Top 10 Pediatric Dentists in the United States

Finding the top 10 pediatric dentists in the United States means navigating a landscape of over 27,515 pediatric dental businesses operating nationwide as of May 2026. 1 No single authoritative federal ranking exists for pediatric dental providers; most recognized lists are built from patient review volume, board certification status, award recognitions from regional publications, and peer nominations. 2 The profiles below draw on those documented signals to present a geographically diverse cross-section of highly regarded pediatric dentists and practices serving children from infancy through adolescence.

Understanding What Makes a Pediatric Dentist Stand Out

Pediatric dentistry is a board-certified specialty in the United States. To achieve that distinction, a dentist must complete dental school followed by a two-to-three-year residency exclusively focused on children from infancy through adolescence, including those with special healthcare needs. 3 The American Board of Pediatric Dentistry administers the certification examinations, while the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry represents more than 10,000 pediatric dentists nationwide as their primary professional organization. 4

Beyond board certification, parents typically evaluate providers based on patient satisfaction ratings on platforms such as Healthgrades, Google Reviews, and Zocdoc, as well as specialized capabilities including sedation dentistry, laser-assisted procedures, hospital-based care, and experience treating children with developmental or special needs. 5 Geographic location and insurance participation are also consistently cited as major selection factors by families across all regions. 2

Top 10 Pediatric Dentists and Practices in the United States

The following list presents ten notable pediatric dental providers documented in regional award programs, professional directories, and verified patient review aggregators. California holds the highest concentration of any single state, accounting for approximately 8% of all pediatric dental businesses in the country, followed by Florida at 5.5% and Texas at 4%. 1 The profiles below reflect providers from multiple regions to represent national scope.

Credential Profiles: Texas and the South

Dr. Gregory Thiel has practiced pediatric dentistry in Austin since 2004, completing his dental education at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and residencies at The Ohio State University and Columbus Children's Hospital. 6 His WebMD profile reflects a 5.0 rating across 170 reviews, with 160 out of 160 reviewers reporting that he explained conditions and treatments well. 6 Dr. Thiel holds qualifications to treat children with special needs, administer office conscious sedation, and perform hospital dentistry at Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas.

Dr. Randy Hamilton, founder of iKids Pediatric Dentistry and Braces on Broad in Mansfield, Texas, received recognition in Living Magazine's 2026 Top Docs feature. 7 Hamilton opened his practice 16 years ago and built a model that was among the first pediatric dental offices to allow parents to accompany children into treatment rooms. Dr. Elizabeth Chen of Kids Healthy Teeth and Fulshear Pediatric Dentistry also earned a 2026 Living Magazine Top Docs listing; she graduated salutatorian from the University of Texas School of Dentistry in 2013 and completed her pediatric residency and Master of Science degree from the same institution in 2015. 8

High-Volume Review Leaders: New York and Florida

Dr. Laurie Hyacinthe of Open Bright NYC is a board-certified pediatric dentist serving families throughout the Bronx and Upper Manhattan, holding a 4.8-star average across more than 1,052 verified Google reviews. 9 She completed two or more additional years of residency beyond dental school and previously served as a residency program director. She speaks four languages including Spanish, French, and Arabic, allowing her practice to serve NYC's diverse communities. In-office IV sedation is available for patients requiring it.

In South Florida, Dr. Monika Srivastava of Jacaranda Smiles brings nearly two decades of pediatric dental experience and holds the designation of Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. 10 She earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Boston University, completed an Advanced Education program at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, and finalized her pediatric specialty training at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. Her practice emphasizes prevention, anxiety reduction, and family communication throughout the treatment process.

Board-Certified Specialists: Ohio, California, and the Mid-Atlantic

Dr. Christel Haberland, practicing in Westerville, Ohio, holds a 4.9-star rating on Healthgrades based on 128 reviews, with 96% of those ratings at five stars. 11 She is affiliated with MUSC Medical Center and Yale New Haven Hospital and is noted by reviewers for low wait times, friendly staff, and ease of scheduling. Dr. Sarah Silverstein of La Mesa Pediatric Dentistry in California is a board-certified pediatric dentist trained at the University of Southern California. She completed a General Practice Residency at UCLA, has volunteered aboard the U.S. Navy hospital ships USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy, and serves as a Voluntary Clinical Instructor for the UCSD Student Run Free-Dental Clinic. 12 She is a Fellow of the International College of Dentists and a Board Member of the San Diego County Dental Society.

