Pediatric Dentist in Federal Hill

A pediatric dentist completes two to three extra years of specialty training after dental school, focused entirely on infants, children and teens.

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, that training makes pediatric dentists both the primary care and the specialty care providers for children's teeth, including kids with special healthcare needs. Pediatric dentistry is one of the specialties recognized by the American Dental Association. In practice, it means a dentist who understands how children grow, how they feel in the chair, and how to keep visits calm.

When the first tooth appears, or by the first birthday at the latest.

That first appointment is short and mostly about getting to know each other. Dr. Spates looks at the gums and early teeth, and you get practical advice on cleaning baby teeth at home. Starting early makes later dental visits feel familiar rather than strange.

After dental school, a pediatric dentist completes a pediatric dentistry residency program lasting two to three years.

It adds several years on top of dental school. Dental students who choose the specialty then train as pediatric dental residents, combining research with clinical experience in child development, behavior management, sedation, X rays, and care for children with special needs. Many continue with continuing education courses through their careers. Dr. Spates holds her pediatric dentistry certification from the University of Maryland and her Doctor of Dental Medicine from Rutgers School of Dental Medicine.

The cost depends on your child's age, what the checkup includes, and your dental insurance.

We accept Medicaid through the Maryland Healthy Smiles program, and our front desk will check your coverage before your first appointment so you know what to expect. Call (443) 681-6455 and we will talk you through it plainly.

Yes. We accept Medicaid through Maryland Healthy Smiles for eligible children.

Please confirm your eligibility when you book. Nobody here treats a family differently because of the card in their wallet, and access to good care should not depend on it.

Yes. The office has ceiling TVs, calming decor and a sensory aware setup, and the team uses a patience first approach.

We explain each step before it happens, let children hold the mirror or touch the tools, and slow down whenever a child needs it. Parents stay right there as partners in the visit. For children with severe anxiety, we can discuss sedation dentistry as an option during a consultation before any treatment.

Yes. Dr. Spates trained in caring for children with special healthcare needs, and the team adapts every visit to your child.

We have experience with autism, sensory processing differences and anxiety. Visits move at your child's pace in a calm room without overwhelming noise or light. Many families find us after struggling to find a good fit elsewhere.

Call (443) 681-6455 right away. We see children for emergency care, including on Saturdays.

For a knocked out adult tooth, speed matters, so call before you do anything else and we will tell you what to do on the way. For a chipped baby tooth or sudden dental pain, we will get you seen as soon as we can and explain the treatment plan before we start.

Many children benefit from sealants once their permanent molars come in, usually around age six and again around age twelve.

Sealants form a thin coating over the grooves of back teeth, where food and decay like to settle. The process is quick, comfortable and non invasive. We look at your child's teeth and tell you whether sealants make sense.

We treat cavities gently and keep as much of the natural teeth as we can, using fillings for smaller cavities and pediatric dental crowns when decay has damaged more of a tooth.

Treatment moves at your child's pace, and we explain everything to you first. Catching decay early keeps treatment smaller, which is one more reason regular checkups matter.

A space maintainer is a small custom fitted device that holds the empty space when a baby tooth comes out too early.

Without one, the teeth on either side can drift into the space left behind, which can crowd the adult tooth waiting underneath. Holding that one tooth's place gives added stability to how the bite develops, and if your child's bite looks like it may need orthodontics later, we tell you early.

Most children do well with a checkup every six months, though some need more or fewer visits.

Dr. Spates sets the schedule around your child's own oral health, risk of decay and development. Regular visits keep prevention ahead of problems, and good oral hygiene at home does the rest. Good oral health in childhood also supports a child's overall health as they grow.

Yes. Dr. Robinson provides adult care at the same Federal Hill office, and both doctors at the practice trained at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine.

Many parents schedule their own cleaning on the same day as their child's checkup. One office, one trip, and one team that knows the whole family.

Call (443) 681-6455. New patients call first so we can take a few details before the visit.

Online booking is available too, but a quick call lets us learn about your child, answer your questions, and plan a calm first visit. Tell us if your child feels nervous, and we will plan around it.