About Our Practice
Upbeat Pediatric Dentistry is a brand new modern dental office with the latest technology. We strive to provide a great dental experience for you and your child. You will feel welcome as you enter our positive and kid friendly waiting area. As we focus on privacy and safety of our patients and family, we provide individualized treatment room and attention on the connection between the patient/family and doctor/staff. Our treatment rooms have TVs in the ceiling to provide comfort and distraction to our patients during their treatment. We are equipped with digital radiographs to minimize the exposure of our patients to radiation.
Our doctors provide gentle dental care for infants, children, teens, and children with special needs. Our practice can provide a wide range of dental services for your child. We focus on preventive care, including dental exams, cleanings and fluoride. We educate patients and parents on home oral health routines. If any further treatment is indicated, our office offers minimally invasive treatment, restorative treatment, dental emergencies, sedation, general anesthesia, interceptive orthodontics and Invisalign.
We are located at a convenient medical plaza in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
Upbeat Pediatric Dentistry looks forward to welcoming your family to ours. Together, we’ll set your little one on the path to a lifetime of healthy and happy smiles!
About Our Practice
Upbeat Pediatric Dentistry is a brand new modern dental office with the latest technology. We strive to provide a great dental experience for you and your child. You will feel welcome as you enter our positive and kid friendly waiting area. As we focus on privacy and safety of our patients and family, we provide individualized treatment room and attention on the connection between the patient/family and doctor/staff. Our treatment rooms have TVs in the ceiling to provide comfort and distraction to our patients during their treatment. We are equipped with digital radiographs to minimize the exposure of our patients to radiation.
Our doctors provide gentle dental care for infants, children, teens, and children with special needs. Our practice can provide a wide range of dental services for your child. We focus on preventive care, including dental exams, cleanings and fluoride. We educate patients and parents on home oral health routines. If any further treatment is indicated, our office offers minimally invasive treatment, restorative treatment, dental emergencies, sedation, general anesthesia, interceptive orthodontics and Invisalign.
We are located at a convenient medical plaza in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
Upbeat Pediatric Dentistry looks forward to welcoming your family to ours. Together, we’ll set your little one on the path to a lifetime of healthy and happy smiles!
Our Mission
By providing excellent dental care, we make each visit a fun, personal and an UPBEAT experience!
Our mission is to provide specialized care and help to infants, children, adolescents, and those with special needs to positively achieve a healthy smile. Our doctors and team offer a child-friendly, modern and state of art environment to care for your children’s oral health needs through an exceptional and comprehensive quality dental treatment. Every patient is cared for like our own family. We believe that positive childhood experiences with dentistry result in a lifetime of good oral health.
It's an awesome place, would definitely recommend it to everyone with children. A very loving and caring practice with the best Doctor with absolutely impeccable skills, knowledge, and overall professionalism the perfect combination to care for our children.
Maria Carolina Puig
Meet Dr. Vanessa Freitas
Dr. Vanessa Freitas is a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist who is passionate about her profession. She loves caring for her patients and is committed to providing the best possible experience during dental treatment. Dr. Vanessa was born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the prestigious University of Sao Paulo (Brazil). Eager to pursue further education in dentistry, Dr. Vanessa moved to the United States. In 2011, she completed two years of advanced postgraduate education at University of Connecticut, where she received a Certificate of Advanced Education in General Dentistry. To fulfill her dreams of working with children, Dr. Vanessa completed a Pediatric Residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Children’s Hospital of Alabama in 2013. During her residency and due to her superior performance, Dr. Vanessa was selected to be the Chief Resident.
Dr. Vanessa has extensive experience in treating children, adolescents and special needs patients. She is trained in all aspects of pediatric dentistry including preventive treatment, dental emergencies, dental trauma, conscious sedation, hospital dentistry and laser dentistry. She is dedicated to treating your child’s oral health needs in a friendly, comfortable, state-of-art environment. She believes that promoting proper habits toward dental health, your child will learn the necessary skills to maintain a cavity-free smile for a lifetime.
Dr. Vanessa is committed to pediatric education and besides working in her private practice, she is a faculty of the Pediatric Residency and an attending at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, in addition, she is a volunteer at the University of Florida Hialeah Dental Center holding a clinical assistant professor ranking. She is also a co-author of several scientific publications.
She has professional affiliations with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Florida Dental Association, Southern Society of Pediatric Dentist, and Academy of Laser in Dentistry.
Dr. Vanessa speaks fluent English, Portuguese and Spanish. Dr. Vanessa lives in the Broward with her husband, Dr. Rod Souza, her two children, Giovanna and Liam, and her fur baby, Maggie. She enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends.
Meet Dr. Rod Souza
Dr. Rod Souza practices dentistry with the attention and understanding that each patient’s needs and desires are unique and require a personalized approach, cultivating care and integrity.
Dr. Rod has a unique dental background, valedictorian of his dental class in Brazil, he is one of the few general dentists across the US that has done two advanced general dentistry programs, obtaining his certificates from Yale School of Medicine and University of Connecticut. Recognized for his ability to quickly build patient trust, it was his principled and comfortable approach to dentistry that made patients feel confident and at ease to be treated under Dr. Souza’s care.
Dr. Rod exudes an enthusiasm for dental education. He is the residency program director for the prestigious University of Florida AEGD in South Florida. From cosmetic to oral reconstruction needs, he believes in the vital role dentistry plays in one’s life.
At UPBEAT pediatric dentistry their talented team of experts provide compassionate and detailed care, focusing on creating a comfortable and enjoyable environment. To that end, Dr. Souza’s goal is to foster a long term, conscientious and supportive relationships with patients.
He has previously been a faculty member at the Universities of Connecticut and Alabama at Birmingham. Currently he is an Associate Professor at the University of Florida.
He is an accomplished educator and has published several scientific articles. Dr. Souza also donates his time to the Give Back A Smile Foundation, helping victims of domestic abuse retrieve their smiles. Dr. Souza is former member of the board of directors at the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and an active member of American Dental Association, Florida Dental Association and American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Invisalign has named Dr. Rod as a Preferred Provider specializing in metal-free teeth straightening, creating life-changing smile transformations for patients.
Dr. Souza is an active Crossfiter, a father of two that has an active and busy lifestyle. He and his wife Dr. Vanessa have been sweethearts since dental school days. When he’s not working, he is traveling the world with his family and exploring new foods.
Meet Our Team
Maggie
An English golden retriever born in Illinois, Maggie is proficient in snuggles, motivation, and cheering people up on a rough day. Animal-assisted therapy uses special dogs to help kids deal with mental, emotional and physical issues.
She likes flip flops but prefers barefoot, falls asleep during every movie. Loves the dentist and meeting new people. Her favorite food is bacon and has a “Keep calm and carry on” sign in her room.
