Doctors Team Up To Help Presley

At five and a half years old, Presley Boyum isn’t a big fan of going to the dentist or the doctor.

So, Dr. Brett Glawe, MD general surgeon, at Perham Health and Dr. Michael Steinmetz, DDS pediatric dentist at Lakes Area Pediatric Dentistry teamed up to perform three procedures at Perham Hospital to make things easier for little Presley.

Presley was having health issues that she needed taken care of. She had a hard time breathing at night, snoring and waking up gasping for air. That all led to fitful nights of sleep and one tired little girl in the morning. She was also having recurring bouts of tonsillitis and had recently had strep throat.

“After talking with other parents about Presley’s symptoms and having the doctor confirm that Presley had big tonsils, I began to think she needed to have them taken out,” explained her mother Layna.

About this same time, Presley needed to see the dentist, but wasn’t very excited about going.

“Presley is a nervous kid, and she isn’t a good patient when it comes to dental or just normal routine doctor care,” said Layna.

After a couple of tries at a regular dentist, where Presley would barely open her mouth, it was recommended that they try a pediatric dentist who specializes in kids.

They went to Dr. Steinmetz’s office in Fergus Falls. “Being at a pediatric dentist was a much better experience. They work with kids all the time, and were so quick and fast that they didn’t really give Presley time to think,” explained Layna.

Her exam revealed that she had at least six cavities, and very large tonsils. Children like Presley, who are mouth breathers, have a dry mouth that can lead to cavities and problems with dental growth and development. It was important that Presley’s cavities be fixed.

Dr. Steinmetz thought it would take three separate appointments. However, with Presley’s anxiety, he didn’t think Presley would tolerate that.

“Presley is a sweet little girl, but she had some dental anxiety. We needed to do dental treatments that are hard for a child her age to tolerate in the clinic. Presley’s mother and I decided that treatment under anesthesia would be the best option to make it easier on Presley and to help prevent a traumatic dental experience,” said Dr. Steinmetz.

While they were discussing options, “I asked if it was possible to have her tonsils removed at the same time so Presley would only have to go under anesthesia one time,” explained Layna.

Dr. Steinmetz agreed and recommended that Layna take Presley to see Dr. Glawe at Perham Health.

“Doing two surgeries using the same anesthesia is not uncommon, and it made perfect sense for Presley. Dr. Glawe and I know each other from Perham Health, but this would be the first time that we worked together on a case,” said Dr. Steinmetz.

At Presley’s appointment with Dr. Glawe, they discussed her concerns about Presley’s sleep issues, large tonsils, and history of tonsillitis.

“After examining Presley, I could see that her tonsils and adenoids were making it difficult for her to breathe. I recommended removing them which would improve her air flow. The snoring and gasping for air would stop which would lead to her getting a better night of sleep,” he explained.

Tonsils and adenoids are small masses of lymph tissue and play a role in our immune system. Which is why they get large when people are ill. Because we have a lot of other lymphatic tissue/organs throughout our body, especially in the neck region, we can live without them.

Dr. Glawe agreed that combining the two procedures made sense for Presley. “It is great to combine procedures such as these because it limits the anesthesia needed, and the patient only has to go through the pain and recovery one time instead of two. This makes it better for both the patient and the caregivers.”

On the day of surgery, Dr. Glawe removed Presley’s tonsils and adenoids, and then Dr. Steinmetz took care of her cavities. He discovered that Presley had eight cavities, and he fixed them all.

Presley’s surgery went great. “I was very pleased with the whole process at Perham Health. We were very impressed with both doctor’s care for Presley. As a mom, I felt a little guilty that she would have a big recovery. The care team was encouraging and made me feel like I had done the right thing. I was very thankful that both doctors were willing to work with me. They understood my desire to only have her go under anesthesia once,” said a grateful Layna.

What advice does Layna have for others?

“Be an advocate for your child. Don’t be afraid to ask the what ifs. If you don’t ask, you don’t know. In our case, it was tonsils and adenoids, but a lot of kids need tubes in their ears. If they have dental issues as well, I would encourage other parents to be brave enough to do two procedures at once.”

It was great to have this option in Perham. Being from Battle Lake, it was more convenient than driving to Fargo,” said Layna.

Dr. Glawe’s advice

“We have a great team at Perham Health and do everything that we can to make this a positive experience for patients knowing that it can be stressful, cause anxiety, and also be painful. Procedures such as these can significantly improve the quality of life for both the patient and the parents. If you’re wondering about tonsils or adenoids, I recommend seeing your primary care provider first. They know when to refer to surgery for removal.”

Dr. Steinmetz’s advice

“I was pleased to be a part of Presley’s care team. I was glad that we could make this happen for both Presley and her mom.

“My advice for parents is that prevention is key. We recommend that your child visit a dentist by age one or six months after the first tooth erupts, and get regular cleanings and checkups. If we can catch an issue early, sometimes treatments are more minor. Lots of kids get cavities. We are here to help make things better.”