Our mission is to assist all children, infants, adolescents and those with special needs, in attaining optimum oral health by providing outstanding, compassionate, quality dental care.
We strive to offer the highest quality care, in a timely manner, through continual training and education, the use of state of the art techniques, materials and equipment, provided in a clean and well organized office.
Each pediatric dentist completes two to three years of specialized training after dental school, which is dedicated to the oral health of children from infancy through the teenage years, including those with special medical or developmental needs. Infants, toddlers, pre-school, school aged, pre-teens, teenagers and those children with special needs all benefit from specialized and individualized care tailored to their unique developmental stage, personality, temperament, previous experiences, and medical needs. The pediatric dentist’s main goal is preventing dental disease along with building a positive dental experience to last a lifetime.
When searching online for a dentist, many parents will see terms like “children’s dentist,” “kids dentist,” “dentistry for children,” “dentistry for kids,” or “we offer pediatric dentistry.” You may also see “themed” dental practices with whimsical dental office names that clearly suggest the dentistry is specialized for children only.
Here’s the rub: These terms are often used in marketing, but they do not reflect actual specialized training in pediatric dentistry.
In dentistry, the term “pediatric dentist” is a true specialty designation, earned only after completing an additional two to three years of formal residency training focused exclusively on children.
However:
This creates a gap between what parents reasonably assume, and what is actually provided.
Many “Children’s” dental practices that market to parents invest heavily in:
While these features can be positive, they can also create the impression of specialized expertise, even when that training is not present.
Large corporate “children’s” dental offices employ primarily general dentists, and some smaller independent “children’s” practices owned and operated by general dentists use marketing language that can blur the distinction between specialty-trained pediatric dentists and general dental providers.
The concern is not that general dentists treat children. Many do and can do it well. The concern is when presentation and wording make it difficult for parents to clearly distinguish between general care and specialty-level pediatric care.
Parents deserve to make healthcare decisions based on clear, accurate information, not assumptions created by marketing language.
Without that clarity, families may not realize:
This is especially important for:
After dental school, pediatric dentists complete an additional 2–3 years of advanced residency training focused entirely on:
This level of training is similar to the difference between a pediatrician and a family doctor.
Many “children’s” dentists and general dentists do see children, and some do a great job.
However:
Children have unique needs that go far beyond smaller teeth.
Specialty training allows pediatric dentists to:
For many families, especially those with younger, anxious, or special needs children, this can make a lasting difference in both experience and outcomes.
We are dedicated exclusively to children’s dental care provided solely by specially trained pediatric specialists and board certified pediatric dentists.
Our goal is simple: To provide the highest level of specialized care in a positive, compassionate environment where every child can thrive.
Dental care with a pediatric specialist is delivered by a highly trained administrative and clinical team.
At Pediatric Dentistry of Sacramento, pediatric dentists work alongside specially trained registered dental assistants (RDAs) who receive additional hands-on training within the practice focused specifically on working with children.
All team members are carefully selected based on their personality, patience, experience and genuine love for working with kids. A significant amount of time and intentional effort goes into both selecting and training these individuals to ensure they are fully prepared to support children in a calm, positive, and compassionate environment.
Not all “children’s” dentists and children’s themed dental offices are the same. Understanding the difference between marketing language and formal specialty training empowers you to make the most informed decision for your child’s health, comfort, and long-term relationship with dentistry.
When choosing a dentist for your child, it’s okay to ask:
These questions can help you clearly understand the level of training behind your child’s care.
We truly love what we do. At Pediatric Dentistry of Sacramento, Dr. Johnson, Dr. Sanghvi, and Dr. Hearn are specially trained to care for children and are passionate about creating positive, meaningful experiences for every child we see. We look forward to building a long-term relationship with your family and helping your child develop a lifelong sense of confidence, comfort, and trust in their dental care.
Now that you understand the difference, choosing a specialty-trained pediatric dentist means choosing care that is intentionally designed around your child’s unique needs, from their very first interaction with the dentist to how their treatment is thoughtfully planned and delivered. The result is more than just healthy teeth, it’s a positive foundation, better experiences, and a lasting impact on how your child feels about dental care for years to come.
