Meet Dr. Kianna Bechard, DDS, Dentist at Mount Royal Dental in Duluth, MN

Bringing Your Child to the Dentist

All three of our dentists at Mount Royal Dental enjoy caring for children and seeing them grow through the years. We provide everything from routine cleanings and exams to fillings and other dental treatment. We want children to feel comfortable, confident, and excited about taking care of their smiles from an early age.

Parents are always welcome to stay in the room. Some children do better with mom or dad beside them, while others feel more comfortable independently. You know your child best, and we want to find whatever approach helps them feel most at ease.

One thing that makes our children's exams a little different is that we look beyond their teeth and pay attention to how their mouth and airway are developing. I look for things like a narrow palate, crossbites, early crowding, and signs of grinding or excessive wear on baby teeth. Ideally, there should be some spacing between primary teeth, as this can be a helpful indicator of the space available for permanent teeth as they develop. When those spaces are absent, it may be an early sign of limited space and something worth evaluating for potential early orthodontic intervention. I also ask parents about things like nighttime mouth breathing, dry mouth, grinding, and chronic congestion, as these can be signs that a child may benefit from further evaluation or oral myofunctional therapy.

Identifying these signs early is important because children are still growing and developing. The roof of the mouth also forms the floor of the nasal cavity, so palate development can play a role in both oral health and airway function. When early intervention is appropriate, Dr. Zelen provides expansion and early orthodontic treatment. We also have an in-house myofunctional therapist who works with children on things like proper tongue posture and lip seal, which goes hand in hand with natural palatal expansion. Our goal is to recognize potential concerns early and help support healthy development as your child grows.

Family, Roots & Life Outside the Office

Outside of the office, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Riley, and our daughter, Vienna. We met while attending The College of St. Scholastica and spent four years navigating long-distance while I attended dental school in Omaha. All those miles between us, along with countless weekends spent driving back and forth to see each other, were well worth it. After graduation, I moved back to Duluth, and we were married in August 2024. We recently welcomed our first daughter, Vienna, in July 2026!

Along with our two dogs, Ivy, a golden retriever, and Quick, a Deutsch Drahthaar, we love spending time outdoors. Whether it's relaxing at our family cabin, exploring the North Shore, golfing, mountain biking, fishing, or occasionally joining Riley in the duck blind, we enjoy making the most of our time together. I feel especially fortunate that much of my family also grew up in the Duluth area and has since found their way back here to stay. We love having everyone close by and making time for family dinners, game nights, and simply being together.

When we're in town, you can often find us exploring the West Duluth Craft District, trying a new restaurant, or enjoying a good game of cribbage or cards. Being able to raise our family in the same community I have always called home makes it all the more special. It truly feels like a full-circle moment.