top of page

List of Attended Conferences, Classes, Trainings, and Speaking Engagements

​

  1. Second Half - Basic 40 Hour Cranial Course for Dentists with Paul Lee, DO, FAAO, FCA, with the W.G. Sutherland Temporomandibulo-Cranial Dental Group​ (May)

  2. [Speaker] American Laser Study Club Pediatric Tongue- and Lip-Ties and Laser Frenectomies Class (April 2023)

  3. Fordham Page Nutrition Study Club - Clinical Pearls with Craig Zunka, DDS and Gerry Smith, DDS (March 2023)

  4. First Half - Basic 40 Hour Cranial Course for Dentists with the W.G. Sutherland Temporomandibulo-Cranial Dental Group​ (November 2022)

  5. AAPMD Collaboration Cures Conference (September 2022)​​

  6. Understanding the TMJ and Airway: A Radiographic Exploration with Dania Tamimi, BDS, DMSc (June 2022) Virtual Course​

  7. ALF InterFACE Conference (March 2022)

    • 4 days of lecture with Darick Nordstrom, DDS and Angela Tenholder, DDS​

  8. [Speaker] American Laser Study Club 2022 Conference - ​ (February 2022)

  9. [Speaker] American Laser Study Club Pediatric Tongue- and Lip-Ties and Laser Frenectomies Class (October 2021)

  10. [Speaker] Meghna Dassani's 2021 Airway Is Life Summit (October 2021)

  11. American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine Mastery II/III (November 2021)

    • 5 days of lecture by expert speakers with the AADSM​

  12. Dr. Meghna Dassani - Comprehensive Training for Adult and Pediatric Sleep Apnea (March-May 2021) Virtual Course

  13. American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine Mastery I (March-April 2021) Virtual Course

  14. Advanced Lactation, 95 hours (November 2020 - February 2021) Virtual Course

  15. [Speaker] American Laser Study Club 2021 Conference - Frenectomy Track​ (February 2021) Virtual Course

  16. Communication and Counseling for Lactation Consultants (January 2021) 5 Hour Virtual Course

  17. Rosalba Courtney - Understanding the Buteyko Method and Wim Hof Breathing (2020) 2 Hour Virtual Course

  18. Dr. Ljuba Lemke - ALF Therapy and the Cranial Concept 101 (2020) 20 Hour Virtual Course

  19. Munchee U - Protocols for a New Generation (2020) 10 Hour Virtual Course

  20. [Speaker] American Laser Study Club Pediatric Tongue- and Lip-Ties and Laser Frenectomies Class (November 2019)

  21. AAPMD Airway Summit - Collaboration Cures (October 2019)

    • 3 days of expert speakers on airway and whole body health​

  22. Getting Breastfeeding Right From the Start (October 2019)

    • 1 day with Catherine Watson-Genna BS, IBCLC​

  23. Untying Ankyloglossia- The Impact on Infants and Children (September 2019)

    • 1 day with Bobak Ghaheri, MD​

  24. GOLD Learning Online Tongue-tie Symposium (September 2019)

    • 1 day of online lectures from 10 expert speakers​

  25. Advanced Light Force (ALF) Genesis: Ages 0-5 (September 2019)

    • 2 days with Darick Nordstrom, DDS and Angela Tenholder, DDS

  26. Advanced Light Force (ALF) Foundations (August 2019)

    • 2 days with Darick Nordstrom, DDS (creator of the ALF appliance) and Angela Tenholder, DDS

      • ALF provides "gentle, constant support to the teeth and bones of the head which results in a functional and natural development of the upper jaw as well as providing an environment for the tongue to engage the appliance.")

  27. Lactation Counselor Training Course (CLC) with Healthy Children Project​ (July 2019)

    • 5 days with Karin Cadwell PhD, RN, FAAN, RLC, IBCLC and Felicia Floyd​, CLC

  28. TOTS: Tethered Oral Tissues Specialty Training (July 2019)

    • 2 days​ with Autumn Henning, MS, CCC-SLP, COM

  29. Fast and Functional - Functional NeuroMyofascial Technique (June 2019)

    • 2 days with Sarah Beach, OMT, BHSC, RDH, ROHT and Timothy King, BTh. Adv. Dip. App. Sci. Member MA​

  30. [Speaker] American Laser Study Club Pediatric Tongue- and Lip-Ties and Laser Frenectomies Class (May 2019)

  31. [Speaker] American Laser Study Club 2019 Conference - Frenectomy Track​ (March 2019)

  32. ADA Children's Airway Conference: Optimizing Pediatric Airway Health: The Critical Role of Dentists (March 2019)

    • 2 days of lectures with ​Ron Mitchell, MD, Richard Baxter, DMD, Susan Maples, DDS, Barry Raphael, DMD

  33. [Speaker] â€‹ Sigma Phi Alpha Honor Society Continuing Education Course (February 2019)

  34. Forwardontics and GoPex (February 2019)

    • 3 days of lectures with Dr. Sandra Kahn and Dr. Simon Wong​

  35. Functional Sleep Medicine (November 2018)

    • 1 day of lectures from The Breathe Institute team​

  36. American Academy of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry Airway Summit (November 2018​)

    • 3 days of lectures from 20+ expert speakers​

  37. American Laser Study Club - Infant Frenectomies and the Myths and Physics of Surgical and Dental Lasers​​ (November 2018)

    • 2 days of lectures with ​James Thomas, DDS and Peter Vitruk, PhD

  38. GOLD Learning Online Tongue-tie Symposium (September 2018)

    • 1/2 day of online lectures from 5 expert speakers​

  39. Children's Airway Health - A Practical Conference​ (August 2018)

    • 2 days of lectures with 10+ expert speakers​, hosted by the American Dental Association

