Brave little smiles start here
Gentle checkups, sealants and special needs care for kids from the very first tooth to senior photos.
4.9 from 1,126 parents
1,900+ kids in the No-Cavity Club
Treatments sized for small mouths
From first-tooth checkups to teen aligners, every treatment is planned around how kids think, feel and grow.
- From the first tooth
Checkups & cleanings
Gentle six-month visits with counting games, a tooth-tickle polish and a prize at the end.
Read more - Ages 2 to 14
Sealants & fluoride
Paint-on cavity armor for back teeth and a quick fluoride varnish that strengthens enamel.
Read more - All ages
Kids' dental emergencies
Same-day help for knocked-out teeth, chipped smiles, swelling and toothaches.
Read more - Ages 2 to 12
Baby tooth crowns & pulp therapy
Durable kid crowns and gentle nerve treatment that keep baby teeth working until they are ready to fall out.
Read more - Ages 6 to 18
Invisalign First & teen aligners
Early phase alignment for ages 6 to 10 and clear aligners for teens, with an ortho check at age 7.
Read more - Ages 14 and up
Teen whitening
Dentist-supervised, low-sensitivity whitening for teens 14 and up, timed around braces and prom photos.
Read more - Ages 6 to 18
Bonding & veneers
Tooth-colored bonding for chipped or spotted front teeth, and veneer planning for older teens.
Read more - Ages 3 to 18
Missing teeth & implant planning
Space maintainers for lost baby teeth and long-term implant planning for teens missing adult teeth.
Read more - All ages, including young adults
Special needs & sedation
Sensory-friendly visits, laughing gas, in-office sedation and hospital dentistry for anxious or medically complex kids.
Read more
When do baby teeth show up?
Every child is on their own schedule. Most have all 20 baby teeth by age 3, and a few months early or late is completely normal.
Pick any tooth to see when it usually arrives and when it wiggles loose.
Lower central incisor
- Usually comes in
- 6 to 10 months
- Usually falls out
- 6 to 7 years
Based on American Dental Association eruption charts. Ask us if teeth are more than 6 months early or late.
Your first visit in four easy steps
No surprises for kids or parents. Here is exactly how a first visit at Little Molars goes.
- Step 1
Book online or call
Pick a time that fits naps and school. We text a reminder and a short welcome video.
- Step 2
Forms from your couch
Fill out health history on your phone before you arrive, in English or Spanish.
- Step 3
Tour and happy visit
Your child rides the chair, meets Mr. Thirsty and gets their teeth counted with you right there.
- Step 4
Prize and a plan
A spin on the prize wall for them, a simple home care plan for you.
Little treatments that stop big problems
Prevention costs less, takes less time and feels a lot better than repairs. These are the tools we reach for first.
Sealants
A thin coating paints over molar grooves where 9 in 10 kid cavities begin. No shots, about ten minutes.
Fluoride varnish
A sticky, flavored coat brushed on at checkups that hardens enamel and can reverse early soft spots.
Silver diamine fluoride
A no-drill liquid that stops small cavities in their tracks. Great for toddlers and anxious kids.
Laughing gas
A gentle, fast-fading relaxant through a scented nose mask for kids who need a little calm.
Habit coaching
Kind, practical plans for thumb sucking, pacifiers and night bottles that protect the bite.
Sports mouthguards
Custom guards in team colors that kids actually keep in, for soccer, hockey and everything in between.
The 2-minute brush timer
Most kids stop brushing after 45 seconds. Our timer splits two minutes into four 30-second zones, so every tooth gets its turn.
- Top leftBack molars first, little circles
- Top rightSwap sides, do not forget the tongue side
- Bottom leftChewing tops and along the gums
- Bottom rightLast zone, then spit, do not rinse
Grown-ups who speak kid
Board-certified pediatric dentists and a team who have heard every knock-knock joke. Tap a photo for a fun fact.
Meet the whole team
Fun factHas a pet tortoise named Flossy who is older than most of her patients.
Dr. Aiko Tanaka, DDS, MS
Founder, board-certified pediatric dentist
Fun factCan name every Pokemon from the first generation, which comes up more than you would think.
Dr. Renee Whitfield, DMD
Pediatric dentist, early orthodontics
Fun factMakes a different flavor of homemade salsa every week for the team lunch.
Dr. Sofia Marquez, DDS
Pediatric dentist, bilingual care
Fun factKnits tiny tooth plushies for kids who lose their first tooth at our office.
