Children’s Dental Care

Finding the right dental home for your child can feel overwhelming, especially with so many practices claiming to be the best fit for young patients. Parents want a place where their kids feel comfortable, where appointments do not turn into a fight, and where the same friendly faces greet them visit after visit.

At Pine Glen Dental Group, we built our practice around exactly that kind of comfort. We are a general dental practice that welcomes patients of all ages, including children, and our team has spent more than two decades helping Peoria families build healthy habits that last well into adulthood.

Why Early Dental Visits Matter

Baby teeth do more work than most parents realize. They help children chew properly, speak clearly, and hold space in the jaw for adult teeth to come in correctly. When a baby tooth is lost too early to decay, the surrounding teeth can shift and crowd the space meant for the permanent tooth underneath.

That is one reason we recommend bringing your child in for their first visit around their first birthday, or as soon as the first tooth appears. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends the same timeline, since catching small issues early keeps them from becoming bigger, more painful problems down the road.

What a First Visit Looks Like

We know a child’s first dental appointment sets the tone for every visit afterward. Our goal is always to keep things calm, friendly, and age-appropriate, so we walk through each step before we do anything, answer questions in simple terms, and let kids get comfortable in the chair before treatment ever begins.

Most first visits include a gentle exam, a look at how teeth and jaws are developing, and a conversation with parents about brushing habits at home. We also talk through any concerns you have, whether that is thumb-sucking, teething discomfort, or questions about when to expect the first tooth to arrive.

Preventive Care That Grows With Your Child

Cavities remain one of the most common chronic conditions in childhood, which is why prevention is at the center of how we approach children’s dental care. We focus on the basics that make the biggest difference over time: consistent cleanings, patient education for both kids and parents, and catching small concerns before they turn into bigger treatment needs.

Restorative Care for Growing Smiles

Even with great home care, cavities can happen, especially in kids who are still learning good brushing habits. When your child does need a filling or other restorative treatment, we aim to make the experience as low-stress as possible, explaining each step in language kids can understand and moving at a pace that keeps them comfortable.

We also perform routine oral exams for children of all ages, checking for early signs of decay, monitoring how permanent teeth are coming in, and making sure jaw development is on track. These regular exams are often the easiest way to catch a small cavity while it is still simple to treat, rather than waiting until a toothache sends you looking for the nearest available appointment.

Building Comfort, One Visit at a Time

Care for young patients is not just what happens in the chair, but how a child feels walking through the door. Our team takes time with young patients, whether that means letting a nervous 4-year-old hold the mirror first or giving an older child a clear explanation of what a tool does before we use it.

Dr. Lori Rice has practiced dentistry in Peoria for more than two decades, and Dr. Jacey Thelen, D.D.S., a UMKC graduate and Peoria-area native, joined Pine Glen Dental Group as an associate dentist in 2026. Together, Dr. Rice and Dr. Thelen bring a shared philosophy to every appointment: patients, including our youngest ones, deserve unhurried, attentive care rather than a rushed exam.

A Practice Built Around Families

Pine Glen Dental Group has been part of the Peoria community for more than two decades, and family care has always been part of that story. We see multiple generations of the same families, from grandparents getting a crown replaced to toddlers coming in for their very first cleaning.

Being a fee-for-service, out-of-network practice means we are not limited by what an insurance network dictates. At Pine Glen Dental Group, payment is due at the time of service. Before treatment, we provide a real-time, accurate estimate of what your insurance is expected to cover and what your portion will be, and you pay that estimated portion at your visit. As a courtesy, we then submit your claim to your insurance carrier on your behalf. Because insurance benefits are an estimate, you remain responsible for any copays, deductibles, and any balance. We accept cash, personal checks, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.

What Peoria Families Can Expect

Word of mouth matters in a community like ours, and we take pride in the trust families have placed in our practice. We hold a BBB A+ rating, maintain a 4.7-star Google rating, and have been named a Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite every year from 2018 through 2024.

Those recognitions reflect something simple: consistency. Families keep coming back because appointments feel familiar, because questions get answered without rushing, and because kids grow up seeing the dentist as a normal, unintimidating part of life rather than something to dread.

Schedule Your Child’s Visit at Pine Glen Dental Group

If your child is due for a cleaning, coming in for a first visit, or you simply want a dental home that treats young patients with patience and care, we would love to meet your family. You can learn more about Dr. Rice’s background and approach to patient care on our website, and our team is always happy to answer questions before your first appointment.

Ready to get your child on the schedule? Book an appointment with Pine Glen Dental Group today, and let us help your child build a healthy, confident relationship with dental care that lasts a lifetime.