A pediatric dentist is a kids’ dentist with two to three extra years of specialized training after dental school, focused only on children’s smiles. From baby’s first tooth through the teen years, our team understands how to guide behavior, ease anxiety, and support each stage of dental growth and development. That means your child gets care tailored to them—and you gain a trusted partner to help prevent future dental problems.

Your child’s “baby teeth” do a lot more than make their smile adorable—they help with chewing, speaking clearly, and holding space for the permanent teeth coming in later. When primary teeth stay healthy, your child can eat comfortably, develop confident speech, and their adult teeth are more likely to come in straight. Taking great care of baby teeth today helps protect your child from bigger dental issues tomorrow.

Children’s teeth begin forming before birth, and the first baby teeth usually appear between 4–12 months of age. Most kids have all 20 primary teeth by around age 3, and permanent teeth typically start coming in around age 6 and continue through the early teen years. If you ever have questions about whether your child’s tooth development is on track, our pediatric dentists are here to walk you through what’s normal and what needs attention.

Digital dental X‑rays are a safe, important part of your child’s dental checkup because they let us see things we can’t spot with the naked eye, like cavities between teeth or issues below the gums. By identifying problems early, we can provide gentler, more affordable treatment and keep your child more comfortable over time. Most children only need routine X‑rays about once a year, but we’ll always explain why they’re recommended and answer your questions first.

Nighttime teeth grinding (bruxism) is common in children, and in many cases, they outgrow it without any treatment. If grinding starts to wear down teeth, cause jaw soreness, or disrupt sleep, we may recommend simple solutions like a custom night guard to protect their smile. At each visit, we check for signs of wear and talk through practical ways to help your child sleep more comfortably.

Thumb or finger sucking can be a normal source of comfort for young children, but if it continues after the front permanent teeth are ready to come in, it may affect tooth alignment and jaw growth. Our pediatric dentists use gentle, positive strategies to help kids gradually break the habit—never shaming them—so you can protect their bite while still supporting their need for comfort. Together, we’ll create a simple plan that fits your child’s personality and your family’s routine.

Inside each tooth is soft tissue called the pulp, which contains nerves and blood vessels that keep the tooth alive and healthy. When decay or injury reaches this area, pulp therapy (sometimes called a “nerve treatment” for kids) lets us clean and treat the inside of the tooth so it can stay in place instead of being removed. Preserving that tooth helps your child chew comfortably, maintain space for adult teeth, and avoid more complex treatment later on.