Business Details
8 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Child's Comfortable Dental Experience Starts Here
Behind The Smile Dentistry For Children has been dedicated to providing high-quality pediatric dental care in the Portland metro area since 2018. Our board-certified pediatric dentists combine specialized expertise with a compassionate approach to create a child-friendly environment where patients feel at ease. We prioritize preventative treatments and family education to establish lifelong oral health habits while maintaining a commitment to safe, effective care tailored to each child's unique needs.With three convenient locations in Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Portland, our practice serves patients from infancy through young adulthood, offering comprehensive services ranging from routine cleanings to specialized procedures. Our team emphasizes trust-building relationships through patient-centered care, ensuring children develop positive dental experiences that extend beyond immediate treatment.
Services
Pediatric Dental Exams
Dental Cleanings
Sedation Dentistry
Dental Sealants
Emergency Care
Details
- Year established: 2018
Highlights and features
- Our dentists are board-certified pediatric specialists with advanced training in child-focused care
- We maintain child-friendly environments designed to reduce anxiety and build trust
- We offer personalized treatment plans tailored to each child's developmental needs
- We provide emergency dental care with after-hours availability for urgent situations
- We emphasize preventative care education for long-term oral health development
What people say
Board-certified specialists
Child-friendly atmosphere
After-hours emergency care
Personalized attention
Positive patient experiences
Services
Pediatric Dental Cleanings
Routine dental cleanings form the foundation of our preventative care approach. Following AAPD guidelines, we recommend biannual visits to maintain optimal oral health. Our gentle hygienists work at each child's pace, building trust through positive reinforcement while removing plaque and preventing decay. The first appointment focuses on familiarization, with comprehensive cleaning introduced gradually as the child becomes comfortable.
Sedation Dentistry
We offer multiple sedation options to ensure comfortable treatment for anxious patients. Our services include nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and in-office IV sedation administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist. This allows complex procedures to be completed efficiently while minimizing distress, particularly beneficial for children with special needs or extensive treatment requirements.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants provide an additional defense against tooth decay by protecting vulnerable molars. We apply these thin coatings to deep grooves in children's back teeth, creating a smooth surface that's easier to clean. Our commitment extends to maintaining sealants throughout the patient's time with us, ensuring continuous protection as children develop proper oral hygiene habits.
Emergency Dental Care
We prioritize emergency dental care for traumatic injuries and acute pain. Our dentists provide immediate attention for knocked-out teeth, fractures, and infections, with after-hours availability for urgent situations. The practice emphasizes prompt communication, as demonstrated by same-night responses to emergency calls, ensuring children receive timely care when dental trauma occurs outside regular hours.
Space Maintainers
Space maintainers preserve proper dental alignment when baby teeth are lost prematurely. We custom-fit these devices to prevent shifting that could cause crowding issues with permanent teeth. This service addresses both traumatic tooth loss and planned extractions, maintaining proper spacing to support healthy dental development and potentially reducing future orthodontic needs.
People
Eric A. Downey
Dentist
Dr. Downey is a board-certified pediatric dentist known for his compassionate approach to children's dental care. He specializes in treating anxious patients and provides emergency services after hours.
Carolyn Muckerheide
Dentist
Dr. Muckerheide focuses on creating positive dental experiences for children. Her gentle approach helps anxious patients complete comprehensive treatments successfully.
Alice Trieu
Dentist
Dr. Trieu provides specialized pediatric dental care with an emphasis on patient comfort and preventative treatment strategies.
Questions
What age should a child first visit the dentist?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a child's first dental visit by age one or when the first tooth erupts.
Do you treat children with special needs?
Yes, our board-certified dentists have specialized training to care for children with developmental disabilities and sensory sensitivities.
What sedation options are available?
We offer nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and in-office IV sedation administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist for anxious patients.
How do you handle dental emergencies after hours?
We provide emergency dental care with after-hours availability, including same-night responses for urgent situations like trauma or severe pain.
What makes pediatric dentists different from general dentists?
Our dentists have specialized training in child psychology, growth development, and treating dental issues specific to children from infancy through adolescence.
Videos
Reviews (7)
Brittney Arruda
Aug 13, 2021
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Update. After multiple phone calls, the manager was able to understand the miscommunication and wave the fees. It was much appreciated and we appreciated the business understanding the failure to communicate better. After Worst place to take your child. When I called I was told they take our insurance. When we checked out after her visit they said no charge all good to go. 4 months after our daughters visit we received a bill saying it was not covered.
The customer service is truly a 0 star. The receptionist gave different answers every time we called to discuss the issue. And to top it off they told us they were adding a late fee onto the bill. Please take your child elsewhere. The cleaning itself was also very judgemental on what we were not "doing well" as parents to a 2 year old as far as food.
The customer service is truly a 0 star. The receptionist gave different answers every time we called to discuss the issue. And to top it off they told us they were adding a late fee onto the bill. Please take your child elsewhere. The cleaning itself was also very judgemental on what we were not "doing well" as parents to a 2 year old as far as food.
Jessi Halstead
May 25, 2021
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My kids love going to the dentist right now and Behind the Smile Dentistry has encouraged their confidence from the start. The staff is very friendly and helpful when it comes to our comfort or concerns. I highly recommend Behind the Smile Dentistry!
Alyssa Bradley
May 12, 2021
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Behind the smile dental at Amberglen is the BEST dental practice for kids! The entire staff is so friendly, welcoming and helpful. I always feel very confident that they will take great care of my little ones. My 3.5 year old twins, Chance and Kiyana, absolutely love going to the dentist and it is because of this office. Thank you so much!
Christine Carpenter
Apr 20, 2021
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We've been visiting this dentist for 5 years or so and we absolutely LOVE them! They are great with the kids and after every visit the kids get to pick out a small toy. My kids actually look forward to going to the dentist! I love how they take time to explain everything to me and answer questions in detail. We've always had a great experience here, every time.
Raleigh Willard
Jan 05, 2021
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We have been going to this dentist office for 7 years and have always had positive experiences. The staff is friendly and helpful. The care is thorough and my kids absolutely love the prizes! This is such a great dental office, I would for sure recommend it.
Michele Saulsbury
Jan 02, 2021
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Everyone is just so great with my kids! They actually love going to the dentist because their kindness, patience, and how well they explain what's happening to them during the visit. Plus, my kids love the awesome selection of treasures available for after their appointments!
Chantel Kindblade
Dec 01, 2020
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My kids are always excited when they have dental appointments because they love everything about Behind the Smile. The staff is and always has been extremely friendly, patient, and helpful. They always ask the kids what they'd like to help the entire process go smoothly.from tv shows to watch during the cleaning, to which flavor fluoride they want to the variety of toys to choose from at the end of the appointment. They are great about time management and everything has always ran smoothly. I was very impressed with their new system with Covid rules. I can't recommend this dentistry enough!
