Areas served: Tacoma, WA and surrounding Pierce County
Tacoma's pediatric dental landscape serves families across Pierce County's diverse neighborhoods, from the North End to South Tacoma and Lakewood. Local pediatric dentists range from solo practitioners focusing on preventive care to multi-provider clinics offering specialized services like sedation dentistry and early orthodontic intervention. This directory provides verified information on Tacoma-area pediatric dental practices, including their treatment philosophies, accepted insurance plans, and accessibility for families throughout the greater Tacoma region.
Step By Step Pediatric Dentistry, led by Dr. Paula Stepp, specializes in comprehensive dental care for children from infants through teens in a warm, kid-friendly environment. The practice focuses on preventive care, painless treatment, patient education, and helping children develop positive relationships with oral hygiene. Services include infant and toddler exams, fluoride treatments, sports guards, sedation dentistry options, and emergency pediatric care.
Light Dental Pediatrics, led by Dr. Micah Bovenkamp (a pediatric dentistry specialist trained at UW and Seattle Children's Hospital), provides comprehensive dental care for children in Puyallup. Services include routine checkups and cleanings, pediatric orthodontics, emergency dental care, and specialized treatment for children with special healthcare needs. The practice transforms the dental experience through Featherland Forest, an immersive, whimsical environment designed to help children feel safe and excited about dental visits, complete with behavior management techniques and optional sedation dentistry for anxious patients.
Spanaway Children's Dentistry is a pediatric dental practice specializing in comprehensive care for infants, children, and teens in a kid-friendly environment. Led by Dr. Lucas Trerice and Dr. Edward Wang, both graduates of UNLV School of Dental Medicine, the practice offers preventative care, restorative dentistry, sedation dentistry, root canal therapy for children, and orthodontic treatment. The team is committed to making dental visits comfortable and educational, helping young patients develop lifelong healthy oral habits.
Just for Kids Dentistry is a specialized pediatric dental practice with two convenient locations in Bonney Lake and Puyallup, serving children from infancy through adolescence. Led by pediatric specialists Dr. Sakai and Dr. Park, who have completed advanced training in child development, psychology, and behavior management, the practice provides comprehensive dental care including examinations, cleanings, fluoride treatments, and orthodontics. They specialize in treating children with special needs, medical conditions, and anxiety, offering sedation options from nitrous oxide to general anesthesia to ensure every child receives comfortable, positive dental experiences.
Kids On 1st Dentistry is a specialized pediatric dental practice in Federal Way led by Dr. Marta Becker, DDS, dedicated to making children's dental experiences positive and fun. They offer comprehensive preventative and treatment services including routine checkups, cleanings, cosmetic dentistry (white crowns and mercury/BPA-free fillings), oral surgery, root canals, emergency care for infants and special needs children, and advanced procedures like laser frenectomy for tongue and lip ties. The office is custom-designed specifically for children with kid-friendly colors, layout, entertainment, and a highly trained staff, emphasizing education, prevention, and state-of-the-art technology while maintaining strict infection control and environmentally conscious practices.
The Kids' Dentist Gig Harbor is a board-certified pediatric dental practice specializing in comprehensive oral health care for children ages 1 and up. Led by experienced pediatric dentists including Dr. Brian Dansie, the practice combines advanced technology with a compassionate, child-centered approach designed to build trust and make dental visits enjoyable. They offer age-appropriate preventive care, treatment for cavities and other dental needs, safe sedation options for anxious children, and emergency pediatric care in a kid-friendly office environment.
Little Sprouts Kids Dentistry is a specialized pediatric dental practice led by Dr. Melisa Susanto, a board-certified pediatric dentist with years of experience treating children of all ages. The practice provides comprehensive dental care in a fun, kid-friendly office designed to make young patients comfortable and help them develop positive relationships with dental care. They accept most dental insurance plans and are committed to making quality dental care accessible and affordable for families throughout Pierce County.
Kid's Choice Dental is a pediatric dental practice in Federal Way specializing in comprehensive dental care for children from infancy through adolescence. They offer preventative care including cleanings, fluoride treatments, and dental sealants, as well as restorative services like cavity fillings, chipped tooth repair, root canals, tooth extractions, and oral surgery. The practice is known for their kid-friendly office environment, patient and compassionate dental team experienced with anxious children, sedation options for nervous patients, and acceptance of Apple Health insurance.
Kid's Choice Dental in Puyallup is a pediatric dental practice specializing in comprehensive oral care for children, from infants through teens. They offer preventative services like cleanings, x-rays, fluoride treatments, and dental sealants, along with restorative care including cavity fillings, root canals, extractions, and oral surgery. The practice is known for treating anxious and special needs children with gentle, compassionate care and sedation options, helping kids have positive dental experiences.
