Children's & Family Dentistry · Keene & Joshua, TX
A dentist your kids actually want to visit.
Gentle, unhurried family dentistry for children of every age — from the first tooth to the first set of braces. We go slow, explain everything in words kids understand, and let little ones be the boss of when we start. Parents are welcome in the room, and the whole family can usually be seen the same day.
Closer to Joshua? Call (817) 295-4500.
My four-year-old was terrified and refused to even sit in the chair. The assistants brought her stuffed animals and blankets, and let her play with the equipment. She's a big fan of going to the dentist now!
What makes a kid's visit easy
Calm pace, kid-sized explanations, plenty of breaks.
A first dental visit sets the tone for years. We'd rather spend ten extra minutes building trust than rush a child through and have them dread the next one. Here's what that looks like in practice:
Tell-show-do, every time
We name each tool (the “tooth counter,” “Mr. Thirsty”), let your child touch it on their own finger first, and only then bring it near their mouth. No surprises.
Kids hold the suction
Giving a child a job — holding the little suction tool themselves — turns a scary thing into something they're in charge of. It's a small shift that changes everything.
Stuffed animals & blankets
A favorite stuffy is welcome in the chair. We also have blankets, sunglasses to keep the light out of their eyes, and a hand to squeeze whenever they need one.
Parents in the room
You're welcome to stay right beside your child for cleanings and treatment. Most kids are calmer with you there — and you'll hear exactly what we see, in plain language.
Pause whenever they need
If your child needs to stop, we stop. We agree on a hand signal at the start of the visit so they always know they can hit the brakes.
Sticker, prize, high-five
Every kid leaves with a little win — a sticker, a small prize, and a fist bump for being brave. The next visit is already easier because of it.
First visit, growing up, the whole family
One office for everyone under your roof.
We're a general / family practice — which means a four-year-old's first checkup, a ten-year-old's sealants, a teenager's wisdom-tooth check, and a parent's cleaning can all happen in the same office. Most families schedule back-to-back so you only make one trip.
- First checkup: around the first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth. Mostly a chance to get comfortable, take a quick look, and answer your questions.
- Toddler & preschool years: short, friendly visits focused on building trust. Cleanings as they're ready, fluoride, and brushing tips that work at home.
- School-age: cleanings, sealants on the back molars to prevent cavities, and watching how adult teeth are coming in.
- Teens: wisdom-tooth monitoring, whitening when it's appropriate, and a conversation about Invisalign if that's on your mind.
- Anxious kids or kids with a past bad experience: we go slower, use shorter visits, and offer nitrous (laughing gas) when it would help. We'll also be honest if a child would be better served by a pediatric specialist.
Honest scope
General dentists who love seeing kids.
We want to be clear about who we are: we're general / family dentists, not board-certified pediatric specialists. We see children of all ages every day and handle the vast majority of what kids need under one roof. For the rare situation that calls for hospital sedation or true specialist care, we'll tell you straight, and refer to a pediatric dentist we trust. No upsell, no judgment.
My 9-year-old daughter loved her first visit. They spoke to her, asked about her concerns, explained everything — she even got to hold the suction tool herself.
Cost & insurance
Clear estimates, real options.
A six-month checkup and cleaning is usually well covered by dental insurance. If anything beyond that is recommended, we'll talk it through with you first and give you a written estimate before we start. If a bill is bigger than expected, our financing & payment options can spread it into a monthly payment that works for your family.
FAQ · Kids & family dentistry
The questions parents actually ask us.
At what age should my child first see a dentist?
Most kids do best with a first checkup around their first birthday, or within six months of their first tooth coming in — whichever happens sooner. That early visit is mostly about getting comfortable with the office, a quick look in the mouth, and a chat with you about brushing, snacks, and what to expect next. If your child is older and has never been, please don't worry about that — it's never too late, and we see brand-new patients of every age all the time.
Are you a pediatric specialist?
No. We're general / family dentists who love treating children and see kids of all ages every day. That covers the great majority of what kids need — cleanings, sealants, fillings, simple extractions, and helping you stay ahead of cavities. For the rare child who needs hospital sedation or complex specialist care, we'll tell you that plainly and refer to a board-certified pediatric dentist we trust.
Can I stay with my child during the visit?
Yes — always. Parents are welcome in the room for cleanings and treatment, and most kids do better with a familiar person nearby. If you'd rather wait in the lobby (and your child is comfortable with that), that's fine too. We follow your lead.
What if my child is scared or had a bad experience before?
We slow down. We explain each instrument in kid-friendly words ("the tooth counter," "Mr. Thirsty") before it goes near them, let them touch and try things on their own hand or finger first, and pause whenever they need a break. Stuffed animals, blankets, and a hand to hold are all on offer. For very anxious kids, we can talk about nitrous (laughing gas) as a gentle option, or refer to a pediatric specialist if that's the better fit.
Can my kids and I be seen the same day?
Usually, yes — that's one of our favorite things about being a family practice. Call the closest office and ask for back-to-back family appointments and we'll do our best to line everyone up so you only make one trip.
Do you take my insurance, and do you offer payment plans?
We accept most major PPO dental plans and file as a courtesy for many others. You'll get a clear written estimate before any treatment beyond a checkup, and if something comes up that isn't fully covered, we have monthly-payment options through partners like Cherry, CareCredit, Sunbit, and Covered Care. See our financing page for details.
Ready to book the family? Pick the closer office.
Call and ask for back-to-back family times — we'll line everyone up.