Getting kids to genuinely look forward to the dentist takes more than a sticker at the end of the appointment. At Thrive Dental & Orthodontics in North Dallas, we’ve built a children’s dental experience around the things that actually make a difference — a large kids’ play area with real entertainment, Netflix in every treatment room during procedures, comfort headphones, a pillow and blanket, and a free toy after every single visit without exception.
We welcome children starting from six months old at our North Dallas office on the corner of Forest Lane and Preston Road, directly across from Whole Foods. Our chandelier lobby has complimentary coffee, tea, and water for parents. Every patient is treated in their own private operatory — no open bays. And everything from the play area to the treatment room environment is designed to build the kind of positive relationship with dental care that lasts far into adulthood.
Book your child’s appointment or call (214) 206-4996. Get directions.
Start before there’s a problem. Children who visit the dentist regularly from infancy build familiarity and comfort over time. Children who only come when something hurts associate dental visits with pain. The first visit by age one sets the tone for everything that follows.
Use positive and neutral language. Avoid words like “hurt,” “shot,” “drill,” or “needle” before appointments. Let our team introduce tools in kid-friendly language. Try: “the dentist will count your teeth and clean them” rather than anything that anticipates discomfort.
Don’t transfer your own anxiety. Children are perceptive. A calm, matter-of-fact tone before appointments makes a real difference: “We’re going to the dentist — you’ll get to play games in the play area and pick a toy on the way out.”
Make home brushing a consistent routine. Two minutes twice a day from the first tooth. For toddlers who resist, our guide to getting kids to brush has practical strategies that actually work. For children old enough to brush independently, a kids’ electric toothbrush dramatically improves both duration and effectiveness.
Choose age-appropriate toothpaste. Our guide to non-toxic baby toothpaste covers what to look for by age with specific recommendations.
Most dental insurance plans cover children’s preventive care — cleanings, exams, X-rays, fluoride treatments, and sealants — at 80–100% with little or no deductible. We accept 18+ PPO dental insurance plans at our North Dallas location and verify your benefits before every appointment.
Texas CHIP and Medicaid (TMHP and MCNA) are accepted for eligible children’s dental services at our North Dallas office. Call ahead to confirm specific coverage for your child’s plan.
For families without insurance, our Healthy Smiles Discount Plan provides discounted rates on all children’s dental services — $89/year per primary member, $49/year for each additional family member with no age restrictions and no waiting period. Cherry and CareCredit financing are available for larger treatment costs. FSA and HSA payment accepted. Visit our insurance page for the complete carrier list.
Our North Dallas kids’ play area is genuinely different from what most dental offices offer. It has a Nintendo Wii, a PlayStation, and a big screen TV for cartoons and kids’ shows — so children arriving for appointments have real choices for how they spend their time rather than sitting restlessly in a standard waiting room.
For families with multiple children, or for siblings tagging along to a parent’s appointment, this space changes the entire experience of the visit. Kids who arrive and get absorbed in a game or a show are relaxed, happy, and dramatically easier to transition into their appointment than children who have been anxiously waiting in a chair. Parents tell us their children ask to come back because of the play area — which is exactly the relationship with dental care we want to build from the very first visit.
Every patient at our North Dallas office is treated in their own beautiful, private operatory — no open bays, no other patients nearby. For children, this is particularly meaningful. A private room feels safe, calm, and personal rather than clinical and overwhelming. There’s no audience. No other kids to compare experiences with. Just your child, our team, and everything they need to have a genuinely positive appointment.
When it’s time for the appointment itself, the entertainment continues. Every treatment room at our North Dallas office has multiple TVs with Netflix available throughout your child’s appointment. We let children choose what they want to watch, or suggest age-appropriate favorites.
A child watching their favorite show during a cleaning, a filling, or a more involved procedure is a completely different patient from one staring at ceiling lights under bright examination lamps. The TVs give children something to focus on that isn’t dental work — and it genuinely transforms how appointments feel. We’ve had children who came in frightened leave asking what happens in the next episode of the show they were watching.
Comfort headphones are available in every treatment room at our North Dallas office — so children can fully immerse in their show without background noise from equipment. A pillow and blanket are there if they want to fully settle in. Small details that add up to a noticeably more comfortable experience, particularly for younger patients and those who feel anxious about dental visits.
