Easy, unhurried visits for your children, with the same dentist as the rest of the family, in a room that doesn’t feel like a dentist’s office.
Most parents start looking for a children’s dentist when the first teeth come in, or when a school form asks for a dental exam. Usually the bigger worry is how your child will cope: whether they’ll sit still, get upset or come home scared. The first few visits shape how they feel about the dentist for years, so we keep them easy.
At Pearl, in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, we see children as well as adults, so the whole family can have their checkups and cleanings in one place. We go slowly and explain each thing before we do it, in rooms that don’t look like a dentist’s office. Many of our patients are neighborhood families.
“Everyone in our family now goes to the practice.”
By their first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth coming in. That’s the advice of both the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
An early visit is short and mostly a look: how the teeth are coming in, any early signs of decay, and advice for you on brushing, bottles, snacks and fluoride. Coming early also means their first visit isn’t about a toothache. There’s nothing to fix, so they get to know the chair, the light and us while it’s all easy.
Tell us your child’s age when you book.
A child’s checkup has the same steps as an adult’s, with more time for your child to look, touch and ask before anything happens. A typical one includes:
Time to sit in the chair, see the mirror and the light, and ask questions before anything starts, so nothing comes as a surprise.
The teeth, gums and bite are checked, along with how new teeth are coming in.
Plaque and any tartar are cleaned away, and the teeth polished.
A quick fluoride varnish is often painted on to strengthen the enamel.
Usually once the back teeth touch, to check for decay between them.
What’s going well first, then anything to watch, and tips for brushing at home.
“i normally HATE the dentist but this was actually fun??”
Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste: a smear the size of a grain of rice under age three, a pea-sized amount from three to six. Help with brushing until about seven or eight, when most children can do it well alone.
Keep sweet snacks and juice to mealtimes, so teeth get a break in between, put babies to bed without a bottle of milk or juice, and start flossing once teeth touch.
If something at home is worth changing, we’ll tell you what’s going well first, then show you what to try.
Yes. They hold space for the adult teeth, help children chew and speak clearly, and the last of them stay until about age twelve.
A cavity in a baby tooth can hurt, spread and lead to an infection that affects the adult tooth underneath. Not every small spot needs a filling, though. We’ll tell you what needs care now and what we can watch, so your child only has the treatment they need.
Sealants often make sense once the permanent molars come in, at about six and twelve. A sealant is a thin coating painted into the grooves of the back teeth, where most children’s cavities start. It takes minutes, with no drilling or numbing, which makes it an easy visit for a child.
As with everything, we’ll suggest them only if your child’s teeth need them.
Lots of children are nervous the first time, and that’s fine. Tell us when you book, and we’ll slow down and explain each thing before we do it, so your child knows what’s coming. Our rooms don’t look like a typical dental office either, which helps nervous patients of every age, parents included.
At home, talk about the visit in plain, positive terms, and skip words like “hurt” or “shot”. Bring a favorite toy, pick a time of day when they’re rested, and read a picture book about the dentist together beforehand.
We see children and adults, so parents and kids can keep their checkups in one place, with one team that knows the family.
For you, that’s one office to call and one address to remember. For your child, it’s the same familiar faces every visit, which makes each visit easier.
Book online or call, and tell us your child’s age and anything they’re worried about, so we can plan the visit around them. Bring your insurance details. We’re at 1009 W Webster Ave, across from St. Vincent de Paul Church, with street parking nearby.
Dr. Colby James Gerth, DMD, earned his Doctorate in Dental Medicine at Midwestern University and has practiced in Chicago since 2020. He opened Pearl in Lincoln Park in 2025, where we see adults and children alike.
Not always. A pediatric dentist is a specialist with two to three extra years of training in treating children. General dentists, like Dr. Colby, see children for checkups, cleanings and everyday care, so the whole family can come to one place. If your child ever needs a specialist, we’ll tell you.
Every six months for most children, the same as adults. Children who get cavities easily may need checkups more often.
Yes. Digital X-rays use a very low dose of radiation, and children have them only when needed, usually once the back teeth touch.
Usually, yes. Most plans cover two checkups and cleanings a year for children, often at little or no cost. We accept plans from Aetna, Ameritas, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Delta Dental, Guardian, Humana, Lincoln Financial, MetLife, Principal and UnitedHealthcare.
Usually around age six, starting with the bottom front teeth. The last baby teeth fall out at about twelve.
Yes, from the first tooth. A smear the size of a grain of rice until age three, then a pea-sized amount.
If it’s an adult tooth, hold it by the crown, not the root, rinse it gently if it’s dirty, and put it back in the socket or keep it in milk. Then call us and see a dentist within the hour if you can. A knocked-out baby tooth shouldn’t be put back.
Something else on your mind? Call (312) 858-7067 or see all our questions and answers.
Book online or call, tell us your child’s age and anything they’re nervous about, and we’ll go at their pace.
