Age 1–2
A first look, a tooth count and a talk about bottles, sippy cups and brushing. Short, friendly and mostly for the parents.
Pediatric dentist in Woodside, NY
A children's dentist, a room built for kids, and appointments long enough that nobody has to hurry.
Why a separate room
Children are not small adults, and a dental visit should not pretend they are
Most of what makes children afraid of the dentist is not pain — it is being hurried, being talked over, and not knowing what the noise is. So Operatory 3 is a children's room: it has its own mural, its own toy shelf, and a schedule with enough slack that a nervous four-year-old can take ten minutes to get into the chair without anyone tapping a watch.
Dr. Grace Villanueva completed a pediatric dentistry residency and has spent her career on exactly this. She sees children from the first tooth to the last teenage check-up before college.
- First visits from age one — usually on a parent's lap
- Cleanings and fluoride varnish sized for small mouths
- Dental sealants on the back teeth, where cavities really start
- Tooth-coloured fillings, explained before anything begins
- Sports mouthguards for school teams
- Orthodontic screening from about age seven
Dr. GracePediatric dentist · Operatory 3
By age
What your child needs, and when
Age 3–5
Full check-ups, polishing and fluoride varnish. This is the age where a good experience pays off for the next thirty years.
Age 6–12
Adult molars arrive — the moment for sealants. We also screen the bite and flag anything Dr. Marquez should look at.
Teens
Check-ups, mouthguards, wisdom-tooth monitoring and straightforward advice about whitening and aligners.
For parents
Getting a nervous child through the door
A few things genuinely help, and they cost nothing:
- Book a morning slot. Children cope far better before they are tired.
- Do not promise it will not hurt. Say it might feel strange, and that they can raise a hand any time and we will stop. Then we do stop — which is what builds the trust.
- Avoid the scary vocabulary. No needles, no drills, no "being brave". We have our own words for all of it.
- Come to your own appointment first, and bring them along to watch. It is the single most effective thing you can do.
And if the first visit does not go well, that is genuinely fine. We would far rather see a child three times for nothing than once for something they will remember badly.
Questions
Questions parents ask us
The ones that come up at the front desk almost every week.
When should my child first see a dentist?
By their first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth appearing — whichever comes first. That first visit is mostly a friendly look and a chat with you; it sets the tone for every visit after it.
What happens at a first visit?
Your child sits on your lap or in the chair, whichever they prefer. Dr. Villanueva counts the teeth, checks how they are coming through, and shows them the mirror and the little water squirter. If they are happy, we polish. If they are not, we do not force it — we try again next time.
My child is terrified of the dentist. What do you do differently?
We give them time, which is the only thing that actually works. The kids' room has its own mural and toy shelf, appointments are booked so nobody is rushed, and we explain everything before it happens using words a child understands. Ask for a morning slot — children cope far better before they are tired.
Are sealants and fluoride worth it?
For most children, yes. A sealant is a thin coating over the grooves of the back teeth, where the great majority of childhood cavities start. It takes minutes, there is no drilling, and it is far cheaper than the filling it prevents.
Do you accept children's dental insurance?
We accept most PPO plans, and children's preventive visits are fully covered under many of them. Bring the card or send us the details when you book and we will check the benefits before you come in.
Up to what age do you see children?
Through the teenage years. Dr. Villanueva sees patients up to 18, including sports mouthguards and wisdom-tooth monitoring, and will screen for orthodontic problems — Dr. Marquez is down the corridor if braces come up.
Book with our children's dentist
Choose Dr. Grace Villanueva on the booking page and pick a morning slot — they are the easiest ones for young children.