The pediatric dentists at Riley at IU Health have years of experience helping children of all ages maintain proper dental health. From a child’s first tooth to braces, we offer the comprehensive care children need for healthy teeth and gums.
Your child should first see a dentist whenever his or her first tooth breaks through the skin or by the age of 1. Though this may seem early, by bringing children in at this age, we see the best outcomes for dental health. We can diagnose any dental development issues before they become serious problems. We also help teach parents how to care for their child’s teeth, such as what foods to avoid, when their children should brush their teeth and how to brush a young child’s teeth. These visits can prevent dental problems or complicated surgeries later in a child’s life. In addition, your child can start to get used to the routine of seeing the dentist, making the visits less scary.
Our dentists provide a full range of children’s dental services, including fluoride, sealants, restorations and some orthodontics. We can also provide sedation or general anesthesia for children who are afraid of the dentist or who have special needs such as developmental, emotional, behavioral or cognitive impairments. Anesthesia is also used for procedures that take place in our specialized operating room, where we perform advanced dental procedures. General anesthesia is administered by expert pediatric anesthesiologists from Riley at IU Health.
We collaborate with many departments with Riley at IU Health to offer comprehensive care. We commonly work with ear, nose and throat physicians, ophthalmologists, gastroenterologists, oral surgeons and craniofacial plastic surgeons to manage conditions and improve children’s health. Our dentistry services are available both in the hospital and from outpatient offices. We provide 24/7 emergency coverage to assist children who suffer dental trauma or other emergencies.
We are dedicated to improving children’s dental health through compassionate care, education and research. Our dentists serve as faculty members at the Indiana University School of Dentistry. They conduct research on children’s dental health and teach dental students and graduated dentists (called residents) how to care for children’s unique health needs. Residents get hands-on training in our practices, seeing patients under the supervision of our pediatric dentists.
During your child’s first appointment, the dentist will want to know your child's complete medical history and may perform a longer than usual exam. Your child will likely receive X-rays, a teeth cleaning and a fluoride treatment during his or her appointment. If needed, your child will be scheduled for any restorative or orthodontic work such as sealants, crowns or spacers.
Our staff and dentists strive to make you and your child feel comfortable by keeping parents with the children throughout the exam and offering a family-centered, relaxing environment. We understand if children are scared or cry while at the dentist and hope you will not be embarrassed. We will try our hardest to help your child overcome fears and feel calm.
As a parent, you may receive education on your child’s dental health during the appointment. This may include information about brushing habits or what foods to avoid. We encourage you to ask any questions you have about taking care of your child’s teeth. Your child will need to return for a cleaning and exam every six months. Between exams, it is important that you help take care of your child’s dental health by ensuring they brush, floss and eat well.
We offer a number of different Dentistry services. Below are some, but not all, of the services that we provide. If you have a question about a specific service that is not listed here, please contact our department.
At Riley at IU Health, our dentists and staff receive additional training to provide high-quality care for children.
In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.
Dentistry & Oral Surgery
705 Riley Hospital Dr
Indianapolis, IN 46202
The Dentistry at Riley at IU Health provides the following forms for parents, healthcare providers and personnel. We have also curated relevant resources from other websites and provided links with brief descriptions of the information that is available.
Please complete the New Patient Pack and bring it to your child's first visit.
Please complete the New Patient Pack and bring it to your child's first visit.
Please complete the New Patient Pack and bring it to your child's first visit.
If you need to obtain a copy of your child's dental record from one of our practices, please complete and return this Records Release Form to the address listed on the form.
If you need to refer a patient to our practice, please complete and return this Patient Referral Form to the address listed on the form.
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
The Mouth Monsters website from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry provides resources to help parents and caregivers teach children about dental health.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
This website offers information on the importance of children’s dental health and how parents can help.
We provide multispecialty care for a number of conditions. Below are links to our related programs & departments.
Our dentists receive referrals from dental and medical professionals across Indiana. We provide expert care for all children, including those with special needs.
Our pediatric dentists conduct lab research into many topics, including the use of fluoride, the effects of soft drinks on teeth, how to identify cavities earlier and which materials work best for restoring teeth.
Riley at IU Health works with referring physicians in Indiana and beyond.
Refer A PatientVisit the Indiana University School of Dentistry for information about the latest research in the field of dentistry.
Dentists at Riley at IU Health educate the next generation of care providers through teaching at the Indiana University School of Dentistry. Our dentists also provide advanced training in pediatric dentistry to dental graduate students.