Happy Kids Dentistry is a specialized pediatric dental practice serving children ages 1–18 across six Northwest locations (Gig Harbor, Auburn, Federal Way, Longview, and Chehalis). They offer comprehensive dental care including checkups, cleanings, braces, routine care, and emergency services in a kid-friendly environment designed to make dental visits fun and rewarding. Established in 2004, they accept most insurance plans including Washington State Medicaid (up to age 13) and are in-network with Delta Dental, MetLife, Cigna, United Concordia, and TRICARE.
Dr. Arvind J. Petrie, DMD is a dental practice in Tacoma offering comprehensive general and cosmetic dentistry services. Dr. Petrie provides preventive care, restorative treatments, and aesthetic procedures to help patients achieve healthy, confident smiles. The practice is known for personalized patient care and attention to detail.
Happy Kids Dentistry & Orthodontics is a pediatric dental practice in Federal Way specializing in comprehensive dental care and orthodontic treatment for children and teens. The practice combines preventive dentistry, restorative care, and orthodontics under one roof, offering families a convenient, kid-focused experience. Their team provides sedation options for anxious or young patients and designs the office environment specifically to make children feel comfortable during visits.
Happy Kids Dentistry & Orthodontics in Auburn provides comprehensive dental and orthodontic care specifically designed for children and teenagers. Their team focuses on creating a kid-friendly environment where young patients feel comfortable, offering services ranging from routine cleanings and preventive care to orthodontic treatment and emergency dental services. They specialize in making dental visits positive experiences for kids of all ages.
Smiles 4 Kids is a pediatric dental practice in Tacoma specializing in comprehensive dental care for infants, children, and teenagers. The practice provides preventive care, treatment of dental issues, and emergency services in a kid-friendly environment designed to make young patients comfortable. They focus on building positive dental habits early and work with families to ensure optimal oral health throughout childhood and adolescence.
Pediatric Dental Associates is a specialized dental practice in Lakewood dedicated exclusively to children's oral health, from infants through teenagers. Led by experienced pediatric dentists, they provide comprehensive preventive care, treatment of cavities and tooth decay, orthodontic referrals, and emergency dental services in a kid-friendly environment designed to reduce anxiety and make visits comfortable for young patients.
Fircrest Children's Dentistry specializes in comprehensive dental care for infants, children, and teens in a kid-friendly environment designed to make young patients comfortable. They offer preventive care, cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, and emergency dental services, with sedation options available for anxious or special needs patients. The practice focuses on building positive dental habits early and creating a welcoming experience that helps children develop healthy attitudes toward oral health.
Step By Step Pediatric Dentistry is the top-ranked provider in Tacoma with a Lantern Score of 85.29/100 and 5-star rating across 210 reviews. Led by Dr. Paula Stepp, the practice specializes in comprehensive dental care for children from infants through teens and is particularly known for helping parents of infants and toddlers, as well as children with dental anxiety.
Several top-ranked providers specialize in treating anxious children, including Light Dental Pediatrics (Lantern Score 84.73/100) led by Dr. Micah Bovenkamp, and Spanaway Children's Dentistry (84.04/100) with 1,130 reviews. Both practices offer kid-friendly environments and are specifically noted as excellent for anxious young patients seeking specialized pediatric care.
Step By Step Pediatric Dentistry (Lantern Score 85.29/100) and Kids On 1st Dentistry (83.81/100) are both top-ranked for infants and toddlers' first dental visits. Additionally, Little Sprouts Kids Dentistry (83.55/100) and The Kids' Dentist Gig Harbor (83.62/100) provide specialized care for young children ages 1 and up in nearby areas.
Light Dental Pediatrics (Lantern Score 84.73/100) and Just for Kids Dentistry (83.86/100) are specifically noted for families with special needs children. Pediatric Dental Associates in Lakewood (75.07/100) and Fircrest Children's Dentistry (74.79/100) also specialize in comprehensive care for children with special needs in supportive environments.
Light Dental Pediatrics (Lantern Score 84.73/100) and Kids On 1st Dentistry (83.81/100) both explicitly offer emergency pediatric dental care services. Kid's Choice Dental in Puyallup (80.57/100) and Pediatric Dental Associates in Lakewood (75.07/100) also provide emergency treatment options for children.
Happy Kids Dentistry operates multiple locations and offers both pediatric dental care and orthodontic treatment for children and teens, with the Federal Way location scoring 78.55/100 and the Auburn location at 78.32/100. Happy Kids Dentistry also serves Gig Harbor, Auburn, Federal Way, and other Northwest locations with comprehensive orthodontic services for kids.