How to find the best children’s dentist in Virginia Beach

Six things to look for when searching for a family dentistry in Virginia Beach!

1) Creating positive experiences for kids.

We make children's dental experiences fun.

I vividly remember the anxiety and fear I felt as a child during my early dental visits. I didn’t know what was going on. Those memories of strange adults poking around in my mouth still make me shudder! But chances are you might have had a similar experience, and you want better for your kids. 

That’s why it’s our mission to transform these potentially scary experiences into warm, comforting ones. Early visits to your family dentist aren’t just about clean teeth— it's about building trust and fostering a lifetime of good oral health habits!

One way we do that is with consistency. You and your child will see the same friendly face at every appointment.

At our practice, you’ll see the same professional every time. Our team will remember your name, and you’ll always be treated with kindness and respect. Our team members aren't just professionals; we're moms, sisters, and friends who genuinely care about your child's well-being. As your family grows, you’ll have us to inspire healthy habits. 

Secondly, we infuse every aspect of our practice with a warm, personal touch. From our clean, modern, and kid-friendly office to the comfortable treatment chairs to the personalized advice. Everything is designed to put you and your child at ease. Remember, dental care is a lifelong journey, and we're here to make sure it's a positive one from the very start.

“The whole staff is amazing and the office is beautiful. You feel so welcome from the second you walk in and it has my kids excited to see their orthodontist! They treat you like family and you can tell everyone there truly cares about the patients.”

- April Burrow

2) Early detection saves you in the long run.

One of the advantages of sticking with Dr. Sarah as your Orthodontist is that we’re right there with you as your child grows and develops.

When searching for the best children's dentist in Virginia Beach, consider early detection and preventive care. Part of preventive care is routine cleanings. However, we go beyond that. 

For example, tooth decay is one of the most prevalent dental issues in children. If not caught early, it can lead to more painful (and expensive) problems down the line. Through digital imaging and our advanced techniques, we can spot potential cavities and decays before they become a bother. 

Another common problem among younger children is tooth eruption problems. Sometimes, adult teeth don’t emerge from the gums properly. However, early detection can solve these problems before they cause pain, swelling, and infection. 

Preteens and younger teenagers may start feeling the pain of misaligned teeth, overbites, underbites, or spacing issues. Since our practice covers orthodontics, we can intervene just at the right time for simpler, more effective treatments. (Don’t worry, we’ll cover braces very soon.)

No matter the problem (and we’ve seen a lot of diverse problems), our personalized approach empowers us to combat them before they become a serious pain. 

We can spot subtle changes in your child's oral health and address them right away! But our care doesn’t stop once you leave the office. We provide customized advice on brushing techniques and diet choices tailored just for your child. These small, every day habits can make a big difference in your little one's oral health.

Here’s a little secret every parent should know: preventive care is not just good for your child’s health— it’s good for your wallet, too! Early detection avoids extensive and expensive treatments in the future. 

We’ve all noticed a small problem and figuratively swept it under the rug. Only for it to return after snowballing into an emergency. Remember, this is an investment in your child’s oral health. Eventually, your child is going to return that investment as their beautiful, confident smile. 

“Dr. Sarah and her team are top-notch! When we went for a consult, she noticed that my son has thin gums and mentioned that whoever we decided to go with as an orthodontist should watch out for this. I was so impressed with her attention to detail that I also chose to start Invisalign while my son had braces. I can't say enough positive things about this practice.”

-Whitney Harding.

3) Find a children’s dentist in Virginia Beach that values education

Both for the little ones and the parents! Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to maintaining those precious smiles!

From the very first visit, we focus on getting to know you and your family. We get to know your treatment goals. What do you want to get out of your children’s dentist, Virginia Beach? Every family’s needs are unique, just like smiles. 

Good oral hygiene habits are learned, not inherited. That's why we put so much emphasis on teaching kids proper brushing and flossing techniques. 

When it comes to orthodontic treatments, there’s a whole world of options out there. From Invisalign to clear braces, metal braces to lingual braces— it can feel overwhelming!

Which one’s right for you? We’re here to guide you. So we can find the best treatment for your needs. Together, we’ll create a customized treatment plan, complete with an estimated timeline. We’re happy to take questions; in fact, we encourage them. We want you to feel confident and informed. 

“Today was my daughter's first appointment with Dr. Sarah. 10/10 The office was beautiful and inviting, her dream team were all friendly and welcoming. Rachel and Dr. Sarah, explained everything thoroughly and the appointment felt more like a visit with friends than a trip for dental care. My daughter went from dreading the idea of braces to excited for her treatment.”

