About the Good to Grow Team

I couldn’t unsee what airway orthodontics showed me. In an instant, it explained everything that had been misdiagnosed with my son and daughter for years, and I was in a unique position to do something about it. Why wait to fix problems when they're older and done growing when you can prevent their suffering altogether? It's time for traditional dental thinking to evolve.

- Dr. Lauren Ballinger

FOUNDER OF GOOD TO GROW

Dr. Lauren Ballinger is a Board Certified pediatric dentist who, after 15 years at her family’s traditional pediatric dental practice, left to open her own practice to help prevent children's suffering - before it happens. Good to Grow Airway Centric Pediatric Dentistry and Frenectomy Center is a sanctuary for families everywhere. Good to Grow is completely devoted to proper airway and dental wellness, the prevention of disease, and true collaborative care amongst the childrens’ doctors and family.

CO-FOUNDER OF THE ENDEAVOUR FOUNDATION

  • The Endeavour is an international foundation dedicated to evolving standard pediatric dental thinking towards addressing the root causes of preventable ailments, especially as they relate to nasal breathing, restful sleep, nutrition, and inflammation in children 6 years old and under.

  • The Endeavour is the pediatric branch of the American Academy of Physiological Medicine & Dentistry (AAPMD).

  • • Doctor of Dental Surgery, University of Maryland School of Dentistry

    • Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry, University of Maryland School of Dentistry Pediatric Dental Residency

    • Certified Specialist in Orofacial Myology, Graduate School of Behavioral and Health Sciences

    • Board Certified Pediatric Dentist

    • Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

    • Certified Specialist in Orofacial Myology: Sandra Coulson, OMT

    • Certified Myobrace® Provider

    • Certified Myobrace® Myofunctional Therapist

    • Orthotropic® Mini-Residency: Dr. Bill Hang

    • Pediatric Airway Mini-Residency: Dr. Germain Ramirez-Yanez

    • TMD and Facial Pain Mini-Residency: Dr. Steven Olmos

    • Orthodontics Straight Wire Mini-Residency: Dr. Leonard Caraprezza

    • The Breathe Institute Frenuloplasty Education: Soroush Zaghi, MD

    • Breathe Baby Infant Frenectomy Education: Chelsea Pinto, DDS

    • Tongue-Tie Academy Mini-Residency: Dr. Richard Baxter

    • Boston University: Pediatric Tongue and Lip Ties Diagnosis and Treatment with Soft Tissue Lasers: Dr. Marty Kapan; Michelle Price Emanuel OT, IBCLC; Peter Vitruck

    • Postural Orthodontics Mini-Residency: Dr. Simon Wong

    • Rightsleep®: Healthcare Practitioner Training: Stasha Gominak, MD

    • American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD)

    • American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD)

    • American Dental Association (ADA)

    • Massachusetts Dental Association (MSDA)

    • Berkshire District Dental Society (BDDS)

    • The Pankey Institute, Faculty Member

    • American Academy of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry (AAPMD)

    • Endeavor, Pediatric Arm of AAPMD

    • The Foundation for Airway Health (FAH)

    • International Association of Tongue Tie Professionals (IATP)

    • Lightscalpel CO2 Laser Ambassador

    • American Laser Study Club (ALSC)

    • Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD)

    • The Breathe Institute and Breathe Baby Ambassador

    • North American Association of Facial Orthotropics® (NAAFA)

    • Airway Circle

    • Health Latch Circle

    • Mommy Dentists in Business (MDIB)

Diana

Registered Dental Hygienist. Dedicated mom. Turned her passion for helping her son, into a professional calling.

Diana has been a dental hygienist for over 18 years. After searching for answers for her son, Diana brought him to Dr. Lauren for treatment. In her own words, “Dr. Lauren helped my son when no one else could.” Diana turned her passion for helping her son into a professional calling. She left her “work family” of 12 years at general dentistry, to come work at Good to Grow, to take an active role in helping developing children thrive. Diana provides superior care. Her work as a hygienist goes far beyond “cleaning teeth”, she is a wellness educator. When she’s not at Good to Grow, Diana enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, shopping, and taking vacations.

Taryn

Certified Lactation Counselor. Myofunctional educator. Massage and Craniosacral therapist. Girl mom.

Taryn plays a key role in Good to Grow’s frenectomy center. She offers specialized lactation support to our littlest patients and their mommies. Taryn also utilizes her expertise in massage and craniosacral therapy to help relieve tension, eliminate pain, boost immunity, and reset the body’s nervous system. Outside of work, Taryn spends time with her three girls and her farm’s gaggle of chickens.

Allie

Expert in clinical dentistry. Appliance specialist. Boy mom.

Allie has worked in the dental field for many years, starting in a general practice and then making the transition to pediatrics. Allie loves working with children; She has a passion for pediatric care and enjoys the energy her young patients bring. Allie has very talented hand and orthodontic support skills! She is Good to Grow’s appliance specialist and manufactures all in-house-made appliances. Allie is a Certified Myofunctional Educator, and takes pride in being part of the pediatric airway movement.

Tracy

Financial coordinator. President of the Berkshire District Dental Assistant Association. Taryn's mom!

Tracy was born to work in dental. Even as a young girl, she would assist in her grandfather’s dental office. As President of the Berkshire District Dental Assistant Association, she helps provide scholarships to students. She has worked in dental for over 30 years, and she is part of Good to Grow’s DNA. Tracy loves spending any free time traveling with her husband and quality time with her children and grandchildren. Tracy has a springer doodle named Mochi.

Haley

Sterilization assistant. All around "office-whisperer". Dirt bike racer. 

Haley’s dedication to the Good to Grow office is palpable. She assists whenever, and wherever she can to keep things running smoothly, especially our sterilization area. She is currently satisfying her hours and moving towards becoming a certified licensed dental assistant – a dream Haley has had since she was a young girl. Haley spends her free time racing dirt bikes, and spending time outdoors.