Dr. Alexander Akbari, affiliated with Blue Cloud, received his ABPD board certification in 2022 and completed his pediatric dental residency at New York University. 13 He holds a DEA license, conscious sedation permit, and PALS and BLS certifications, with documented experience across 40 or more general anesthesia cases, 25 or more intranasal sedations, and over 400 crown procedures. His background also includes hospital privileges at Specialty Surgery Center in Nashville and involvement in community outreach and dental workforce diversity initiatives.

Regional Recognition and Specialized Care Leaders

Dr. Zarina Rasheed of Z Pediatric Dentistry in Pearland, Texas, holds a 4.8-star rating across 258 reviews and is the only pediatric dentist in Pearland to offer Solea laser technology. 14 She completed both her dental degree and a Master of Science at the University of Texas, finished two additional years of specialty training, and holds affiliation with Texas Children's Hospital. Dr. Shayna Mattox of Treehouse Pediatric Dentistry in Gretna, Nebraska, is documented as that community's first board-certified pediatric dentist, offering care for infants, children, adolescents, and individuals with special healthcare needs in a family-owned practice setting. 15

Dr. Karina Marr of Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda in Dallas was recognized in D Magazine's Best Dentists of 2025 list, a ranking determined by a confidential poll distributed to more than 3,000 local dental professionals who nominate peers within their specialties. 16 The practice provides preventive, restorative, and emergency pediatric dental services using metal-free filling materials and durable pediatric crowns. KidSmile KC in the Kansas City area won the Best Pediatric Dentist award from both the Johnson County Post and Kansas City Magazine for three consecutive years, with a practice model centered on child-scaled environments, colorful waiting areas, and behavior-first appointment approaches. 17

Key Factors Parents Should Evaluate Before Selecting a Provider

Board certification through the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry remains the most verifiable credential signal, confirming that a provider completed both the residency requirement and the national examination process. 3 State dental boards maintain active licensure records and disciplinary histories, which are publicly searchable tools families can use to independently verify a practitioner's standing before scheduling. Patient review platforms including Healthgrades, Zocdoc, and Google provide volume-weighted ratings, but parents should examine the number of reviews alongside the average score, since a 4.9 rating from 128 reviews carries different statistical weight than the same score from five reviews. 5

Specialized capabilities vary significantly across practices. Sedation dentistry, hospital-based care, laser-assisted procedures, frenectomy services, and experience treating children with developmental or special healthcare needs are not offered uniformly. Families with children requiring those services should confirm availability directly with a provider before an initial appointment. Geographic distribution matters too: California accounts for 8% of all U.S. pediatric dental providers, Florida 5.5%, and Texas 4%, meaning families in less populated states may face longer travel distances or waitlists. 1 Insurance participation, language access, and parent-presence policies during treatment are additional variables that affect care accessibility across this diverse national landscape.

Sources

1. POIData.io - How many Pediatric dentists are there in United States in 2026 (poidata.io)
2. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry - Why Go to a Pediatric Dentist (aapd.org)
3. American Board of Pediatric Dentistry - Board Certification Standards (abpd.org)
4. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry - Member Organization Overview (myaapd.org)
5. Healthgrades - Pediatric Dentist Search and Ratings (healthgrades.com)
6. WebMD - Dr. Gregory Thiel, Dentist, Austin TX (doctor.webmd.com)
7. Living Magazine - iKids Pediatric Dentistry, 2026 Top Docs (livingmagazine.net)
8. Living Magazine - Kids Healthy Teeth and Fulshear Pediatric Dentistry, 2026 Top Docs (livingmagazine.net)
9. Open Bright NYC - Pediatric Dentist Bronx NY (openbrightnyc.com)
10. Jacaranda Smiles - Dr. Monika Srivastava, Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist (jacarandasmiles.com)
11. Healthgrades - Dr. Christel Haberland DDS, Westerville OH (healthgrades.com)
12. La Mesa Pediatric Dentistry - Dr. Sarah T. Silverstein (lamesakids.com)
13. Blue Cloud - Dr. Alexander A. Akbari DDS (bluecloudpsc.com)
14. Z Pediatric Dentistry - Dr. Zarina Rasheed (zpdentistry.com)
15. Treehouse Pediatric Dentistry - Dr. Shayna Mattox, Gretna NE (gretnatreehouse.com)
16. Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda - Dr. Marr Recognized by D Magazine (pdckids.com)
17. KidSmile KC - How We Won Best Pediatric Dentist in Kansas City Magazine (kidsmilekc.com)