- Imon Brown

4) Money, money, money.

No one likes talking about money, so let’s make that conversation as painless as possible. 

We understand that kids are expensive. 

Overall costs will depend on your treatment, which depends on your needs. Which we won’t know until we see you. But before you see any family dentist, ask about their financial options. Do they have flexible payment options? What kind of payment plans do they offer? 

We don’t want anything standing between you and your best smile! Our team will work with you to find a financial arrangement that fits your budget. Once we create a treatment plan specifically for you, we’ll share all available payment plan options. We’ll be transparent so you can feel confident in the choices you make.

5) What kind of specialized treatments does your local Virginia Beach children's dentist offer?

Because if you’ve ever had metal braces… you would have wished for these options. We remember what it was like to be a teenager with braces. Thankfully, there is a wide variety of orthodontic solutions for teenagers and adults alike. 

Invisalign: Aligners so clear they’re nearly invisible. 

We know the teenage years can be a little sensitive. With Invisalign, teens can straighten their teeth without feeling self-conscious about their appearance. This treatment gradually adjusts your teeth through a series of aligners. Basically, these are retainers designed to shift teeth just like braces. Great if you feel squeamish about metal wires in your mouth. 

However, cooperation is key. You will receive new aligners every two weeks throughout your treatment. You’ll have to wear them for around 20 hours a day, only taking them out to eat, brush, and floss. 

Clear braces: a superb smile without the hassle of metal braces.

Clear braces are very similar to traditional metal braces. However, they use clear ceramic brackets so they blend in with your natural smile. They use the exact same principles and tend to be equally as effective. They are not completely invisible, but they are much more subtle. 

Lingual Braces (InBrace): the Hidden treatment. 

A lot of adults want to get their teeth straightened because they did not have a chance when they were younger. However, understandably, no grown-up wants to look like a teenager with braces. 

Lingual braces go on the back of your teeth. No one can see them. Initially, that might sound uncomfortable with your tongue back there. However, they are designed for comfort and convenience. You can floss normally and eat normally. Their comfort has to be experienced to be believed. 

While these are geared toward older adults, they are available to teenagers. 

Metal braces: classic, reliable, cost-effective. 

Traditional metal braces have been successfully straightening teeth across Virginia Beach for decades! However, these are not the same bulky, awkward contraptions that ruined yearbook photos in the 80s. 

The principles remain the same, but technology has advanced. Our metal braces use the latest in orthodontic technology to make them smaller, lighter, and much more comfortable. They are durable, long-lasting, and can fix a wide range of dental issues, including crooked teeth, overbites, underbites, and gaps between teeth.

Since your teen will be wearing these for a while, we’ve made them customizable with different colored elastics. It’s a fun, unique way of expressing your personality. They come in dozens of colors and can be changed at each appointment to give your braces a new look.

Metal braces are the most common because they tend to be the most cost-effective. 

Moral of the story: ask your local children's dentist what options they offer.

There are pros and cons to every treatment. But what’s important is that you have options. 

“Had a previous bad experience at another orthodontist, so it was hard to get the courage to be seen again. So, I’m very lucky to have found this place. Dr. Sarah and her staff are always so welcoming and go above and beyond to make me feel comfortable and actually care about the outcome of my smile!”

-Victoria Johnson

6) Orthodontic emergencies!

When searching for the best children's dentist in Virginia Beach, it's crucial to find a practice that not only provides excellent care but also emergency support. And, more importantly, compassion.

When you first get your braces, you may experience general soreness in your mouth, and your teeth may feel tender. That is completely normal and should go away within a few days. However, if soreness flares up again, that may be a sign of a problem. Loose poking wires and detached brackets can hurt and delay your treatment’s progress. Luckily, we’re only a phone call away! We can schedule an appointment and fix things right up.

“After stress-flossing my permanent retainer off the night before, I called her office, and they got me in the next day. Instead of just gluing it back on, she made adjustments to my temporary retainers to move a few teeth into perfect alignment over the next 2 weeks before we reinstall it.”

-Amanda Marie

Meet Dr. Sarah Pavon Groy, Top-Rated Children's Dentist in Virginia Beach

Dr. Sarah grew up in Virginia Beach and feels proud to build a practice and raise her family in her hometown.

Our office is a warm, friendly, family environment where you won’t be just another number. We’ll take our time to get to know you and your goals, and you‘ll receive excellent orthodontic care using our state-of-the-art technology.

Let’s start our relationship off on the right foot. It's about creating a positive, lifelong relationship with oral health. Meet with Dr. Sarah for a free, no-pressure, one-on-one consultation