Board-certified pediatric dentists
Drs. Thomas and Lopez are Diplomates of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, the gold-standard credential in children's dentistry, with residency training in child psychology, sedation, and dental trauma.
Board-certified pediatric specialists · 4 Kansas City offices
Serious specialists.
Serious specialists.
Seriously fun for kids.
We aren't a general dentist that also sees children. Every doctor here is a board-certified pediatric specialist with children's-hospital-level training. And it all happens in a visit kids actually look forward to: dinosaurs, slushies, a Toy Tower, and a calm show-tell-do approach. Across four convenient Kansas City offices.
Diplomates, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
Former President, Kansas Dental Board
Children's-hospital-level training
Se habla español
Why parents trust us
Diplomates, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
Former President, Kansas Dental Board · Governor-appointed
Board-certified orthodontist on staff
We're specialists, not generalists.
Pediatric dentists complete two to three extra years of training after dental school, focused on treating children: the anxious, the very young, and kids with special needs. Here, every doctor has that training. So does our orthodontist.
Recognized leadership
Dr. Donna Thomas served five years on the Kansas Dental Board by gubernatorial appointment, including a term as its President. She has since been appointed to the KU Hospital Authority Board.
Braces under the same roof
Dr. Frank Crist is a board-certified orthodontist, so families can handle pediatric care and braces in one place, with one team that already knows your child.
Where kids are dino-mite
A visit your kid actually looks forward to.
All those serious credentials, wrapped in a place built for children. Our offices are dinosaur-themed top to bottom, and every step is explained in words that make sense to a kid. No surprises, no scary jargon. It's how we turn first-timers into regulars.
Dinosaur theme
From the waiting room to the chairside, a friendly prehistoric world that makes the office feel like an adventure, not an appointment.
Slushies
Because a clean checkup deserves a reward. A small, genuinely fun finish that kids remember long after they've left the chair.
The Toy Tower
A tower of prizes to pick from after every visit. A simple, joyful tradition that turns nervous first-timers into kids who ask to come back.
Show, tell, do
We show each tool, explain it in kid-friendly words, then do it, so there are no surprises. The method that makes dentistry calm instead of scary.
What we do
Complete children's dentistry, plus orthodontics, in one place.
From a baby's first tooth to braces in the teen years, everything your child needs from a specialist team that already knows them.
Preventive & checkups
- Cleanings & exams
- Dental hygiene & sealants
- Fluoride & cavity prevention
- Infant & toddler care
Treatment & restorations
- Fillings & tooth-colored restorations
- Pediatric extractions
- Early-childhood tooth-decay treatment
- Pediatric dental emergencies
Specialty & sedation
- Sedation options for anxious kids
- Hospital dentistry
- Care for kids with special needs
- Dental trauma
Orthodontics · Dr. Crist
- Braces & Invisalign
- Early / interceptive orthodontics
- Rapid palatal expanders
- Braces & pediatric care under one roof
Meet the specialists
Diplomate, ABPD
Pediatric Dentist
Diplomate, ABPD
Orthodontist
Four board-certified doctors. One team your child sees every time.
Three board-certified pediatric dentists and a board-certified orthodontist, the same specialists across all four offices.
Diplomate, ABPD
Dr. Donna Thomas
Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist
- Kansas City native; UMKC dental school
- Pediatric residency + Master's, Nebraska
- Former President, Kansas Dental Board
Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Nicole Hawkinson
Pediatric Dentist
- University of Iowa dental school
- Pediatric residency, U of Rochester
- Trained in sedation & dental trauma
Diplomate, ABPD
Dr. Claudia Lopez
Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist
- Graduated first in her class, Bogotá
- Fellowship at Children's Mercy
- Fluent in Spanish
Orthodontist
Dr. Frank Crist
Board-Certified Orthodontist
- Kansas City native; UMKC dental school
- Board-certified orthodontist
- Braces + pediatric care, one roof
Across Kansas City
Four offices. One phone number. The same specialist team.
Whichever office is closest to home, school, or work, you'll see the same board-certified doctors. Call (913) 649-KIDS for any location.
Mon, Tue, Thu · 7:30am–4:30pm
Mon, Tue, Wed · 7:30am–4:30pm
By appointment · call (913) 649-5437
Mon, Tue, Wed · 7:30am–4:00pm
Your child's first visit
No surprises. We'll show, tell, then do.
New patients are warmly welcomed and walked through every step in words a child understands. And yes, there's a slushie and the Toy Tower at the end. Ready to book? One call covers any of our four offices.