Lionheart DPC, 209 State St, Suite 1, Presque Isle, ME (2026)

04/14/2026

When should kids start going to the dentist? 🦷😷
The answer surprises many parents!

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the recommendation is by age 1—or within 6 months of the first tooth coming in.

Earlier than most people expect!

And it’s not just about cavities.

These early visits are about building a strong foundation. Dentists and hygienists are looking at:

🦷 How teeth are coming in
😁 Spacing and jaw development
🪥 Early signs of decay
👍🏻 Oral habits (thumb sucking, pacifiers)
🫟 They can offer fluoride varnish application to strengthen enamel when indicated
📸 They may obtain x-rays, when appropriate, to evaluate the roots and developing teeth

And just as important—they’re supporting YOU as a parent. 🩵

You leave with practical, real-life guidance—
tips and tricks to make brushing easier,
what to watch for,
and how to set your child up for healthy habits long term.

🌟 Plus, baby teeth absolutely matter!
They hold space for adult teeth, support proper speech, and play a key role in nutrition and development.

This was one of our recent visits with our son—SO GRATEFUL for the extraordinary team at Academy Dental for taking such great care of our family over the years 🦁🧡

Starting early makes everything that follows easier.

❓ Did you know that dental visits should start this early?

04/12/2026

Excited to share this piece from Maine Public where Lionheart Direct Primary Care was featured 🧡🦁

I believe in this model of care with everything I have—because I see the difference it makes for families every day. I’m so happy to see it growing and honored to be a part of it. People are taking notice.

Too many families are dealing with:
• Putting off care because of the worry of a big bill 💸
• Waiting days (or longer) for an appointment ⏳
• Calling with a concern and not being able to actually reach your doctor 📞
• Feeling like you have to go through multiple people and getting lost in the shuffle of the system 🤕

There’s a better way!

At Lionheart
🦁💛 you know what you’re paying—no surprise bills. You get reliable access to your doctor at a predictable cost.
🦁💛 You can reach me directly, get an appointment the same day, sometimes within just a couple of hours of reaching out.
🦁💛 you have an experienced doctor who truly knows your child.

Direct Primary Care is growing because it’s working—it’s giving families a simpler, more personal, and more reliable way to access care.

You don’t have to keep doing it the hard way.
At some point, you realize—there’s a better way to do this.

We’re currently accepting new families at Lionheart Direct Primary Care—the kind of care more families are turning to for a reason 🩵

🌟Read or Listen to the full article here:

https://www.mainepublic.org/health/2026-03-10/frustrated-by-lack-of-access-to-care-more-physicians-and-patients-turn-to-direct-primary-care

04/09/2026

Our phone doesn’t ring much… 📞🦁

And that’s by design.

🦁💛 At Lionheart, most of our communication happens through our app—and it’s made things so much easier for our families.

You can schedule appointments anytime.
Send messages, photos, or videos.
Ask questions as they come up, request refills, our notes for school so easily

Chats also include both parents and me, so everyone stays on the same page.

It’s secure, it’s simple, and it feels like texting—just with your doctor on the other end. 👩🏼‍⚕️

❌ No phone tag. No waiting on hold. No clunky portals.

Our app is directly connected to your complete medical record—no red tape.
Everything is clear, organized, and accessible in one place.

So when the phone does ring…
It’s usually someone looking for a better way to do healthcare 😉

🦁🧡

04/07/2026

Did they just spit up everything they ate? 😳

👶🏼 💦 Spit-ups are one of the most common concerns I hear from parents.

Watch this—I don’t want you worrying more than you need to. 🦁🧡

04/02/2026

Ever wondered what actually happens after your doctor sends a referral? 👩🏼‍⚕️

From insurance requirements… to specialist triaging… to the surprising number of systems involved in moving records between offices — there’s often a lot happening behind the scenes before a specialist visit is scheduled. ⏳

Always advocate for yourself. Be proactive. Understanding how the process works can make the system a lot less frustrating to navigate.

03/31/2026

🦷 Your child hits their mouth…you think the hit their tooth - Now what?

Kids bump their teeth all the time — playgrounds, scooters, sports, hockey, you name it.

When it happens, most parents are left wondering “Is this an emergency?”

The answer is - it depends and what you do in the first few minutes can actually make the difference in saving a tooth.

Most dental injuries in kids turn out completely fine — but knowing what actually matters in the moment can take a lot of the panic out of the situation.

🎥. Watch the video to learn what to do and for a tip that surprises many!

My son has done this twice! 🥴 Have you dealt with the tooth injury?

Update since recording - 3 times!!!! I jinxed the kid 😩

03/26/2026

LIonheart’s April Workshop!

Strong Minds, Strong Hearts 💙
Helping Teens Find Their Roar 🦁

The teen years can be confusing for both parents and kids. Today’s teens are growing up in a very different world than the one we grew up in, and many parents are left wondering how best to support them.

🦁💛 This Lionheart workshop is designed to help parents better understand what teens are experiencing — and how we can guide them with confidence, connection, and practical tools.

Perfect for parents of teens who want to better understand today’s challenges and learn practical ways to reconnect and support their teen’s mental health.

