Children's Dentistry in Duluth, MN
Gentle checkups from the first tooth on, with a dentist who also watches how your child breathes, swallows, and grows.
Kids at Mount Royal Dental get a play area, a treasure chest, and a team that explains everything in kid words. Parents get a dentist who catches airway and jaw problems early.
Key highlights
- We see children from the first tooth, as the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends.
- Every kids' visit includes a breathing, swallowing, and jaw growth check, which most dental checkups skip.
- Dental sealants on back teeth prevent about 80% of cavities for two years, according to the CDC.
- Early cavities can often be treated with Curodont, with no drill and no needle, from age four.
- We release tongue and lip ties with a laser and run Duluth's first myofunctional therapy program.
- Nitrous oxide is available for kids who need help relaxing.
What is children's dentistry at Mount Royal Dental?
Children's dentistry at Mount Royal Dental is preventive and restorative dental care for babies, kids, and teens, with a focus on catching cavities, breathing problems, and jaw growth issues while they're still easy to fix.
We're a family practice, so your child can see the same office you do, and brothers and sisters can come in together. The difference from a standard checkup is what we look at. Our team checks how your child breathes at rest, how the tongue sits, and whether the jaws are growing with enough room for adult teeth. Those three things shape a child's sleep, speech, and face, and they're easiest to guide when a child is young.
When should my child first see a dentist?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a first dental visit when the first tooth comes in, and no later than the first birthday.
That feels early to many parents. The first visit isn't about treatment. It's about checking that teeth are coming in on schedule, looking for early decay, talking through brushing and bottles, and letting your baby get used to the office. A child who starts at one tends to treat the dentist as normal. A child who starts at four after a toothache often doesn't.
For babies with feeding trouble, the first visit can also include a look at tongue and lip ties, which many Northland lactation consultants send families to us for.
What we check at every kids' visit
| What we look at | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Teeth and gums | Cavities, early decay, and gum health |
| Bite and jaw growth | Room for adult teeth, crossbites, narrow palates |
| Breathing at rest | Mouth breathing affects sleep and jaw shape |
| Tongue posture and swallow | A low tongue gives the upper jaw less support |
| Tongue and lip ties | Can affect feeding, speech, and tongue posture |
| Habits | Thumb sucking, pacifiers, grinding |
| Brushing and diet | Where cavities are likely to start |
Kids' dental care by age
| Age | What visits focus on |
|---|---|
| Babies (first tooth to 2) | First visit, feeding and tie check, brushing habits, bottle and sippy cup guidance |
| Toddlers and preschoolers (2 to 5) | Cleanings, fluoride, early cavity care, habit guidance, breathing and palate check |
| Early school age (6 to 9) | Sealants on first molars, loose tooth timing, first orthodontic check by age 7 |
| Older kids (10 to 12) | Sealants on second molars, crowding and bite planning, sports mouthguards |
| Teens | Invisalign, wisdom tooth monitoring, cavity prevention with braces or aligners |
Family dentist vs. pediatric dentist
| Family dentist (Mount Royal Dental) | Pediatric specialist | |
|---|---|---|
| Who they treat | Every age, including kids | Children only |
| Parents and kids together | Same office, same day | Separate office for parents |
| Airway and growth checks | Part of every visit here | Varies by office |
| Sedation beyond nitrous | We refer when needed | Often offered in office |
| Best for | Most kids, from routine care to tongue ties and Invisalign | Very young kids with extensive decay, special health needs, or severe fear |
Most kids do well with a family dentist, and the convenience of one office for the whole family keeps everyone on schedule. When a child needs a pediatric specialist, we'll tell you and help you find one.
Cavity prevention for kids
Cavities are the most common chronic disease of childhood, and most of them are preventable.
A thin coating painted onto the grooves of back teeth, where most kids' cavities start. The CDC reports that sealants prevent 80% of cavities in back teeth for two years and keep protecting against half of them for up to four years. The best time to seal is soon after the molars come in, around age six for first molars and twelve for second molars. The application takes a few minutes and doesn't hurt.
A fluoride varnish at each cleaning strengthens enamel across all the teeth.
When we catch a cavity early, often as a white spot or a faint shadow on an x-ray, we can treat it with Curodont, a brush-on treatment that helps the tooth rebuild its own enamel. No drill, no needle, and it's labeled for kids four and up. For a child's first cavity, that's a very different experience than a filling.
We go over brushing, flossing, and the snacks and drinks that cause the most trouble, in a way your child can follow.
Is our office right for your child?
A great fit
- Routine checkups and cleanings from the first tooth on
- Concerns about mouth breathing, snoring, or a tongue tie
- Crowding, a crossbite, or questions about early orthodontics
Let's talk it through first
- A child with strong fear who may need more than nitrous oxide
- A child who had a bad experience elsewhere and needs a slow restart
- Special needs where we'll plan the visit around your child
A pediatric specialist may fit better
- Extensive decay in a very young child needing treatment under general anesthesia
- Complex medical or developmental needs that require hospital-based care
The middle column means we plan the visit differently, with more time, a slower pace, or a meet-and-greet first. We'd rather start slow than start badly.
What we do, and what we don't
What we do
We provide checkups, cleanings, sealants, fluoride, early cavity treatment, fillings, laser tongue and lip tie releases, airway and growth screening, myofunctional therapy, and Invisalign for kids and teens. Nitrous oxide is available for kids who need it.