Jess Albright
Registered dental hygienist
What parents say
My daughter is autistic and had two terrible dental visits before. Dr. Marquez sent us photos of the room, let her wear her headphones and never rushed her. She walked out holding a prize and a clean smile.
- 4.9 Google rating
- 1,126 parent reviews
- Since 2011 on the Bench
Care for every kind of kid
Anxious, sensory-sensitive, medically complex or just not a fan of the dentist yet? We adapt the visit, and when comfort is not enough, we offer a gentle ladder of sedation options.
Sensory-friendly visits
Dimmed lights, noise-canceling headphones, weighted blanket and our private quiet room.
Social stories before you come
Photos of the room, the team and each step, sent ahead so nothing is a surprise.
Quiet hours, extra time
First or last appointments of the day with no rushing and no waiting room crowd.
Option 1 of 4
Comfort care
Tell-show-do, headphones, weighted blanket, ceiling TV and extra time. Works for most kids.
Often used for: Mild nerves, first visitsOption 2 of 4
Laughing gas
Nitrous oxide through a small nose mask. Kids stay awake and relaxed, and it wears off within minutes.
Often used for: Fillings, crowns, mild anxietyOption 3 of 4
Oral conscious sedation
A prescribed medicine given in the office. Kids are drowsy and calm, monitored the whole time.
Often used for: Moderate anxiety, longer visitsOption 4 of 4
Hospital dentistry
General anesthesia with a board-certified anesthesiologist at a Boise children's hospital partner. All treatment in one visit.
Often used for: Extensive treatment, complex medical or special needs
Snack swaps teeth love
It is not only candy. Sticky, starchy and sipped-all-day snacks cause most of the cavities we see. Try these easy swaps.
Timing tip: serve treats with meals, not between them. Teeth need 2 to 3 hours to recover from each snack.
No insurance? Join the membership
One flat price covers checkups, cleanings, X-rays and fluoride, plus real discounts on treatment. No deductibles, no waiting periods.
Ages 0 to 5
Sprout
For babies, toddlers and preschoolers building good habits.
$29per child / month
- 2 checkups and cleanings
- Fluoride varnish every visit
- X-rays when due
- Emergency exams included
- 15% off treatment
- Most popular
Ages 6 to 12
Explorer
For big-kid smiles with new molars and loose teeth.
$35per child / month
- Everything in Sprout
- Sealants 50% off
- Age 7 ortho screening
- Sports mouthguard 30% off
- 20% off treatment
Ages 13 to 18
Teen
For teens juggling braces, sports and senior photos.
$39per child / month
- 2 checkups and cleanings
- X-rays and fluoride
- Whitening 20% off
- Custom mouthguard 30% off
- 20% off treatment
Sample membership pricing for illustration. Membership is not insurance. Compare with insurance.
Two offices, zero scary waiting rooms
Play corners, free parking and hours built around school pickup. Choose the office closest to home.
Boise Bench office
2150 S Vista Ave, Suite 110
Boise, ID 83705Hours today7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Mon7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tue7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wed7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thu7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Fri7:30 am - 2:00 pm
- Sat8:00 am - 12:00 pm
- SunClosed
Free parking out front, stroller-friendly ramp
Meridian office
1480 N Eagle Rd, Suite 200
Meridian, ID 83642Hours today8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Mon8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tue8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wed10:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Thu8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Fri8:00 am - 1:00 pm
- SatClosed
- SunClosed
Next to the splash pad at Kleiner Park
Parent reading, five minutes at a time
Straight answers from our dentists and hygienists on brushing battles, snacks, habits and growing smiles.
Visit the blog
Parents' FAQ
Still wondering about something? Our coordinators love questions, even the small ones.
By the first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth appearing. Early visits are short and gentle, and they help us spot problems while they are easy to fix.
Always. Parents are welcome in the room for every visit. We will even find you a chair with a good view.
We are in network with Delta Dental of Idaho, Blue Cross of Idaho, MetLife, Cigna, Guardian and Idaho Smiles (Medicaid), and we file claims for most other PPO plans.
We use tell-show-do, let kids set the pace, offer headphones and ceiling TVs, and book longer visits when needed. Sedation is available when comfort measures are not enough.
Most kids need help until about age 7 or 8, roughly when they can tie their own shoes. Let them go first, then do a parent pass.
Happy teeth start here
New patients are usually seen within 10 days. Tell us a little about your child and we will call to confirm a time that works.