  40. International Consortium of Ankylofrenula Professionals Inaugural Conference 2018 - Frenum Freedom: Oral Restrictions Affecting the Lifespan​ (July 2018)

    • 3 days of lectures with 20+ expert speakers​

  41. AOMT Comprehensive Frenlum Inspection and Surgery Workshop​ (July 2018)

    • 5 day class with Irene Marchesan PhD, Michelle Emmanuel OTR/L, Souroush Zaghi MD, James Murphy​ MD, 

  42. Sensory Brain Development and Feeding Strategies (June 2018)

    • 1 day class with Cathy Holway, PT, DPT​

  43. American Laser Study Club Inaugural Symposium 2018 - Laser Frenectomies (April 2018)

    • 3 days of lectures with 20+ expert speakers​

  44. Functional Approach to Sleep Medicine (March 2018)

    • 1 day class with Soroush Zaghi, MD, William Hang, DDS, ​Joy Moeller RDH, COM

  45. Best Practices in Pediatric Feeding, Motor Speech, and Mouth Development/Function (March 2018)

    • 2 day class with Diane Bahr, CCC

  46. Orofacial Myology: Making the Connection, IAOM pre-certification course (March 2018)

    • 4 day class with Mary Billings, CCC, COM and Dianah Davidson, RDH, COM

  47. Putting the pieces Together To Create Healthier Smiles, Earlier in Life…. (December 2017)

    • 3 days of lectures with Kevin Boyd, DDS, Rohan Wijey, DDS, Patrick McKeown, Valerie Sinkus, PT, Darius Loghmanee, MD

  48. Tethered Oral Tissues Diagnosis and Treatment (November 2017)

    • 1 day lecture with Larry Kotlow, DDS

  49. International Association of Orofacial Myology 2017 Convention (October 2017)

    • 3 days of lectures with 20+ expert speakers​

  50. Cranial Nerve Dysfunction in the Pre-Crawling Infant (October 2017)

    • 3 day class with Michelle Emmanuel, OTR/L

  51. Pediatric Tongue- and Lip-Ties: Diagnosis and Treatment with Soft-Tissue Lasers (August 2017)

    • 3 days of lectures with Robert Convissar, DDS; Martin Kaplan, DMD; Joy Funston, RN, IBCLC; Michelle Emmanuel, OTR/L

  52. International Association of Tongue-Tie Professionals 2016 Summit (November 2016)

    • 4 days of lectures with 20+ expert speakers​​​​

Tara Erson, DMD, IBCLC, D. ABDSM

Dr. Tara, who was born and raised in Las Vegas, completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Southern California but happily returned home afterwards where she earned a DMD from the UNLV School of Dental Medicine in 2012.  In 2021, Dr. Tara became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.

Dr. Tara is exceptionally committed to children, and the life-changing potential of treating problems when they are noticed. Finding and treating root causes is the ultimate goal.

Dr. Tara wanted to be a dentist even as a child; in fact, she saved and still has all of her baby teeth.  When she is not working, she is at home with her three sons, Kale, Rye, and Sage.  She also loves to read, swing dance, and go to as many Hanson concerts as possible. 

As a rare Las Vegas native, Dr. Tara has a deep connection to this community.  She received great dental care in Vegas as a child and is happy to continue that cycle with future generations. Giving back to the community is very important to Dr. Tara.  She makes it a priority that her services are available to all people in the community.  
Dr. Taras Headshot (1 of 1).jpg
Tongue Tie
 
Dr. Tara was introduced to tongue-tie while attending La Leche League meetings with her first child.  As time went on she began to see how negatively ties impacted breastfeeding.  She was inspired to learn more about how she, as a dentist, could help these moms and babies. 

As this information is not taught routinely in dental/medical/lactation education, Dr. Tara realized she must create her own pathway of education.  In the summer of 2016 she traveled to Portand, OR to spend a half a day observing Dr. Bobby Ghaheri perform the procedure.
 
Now, Dr. Tara is uniquely qualified to assess, diagnose, and treat tongue ties.  She has completed over 500 hours in continuing education specifically on ties and tongue function, and continues to attend classes, courses, and conferences as often as possible. Dr. Tara takes great pride in bringing up-to-date knowledge to her patients for the best possible outcomes.

In April 2021, Dr. Tara tested to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). The IBCLC credential is the highest-regarded professional qualification in breastfeeding knowledge and support, recognized all over the world.  
 
Dr. Tara uses a LightScalpel CO2 laser.  A CO2 laser uses laser light to cut soft tissue, as opposed to a diode which cuts tissue with a hot glass tip.  A true laser allows a high level of surgical precision during the procedure with minimal collateral heat damage while still providing excellent bleeding control.

CERTIFICATES

  • International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)

  • Diplomate, American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (ABDSM)

  • TOTs Training Certified (Chrysalis)

  • The Breathe Institute Ambassador (TBI)

  • Basic Life Support (BLS)

  • Laser Institute of America Online CO2 Medical Laser Safety Training

  • Standard Laser Proficiency

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • Faculty, American Laser Study Club (ALSC)

  • Fellow, American Laser Study Club (ALSC)

  • Nevada and Utah Leader, Airway Circle (AC)

  • International Affiliation of Tongue-tie Professionals (IATP)

  • International Consortium of Ankylofrenula Professionals (ICAP)

  • American Academy of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry (AAPMD)

  • American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM)

bottom of page