Pediatric Dentist in St. Paul

We've been very happy with Children's Dental Care Specialists. We've seen both Dr. Stephen Nelson and Dr. Amey Severson and liked them both. Their St. Paul clinic is near Snelling and Randolph. The Web site (www.srnkidsdds.com) has great advice for first-time visits. I brought my son in for the first time when he was a few months past his third birthday. In retrospect, I probably should have done it about a year earlier.

They should at least be SEEN by the dentist by age 2. I took my son in at 2 and he already had cavities! The cavities were so bad they had to put crowns on the molars. 6 months later at the next checkup one of them absessed and he had to have it pulled. Since it was a baby tooth they had to put in a space maintainer to keep the space for his adult molar that won't come in until he is about 11. I think he just has soft teeth because my other son has no problems. I take them to the Dental Specialists Pediatric Dentistry in Roseville (Dr. Ellie Sakhi). She is very gentle and explains everything well. My son had a hard time the first couple visits, but his last checkup was fine and he didn't have any more problems.

i take my children to metro dental on university near snelling. they both started going for checkups at 3. hope this helps!

Dr. Kristi O'Kane works in the Highland Village part of St. Paul.
###-###-####. 2221 Ford Parkway Suite 201

Kristi has been great for my husband and I. She suggests we bring our little girl with us to the dentist at OUR appt just so she gets used to the idea of 'dentist'. She gets to see us open our mouth and have funny things and the dentist poking around in our mouth.
(We have not quite 'gotten to it' and have not brought her in yet. If we put it off much more, we will just have to go ahead with it.)

Kristi is busy so it may take awhile to get in to see her. She is worth the wait.

Good luck.

i took my daughter in at 4. mabye should have done it at 3, but she would not have sat there and let them poke around in her mouth! she was scared but did beautifully! she even let them take x-rays. so it depends on your kid, but they do get cavities young! My daughter also had 2 cavities and she has already been back to have them filled. Watching her go through that sucked!! we now are very strict about brushing and limiting sugar!

btw...we go to a pediatric denist in maplewood...dr mielke's office by st johns hospital.

I use Health Partners and am unsure if they even have a pediatric dentist. But I just wanted to say that I brought my daughter when she was about a year and a half. She is now not afraid of the dentist, actually kind of enjoys it. My nephew didn't go until he was almost 4, and he HATES the dentist with a passion. I don't think it's too early when it comes to the health of your childs teeth! Once you find a pediatric dentist call and ask them how early a child should be seen.

I took my daughter at age2 only because she hit her front teeth on the pew(seatbench) at church and her teeth turned off white which indicates nerve damage. I took her to a pediatric dental office in Edina. They looked around in her mouth took xrays and that was about it.

I then started taking my daughter regularily for regular checkups at age3.At that time we switched to Metropolitan Pediatric Dental in Eagan I believe they have a office in St.Paul as well. She had 3 cavaties already and I'm glad I took her then. My child has inherited her father's teeth and has had alot of hereditary problems. I knew she wouldn't do well with a regular dentist so we've had alot of positives with a pediatric one. I've seen kids go in and get teeth pulled or cavaties and come out laughing and smiling. Keep in mind your lil one could love it or hate it. The littlest things set my child off. She freaks out having her teeth polished which doesn't hurt but will sit nicely and have a filling put in.

Personally I wouldn't bring your child in til they have most or all of their teeth in around age3. Unless you notice a problem ahead of time.

Where we go they have the child watch a video their first time about going to a dentist or something. Then the lady takes you in a room where they ask you medical questions or if anything is a concern and she let's the kids squish around the red stuff that sticks to the teeth so they know where problem areas are. Then the parents sit behind a glass wall as the children are in another room. They have like 6 kid size dental chairs where the kids go and each child has a dental hygentist and the actual dentist makes his rounds to everyone. All in one room. Like I said with us parents behind a glass wall watching. If your child is scared or little they will let you go in with them. But sometimes they do better without mommy right there. They have things painted on the ceiling for the kids to look at and it's really fast and quick. Then they get to pick a prize.