiles with our patients.

10/13/2026

What an incredible day of learning, sharing, and connecting!

I had the privilege of joining my husband, Dr. Francisco Marcano, for a full-day lecture on Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and the important role dentists play in identifying children and adults at risk.

As dentists, we are in a unique position to recognize the signs, screen our patients, and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to make a life-changing difference in their health and well-being.

A special thank you to our event sponsors:

SONU by SoundHealth – Pioneering acoustic resonance technology designed to help relieve nasal congestion, improve nasal airflow, and support healthier breathing. www.soundhealth.life

Dynaflex – Advancing dental sleep medicine and orthodontic care through innovative appliances and solutions that support airway health and function. www.dynaflex.com

This wonderful event was organized by the South East Florida Academy of General Dentistry. Thank you to the Executive Committee for the invitation and to everyone who joined us, asked thoughtful questions, and shared our passion for making a difference in our patients’ lives!


09/04/2026

I feel incredibly honored to have been invited to present at the Australian Society of Tethered Oral Tissues (ASTOT) Symposium in Bali.

What a wonderful experience! This year’s theme beautifully reflected a message echoed throughout the conference: babies struggling to feed with oral restrictions benefit from a collaborative approach to care.

In my presentation, “Minimizing Risks and Overcoming Challenges in Infant Frenectomy Procedures,” I shared one central thought: An infant frenectomy is a relatively small procedure performed in an extraordinarily complex system.

The challenge is not simply knowing how to release a restriction. It is knowing when to proceed, when to pause and investigate, and when the infant needs additional support first. This requires thoughtful clinical decision-making.

That’s why collaboration matters so much. When we communicate and work together, we are better able to understand the whole infant; not just the restriction.

I left ASTOT feeling grateful for the conversations, the connections, and the shared curiosity that happens when professionals from different backgrounds come together with one common goal: helping babies and their families thrive.

Thank you, ASTOT, for the invitation and for such a memorable experience. 🫶🏻


This weekend, Dr. Francisco Marcano and Dr. Maribel Santos-Cordero gathered with a group of dentists passionate about de...
08/12/2026

This weekend, Dr. Francisco Marcano and Dr. Maribel Santos-Cordero gathered with a group of dentists passionate about dental sleep medicine and the connection between breathing, oral function, posture, and whole-body health.

They had the privilege of learning from osteopath Dr. Kerry D’Ambrogio about breathing and total-body balance, and from James at Whatmore Performance Training about Postural Restoration and the powerful connection between the mouth and the rest of the body.

Special thanks to Cindy from DynaFlex for showcasing how to use the MandiTrac and Patrick from ProSomnus for introducing the RPMO2 airway oral appliance.

The biggest takeaway? The mouth cannot be viewed in isolation. Everything is connected.

A great weekend of learning, collaboration, and looking beyond the teeth to see the whole person. 🫶🏻


&tmj
'ambrogio



07/15/2026

Her full story is here. 🤍

A patient who traveled two hours to see Dr. Santos and our team after years of navigating severe TMJ dysfunction and searching for answers.

She shares the personal changes she noticed just one week after her tongue-tie release, including differences in jaw comfort, sleep quality, tension in her shoulders, neck, and head, and how she was feeling overall during her healing journey.

Thank you for trusting us with your story. ✨

07/14/2026

One week after her tongue-tie release, our patient shared some of the changes she personally noticed during her healing journey. She described feeling more comfortable and noticing a difference in the way her jaw was opening after treatment.

Every patient’s experience is different, but stories like this remind us why looking at tongue function, oral restriction, and the body as a whole can be such an important part of the conversation.

Full story coming soon. ✨

07/13/2026

Her TMJ journey started with unanswered questions… and led her somewhere she didn’t expect.
After a specialist mentioned a possible tongue-tie connection, she found Dr. Santos and decided to travel two hours for care.

This is just the first part of her story and there’s so much more to share. Full video coming soon!

Before treatment, this patient was experiencing concerns that went far beyond speech.Some of the challenges included:• O...
07/08/2026

Before treatment, this patient was experiencing concerns that went far beyond speech.
Some of the challenges included:
• Ongoing speech difficulties, especially with “R” sounds
• Restless sleep, mouth breathing, and snoring
• Waking up tired even after 10–12 hours of sleep
• History of night terrors and sleepwalking
• Chronic shoulder tension
• Early feeding challenges, including poor latch and colic

After a comprehensive evaluation, Dr. Santos identified a posterior tongue-tie that was impacting tongue mobility, coordination, and overall function.

3 weeks post-release:
• Exercises & stretches are done every day and getting much easier to complete
• Tongue mobility is improving
• Healing is progressing beautifully
• Patient is feeling good overall
Tongue-ties don’t just affect speech, they can also influence sleep, breathing, muscle tension, feeding history, and overall function.
Wondering if your child may have a tongue-tie? Send us a DM! We are here to help!

This sweet baby was struggling with a shallow latch, falling asleep during feeds, back arching, hiccups, and mom was exp...
07/06/2026

This sweet baby was struggling with a shallow latch, falling asleep during feeds, back arching, hiccups, and mom was experiencing painful nursing.

After identifying restriction and supporting function, the goal is always the same: helping infants feed more comfortably and helping mothers feel supported through the journey.

Wondering if your baby may have a tongue-tie or struggling with feeding concerns? Let’s connect!

Celebrating freedom, fireworks, and family! 🇺🇸✨ Happy Fourth of July from all of us at the office! ❤️🤍💙
07/04/2026

Celebrating freedom, fireworks, and family! 🇺🇸✨ Happy Fourth of July from all of us at the office! ❤️🤍💙

Address

7307 Merchant Court
Sarasota, FL
34240

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 12pm

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