Every child who comes to our North Dallas office leaves with a free toy. Every time. Not as a reward for good behavior — as a consistent, predictable part of every visit that children know is coming the moment they walk in.
The psychology of this is real. The last experience a child has at the dentist shapes how they feel about coming back. A visit that ends with something fun they picked themselves — something they can show mom, dad, or a sibling on the way home — ends on a genuinely positive note. This simple thing builds the positive relationship with dental care that lasts far into adulthood.
For children with significant dental anxiety, a sensitive temperament, or procedures that benefit from additional calming support, nitrous oxide — laughing gas — is available at our North Dallas office. Inhaled through a small, comfortable mask placed over the nose, it creates calm and relaxation within minutes. The local anesthetic handles all pain prevention — the nitrous handles the anxiety. It clears completely within minutes of removing the mask so children can return to school, sports, or whatever’s on the schedule the same day.
Our North Dallas waiting area features beautiful chandeliers, complimentary coffee, tea, and water, and comfortable seating. For parents who spend time waiting during children’s appointments, our lobby genuinely doesn’t feel like a typical dental office. A large flat screen TV and comfortable seating make the time pass easily while your child is in good hands.
Amenities matter — but the people matter more. Our North Dallas team members who work with children have both the clinical training and the personal temperament for pediatric dental care. Patience. A calm and warm demeanor. Age-appropriate language. A genuine enjoyment of working with young patients.
We never rush a child through an appointment. We introduce tools in kid-friendly terms — “tickle brush,” “water squirter,” “tooth counter” — and show instruments before using them. We go at each child’s pace and adjust our entire approach based on how each individual child is responding in real time. For children with sensory sensitivities or special needs, please call ahead so we can prepare and adapt our approach specifically for your child.
Our North Dallas office is at 6031 Forest Ln, Dallas, TX 75230 — on the corner of Forest Lane and Preston Road, directly across from Whole Foods. Three blocks from the Dallas North Tollway and minutes from St. Mark’s School of Texas. We serve families from Highland Park, University Park, Lake Highlands, Walnut Hill, and throughout Preston Hollow and North Dallas.
Hours: Monday–Thursday 10am–6pm · Friday 10am–5pm
Get directions · Book your child’s appointment · (214) 206-4996
By their first birthday or within six months of the first tooth erupting — whichever comes first. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends this timeline. Starting early builds familiarity with our team and allows us to catch any developing concerns before they become problems.
Yes — and it’s one of the most common situations we see. Please call ahead and let us know so we can prepare. We set aside extra time for anxious children, go entirely at their pace, use every comfort tool available including Netflix in their private treatment room, comfort headphones, nitrous oxide when appropriate, and never rush or force. Most children who come in frightened become genuinely comfortable within a few visits.
Yes. We welcome children with a wide range of sensory, developmental, and behavioral needs and adapt our approach to what makes each individual child most comfortable. Please call ahead to discuss your child’s specific needs so we can prepare appropriately.
Absolutely. Baby teeth hold space for permanent teeth, support speech and chewing development, and directly affect a child’s confidence and nutrition. Untreated decay in baby teeth spreads, causes pain, and can damage the developing permanent teeth forming beneath them.
Yes — our North Dallas kids’ play area has a Nintendo Wii, a PlayStation, and a big screen TV. Children can also watch cartoons or their favorite shows while they wait. Every child leaves with a free toy after every visit.
Yes — completely free with no obligation. Our North Dallas orthodontic team evaluates your child’s teeth, bite, and jaw development and gives you a clear picture of whether treatment is needed, when the optimal timing would be, and which options would be most appropriate.
Yes — we accept Texas Medicaid (TMHP) and MCNA for eligible children’s dental services at our North Dallas location. Call ahead to confirm coverage for your child’s specific plan.
Your child’s relationship with dental care starts here — and with the right first experiences, it stays positive for life. A play area, private rooms, Netflix, and a free toy every time. That’s what a kids’ dental visit looks like at our North Dallas office.
Book your child’s appointment at Thrive Dental & Orthodontics North Dallas — corner of Forest Lane and Preston Road, across from Whole Foods. Or call (214) 206-4996.
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