We’ll talk about:

🩵 Why teen mental health is declining — and what’s driving it
🩵 The teenage brain — and how it shapes emotions and behavior
🩵 Why teens shut down or respond with anger
🩵 Practical tools to rebuild trust, communication, and resilience

✨ To keep the conversation personal, practical, and productive, we’ll be keeping the group intentionally small. This is a free community workshop, so send us a message if you’d like to reserve a spot. ✨

Parents of teens — what’s something you wish someone had told you about the teenage years? ⬇️

🦁🧡

03/24/2026

Why do kids get stomachaches when they’re nervous? 😵‍💫🤢

Parents notice this all the time.
A child is completely fine… and then suddenly before school, a test, or a big event their stomach hurts. 😭

In pediatrics we often refer to this pattern as functional abdominal pain.

In this video I walk through what’s actually happening in the body when stress shows up as belly pain in kids — and a few practical ways we can support them. 🦁🧡

Have you ever noticed this with your child before school or a big event?

We would love to hear your stories - What situations tend to trigger this for your child?

03/19/2026

Ever notice how some meltdowns seem to come out of nowhere… especially after a snack? 🍩

At lionheart, one of the root causes I explore often when families ask about mood swings, focus issues, or “hangry” afternoons—is blood sugar stability. 📉

🍭High-glycemic foods can cause rapid spikes followed by noticeable drops. In kids, that swing can show up as irritability, tears, or poor concentration.

Sometimes what looks behavioral… is physiologic.

This is one of the reasons I value having time in Direct Primary Care. We can step back, look at patterns, and address the underlying drivers instead of reacting to the surface symptoms. 🦁💛

Sometimes the most powerful behavior intervention… is nutritional. 🍎

Have you noticed certain foods or timing patterns that affect your child’s mood or focus? 🫨

03/18/2026

A wonderful community resource coming up for families in our region. 💕

The Maternal Mobile Health Unit from the Maine CDC will be in Houlton on April 30th offering free diapers, car seats, screenings, and connections to helpful services for families.

If you know an expecting mom, a new parent, or a family who could benefit, please pass this along. 🍼👶🏼

📍 Walmart Parking Lot – Houlton
🗓 Thursday, April 30
⏰ 9 AM – 2 PM

03/17/2026

🦁🧡 New Service Coming to Lionheart DPC — Laser Tongue & Lip Tie Releases

This is a service we’ve been working diligently behind the scenes to bring to our community, and while our timeline stretched a little longer than planned (the clinic has been wonderfully busy welcoming new Lionheart families these past few months), we’re thrilled to say our equipment is finally here and we’re ready to get started!

The initial consultation will be thorough, discussing all signs, symptoms, and concerns. We’ll evaluate for tethered oral tissues and discuss whether a release may be helpful. If a procedure is recommended and parents wish to proceed, the laser release can be performed the same day.

Laser releases are very quick — typically lasting only a few seconds — providing precise treatment and minimal bleeding.

Tethered oral tissues can contribute to challenges such as:
🤱 Breastfeeding or bottle feeding difficulties
🍼 Reflux and gassiness in infants
😴 Negatively impact sleep quality
🍽️ Picky eating as children grow
🗣️ Speech articulation concerns

For many years, medicine often minimized or dismissed these concerns. But clinicians who have performed thousands of releases are now sharing clinical insights and data showing meaningful improvements in feeding, comfort, and oral function for many children. The evolving understanding in this area is both fascinating and humbling.

As a pediatrician — and also as a mom who breastfed both of my children — I know firsthand how much feeding challenges can affect the early months of parenting. I’m incredibly excited to bring this option to families in our community. 🧡

✨ Consultations will begin in April

✨ This service will be available to both members and non-members.

🦁💛 For Lionheart DPC members, the consultation is included as part of your membership.

We’re grateful to be able to offer this service here in Aroostook County and to support families navigating feeding and oral function challenges.

Message us for more details!

03/15/2026

6 months of Lionheart 🦁🧡

Six months ago, Lionheart opened its doors with a simple hope: that healthcare could feel a little more human again.

During our meet-and-greets, families often share frustrations they’ve experienced navigating healthcare. In these six short months we’ve heard many of those stories — and now it’s the success stories that are piling up. 🙌🏻🏆

💛 Families saving money.
💛 Moms finding relief in being able to reach their doctor quickly and directly for after hours answers.
💛 convenient texting making life easy for busy parents
💛 ER and urgent care visits avoided.
💛 Relationships and trust growing with every visit.

Our Lionheart families come from all backgrounds — privately insured, MaineCare, and families without insurance; first-time parents, seasoned pros with big families; newborns all the way to young adults in their twenties. Direct Primary Care offers solutions across the board.

I’m incredibly grateful I made the leap to Direct Primary Care. This model allows me to provide better care for families — and real solutions to challenges many are facing.

Thank you to every family who has trusted Lionheart with their care. I’m blessed to say the families who have joined Lionheart truly feel like friends and family. 🦁🧡

As we continue to grow, we do so with intention, so that we can continue to provide the level of care we are committed to providing.

This month we’ll be launching TWO new services we’ve been working hard on behind the scenes. More to come soon. 👀☺️

Six months in… and just getting warmed up. 😉

Lionheart DPC

04/14/2026

04/12/2026

04/09/2026

04/07/2026

04/02/2026

03/31/2026

03/26/2026

03/24/2026

03/19/2026

03/18/2026

03/17/2026

03/15/2026

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