What we don't
We don't treat children under general anesthesia or IV sedation in our office. A child with extensive decay who can't sit for treatment needs a pediatric specialist or hospital setting, and we'll help you get there. We also don't push early orthodontic treatment on a child who only needs monitoring. Many kids we see at seven just need a recheck in six months, and we say so.
Your child's first visit, step by step
- 01Before you come.Tell us your child's age and anything you're worried about when you book, from a chipped tooth to snoring. If your child is nervous, say so. We'll plan a slower visit.
- 02Arriving.Your child can play in our play area while you check in. For young kids, we keep the wait short.
- 03Getting comfortable.For babies and toddlers, you hold your child in your lap, knee to knee with the dentist, so your child's head rests in the dentist's lap and you're right there. Older kids get to sit in the big chair, see the tools, and try the "Mr. Thirsty" suction straw first. We use kid words: we "count" teeth and "tickle" them clean.
- 04The exam.We look at the teeth and gums, check how the bite comes together, and watch how your child breathes and where the tongue rests. For babies with feeding trouble, we check for tongue and lip ties. X-rays come when they're needed, usually once a child has back teeth that touch.
- 05Cleaning and fluoride.For kids old enough, we polish the teeth, floss, and paint on fluoride varnish. The varnish tastes mild and sets in seconds.
- 06The talk.We go over what we found with you, show your child how to brush the spots that need work, and answer your questions about pacifiers, thumbs, snacks, and anything else. If we spotted a breathing or growth concern, we explain what it means and what to watch.
- 07The treasure chest.Every kid picks a prize on the way out. It's the part most of them remember.
Helping a nervous child
- Keep it simple at home. "The dentist will count your teeth." Skip "shot," "hurt," and "drill."
- Don't promise there won't be anything. If a filling is needed later, that promise comes back to bite.
- Let us lead in the room. Kids read parents' faces, so a calm, quiet parent helps more than a coaching one.
- Ask about nitrous oxide. It helps many kids relax for a filling, and it wears off before they leave.
- Book the morning. Rested kids do better.
Airway, breathing, and growth
This is the part of kids' care that sets our office apart.
A child who breathes through the mouth, snores, or rests the tongue low in the mouth often grows a narrower upper jaw. That means less room for adult teeth, a higher chance of crowding, and sometimes poorer sleep. These signs appear years before braces would, and they're easiest to address while the jaw is still growing.
Depending on what we find, your child's plan may include a laser tongue tie release, myofunctional therapy to retrain breathing and tongue posture, or a palatal expander to widen the jaw. Dr. Zelen trained in airway dentistry through The Breathe Institute and Tongue-Tied Academy, and our hygienists run Duluth's first myofunctional therapy program, including a kids' camp.
Braces, Invisalign, and early orthodontics
We recommend a first orthodontic check by age seven. At that visit, we look at jaw width, crowding, and bite, and we tell you one of three things: all good, let's watch and recheck, or early treatment would help.
For kids who benefit, we offer Invisalign First and the Invisalign Palatal Expander, a removable expander for growing children. For teens, we offer full Invisalign treatment. Dr. Zelen plans every case. Invisalign for kids
Who treats your child
Cost and insurance
Most dental plans cover kids' checkups, cleanings, fluoride, and sealants, often in full. We file claims on your behalf and give you any remaining cost in writing. CareCredit interest-free plans are available for larger treatment like Invisalign. Financing options
Children's dentistry FAQ
At what age should a child first see the dentist?
A child should see the dentist when the first tooth comes in and no later than the first birthday, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. We see babies at that age.
Do you see babies and toddlers?
We see babies from the first tooth and toddlers for regular checkups. Babies with feeding trouble can also be checked for tongue and lip ties.
Can I stay with my child during the visit?
Parents are welcome in the room for the whole visit. For babies and toddlers, you hold your child during the exam.
Do baby teeth need fillings?
Baby teeth with cavities usually need treatment, because decay can spread and cause pain or infection, and baby molars hold space for adult teeth until around age 12. Early spots can often be treated without a filling using Curodont.
What are dental sealants, and does my child need them?
Dental sealants are thin coatings on the grooves of back teeth that prevent about 80% of cavities there for two years, according to the CDC. Most kids benefit from sealants on their first and second molars.
Do you offer sedation for kids?
Nitrous oxide is available for kids who need help relaxing. We'll talk through whether it fits your child at the visit.
My child snores. Is that a dental problem?
Snoring in a child can be related to a narrow jaw, mouth breathing, or a low tongue posture, all of which we check at every visit. It can also have medical causes, so we may work with your pediatrician.
Where can I find a kids' dentist near me in the Duluth area?
Mount Royal Dental sees children from the first tooth through the teen years at our office on Woodland Avenue in Duluth, MN, and families come from Hermantown, Superior, Two Harbors, and Cloquet. Call (218) 464-5222 to book your child's visit.
Children's dentistry on Woodland Avenue
Mount Royal Dental sits at 1624 Woodland Avenue, Duluth, MN 55803, at the corner of Woodland and St. Marie, next to the Mount Royal Shopping Center near UMD.
Monday 8 to 3, Tuesday through Thursday 8 to 4:30, Friday closed. Call (218) 464-5222.
