Services for tiny humans

Everything we do, plainly explained.

Six core services and one referral network. We tell you exactly what each appointment looks like — including how long, how much, and how scary (spoiler: not very).

Checkups & cleanings Sealants & fluoride Fillings Sedation dentistry Orthodontic referrals Special-needs care
Service 01

Checkups & cleanings

The classic twice-a-year visit, scaled down to kid size. Your child's first checkup is recommended around 12 months — earlier than most parents expect, but kinder on the kid because they're not yet old enough to be wary of new experiences.

What we actually do at a checkup

  • Tour of the roomchair-up, chair-down, the spinny brush, the water gun. Five minutes of "this is the weird stuff."
  • Count teeth, check the bitewe count out loud. Kids love being told they have eight, then twelve, then twenty teeth.
  • Cleaning & polishkid-paste in their flavor of choice — bubble gum, watermelon, mint, blue raspberry.
  • Fluoride varnisha 60-second brush-on that protects against cavities for the next six months.
  • Parent debrieftwo minutes at the end, with you, on what we saw and what to focus on at home.
Service 02

Sealants & fluoride

Sealants are a clear, BPA-free coating painted onto the chewing surface of permanent molars when they come in (around age 6 and again around age 12). They prevent about 80% of cavities in those teeth. Painless, no drill, takes 10 minutes for the whole mouth.

The fluoride conversation

We use fluoride varnish at every checkup — it's the single most evidence-backed cavity-prevention tool in pediatric dentistry. We're happy to talk through any concerns about systemic fluoride, water exposure, or sourcing for parents who want to discuss it.

Service 03

Fillings, kid-style.

If your child has a cavity, we'll restore it with a tooth-colored, BPA-free composite resin. Most fillings take about 25 minutes per tooth. We numb the area with a topical first (no needle yet), then the local anesthetic — and we always show the syringe to older kids who want to know what's happening, never to younger kids who don't.

What we do differently

  • Topical first, alwayswe wait the full two minutes for it to take effect — no shortcuts.
  • Show or hide, your kid's callsome 8-year-olds want to watch the tools; some 5-year-olds want a screen. Both are fine.
  • Stuffed animal welcomedthey sit on the chair too. We've fitted dental bibs on bears, rabbits, and one very patient T. rex.
Service 04

Sedation dentistry

For kids who are very anxious, very young, or undergoing longer procedures, we offer two levels of sedation: nitrous oxide ("happy gas") and oral conscious sedation. Both are safe, short-acting, and well-studied. We're conservative about when we recommend them — most kids do beautifully without any sedation at all.

The two options, plainly

  • Nitrous oxidea flavored mask with a sweet-smelling gas. Kicks in in 2 minutes, wears off in 5. Kid stays awake and chatty.
  • Oral conscious sedationa flavored medicine 30 minutes before the procedure. Kid stays awake but very relaxed and may not remember the visit. Used for longer procedures or higher anxiety.
  • Hospital-based general anesthesiafor very young kids needing extensive work, we partner with Children's Minnesota for outpatient cases. Rare; about 12 cases per year.
Service 05

Early orthodontic screening

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends every child be screened by age 7. We do this screening at every regular checkup starting then — looking at jaw growth, tooth crowding, bite alignment, and any habits (thumb, tongue) that could affect alignment. Most kids don't need anything done before age 11.

If a referral is needed

We don't do braces in-house. We refer to one of three local orthodontists we've vetted personally for kid-friendliness. We'll send your records over, call ahead, and follow up after. We don't take referral fees from any practice.

Service 06

Special-needs care

Roughly 30% of our patients have a sensory, developmental, or medical need that makes a typical dental visit harder. We've trained around it. We offer pre-visit photo books of the office, longer "meet the chair" sessions before any cleaning happens, weighted blankets, and noise-canceling headphones for the chair.

What we have on hand

  • Pre-visit walkthrough PDFphotos of every room, every tool, every staff member. Sent before your first visit.
  • Sensory-friendly hoursTuesday and Thursday mornings, lights dimmed, music off, single-family-at-a-time scheduling.
  • Trained on autism, ADHD, Down syndromeour team has all completed the AAPD's special-care continuing-education series.

Pick a service. Pick a time.

New patients usually get a first visit within seven days. Returning families can self-book in our portal.

Book first visit