As a specialist in pediatric dentistry, Dr. Ray places your childs health and happiness as our top priorities. Everything we do goes toward ensuring that your little one receives only the most beneficial and effective treatment in a fun and non-threatening environment. We are committed to playing an important role in your childs oral health from a very early age through adolescence and beyond. Our goal is to meet the dental needs, as well as the mental needs of each child. By seeing children starting at the age of 1, we are able to diagnose any dental issues early on, partner with parents to let them know what to expect as their children grow, all the while providing gentle and patient-focused comprehensive care on each step of their journey.
As a father, Dr. Ray knows that we all have a lot to balance when it comes to our children! We listen and work closely with parents to develop a customized treatment plan that is realistic, that can be accomplished, and builds on finding small changes in the daily routines of our children that will support good oral health for years to come.
As a scientist, Dr. Ray knows that there is a lot of information out there that might be confusing or scary. We all want to do the best for our children, but sometimes it hard to separate fact from fiction. With his research and scientific background, Dr. Ray reviews the latest studies to make sure that he uses materials and technique that work, and are supported by science. Dr. Ray treats every child as his own, and works with parents to make sure they have accurate, and correct information when it comes to the oral health of their children.
For parents with infants, the North Carolina Integrative Tongue Tie Center, a division of High House Pediatric Dentistry, provides support and treatment for mothers experiencing issues with breastfeeding due to lip ties or tongue ties. In addition to treating infants in an integrative and supportive group setting, our center also treats children who have problems with eating (slow eating, picky about foods, gagging/vomiting) or speech. Dr. Rays research training is translated into practice through this new center, which is also focused on research in the hopes of providing better experiences for future moms and babies. From birth to adulthood, our practice and services are here for parents with children of all ages.
Dr. Ray completed his Bachelors of Science (BS), Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. He also completed a four-year residency/fellowship in pediatric dentistry and nutrition at the University of North Carolina Hospitals and School of Dentistry. Dr. Ray enjoys working with children of all ages, and has been focusing on tethered oral tissues in infants and children with functional difficulties in breastfeeding, eating, or speech. A parent himself, Dr. Ray works with parents to find solutions to improve oral health that are practical, evidence-based, and easy for parents and children to implement. In his spare time, Dr. Ray enjoys spending time with his wife and son and traveling.
Dr. Mark Herring is a North Carolina native, born and raised in Wilmington, NC. He earned his dental degree from the ECU School of Dental Medicine, and his pediatric certificate from The University of Pennsylvania and the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Mark enjoys working with patients from all walks of life, especially children with special healthcare needs and complex medical histories. He is fluent in Spanish, which he has used extensively in clinic in Philadelphia and while attending East Carolina University. He enjoys running, and traveling in his spare time.
Dr. Emilee was born and raised in West Virginia, and earned her DDS from West Virginia Universitys School of Dentistry. She completed her pediatric dentistry residency training at Texas A&M and Childrens Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. She loves all things outdoors, as well as baking, working out, and cheering on her beloved Mountaineers!
June comes to us from Fayetteville with over 10 years of working in general and pediatric dentistry and oral surgery. As an office leader, June is here to make sure that every experience meets our high standards and that parents have a point of contact for any concern or compliment they have for our practice. June enjoys spending time with her family and traveling in her spare time.
Although Ashleigh is from Florida originally, she now considers herself a native of North Carolina. She has been working in the dental field for nine years, primarily with children in pediatric dentistry. Ashleigh is married and has one son, who is basically a big ball of energy! In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her family by going to the beach or to any Carolina Panthers game. Shes also an avid Tar Heels fan. Ashleigh is the Frenectomy Coordinator for the North Carolina Tongue Tie Center, and also works with our sister practice, Southern Smiles Pediatric Dentistry of Cameron.
Originally from Michigan, Dominee has extensive experience in working with children and individuals with unique and special healthcare needs. In her 10 years of experience, Dominee has worked with children and adults and can put everyone at ease with her calm demeanor. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling.
Anna graduated with her Bachelors degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has worked in the triangle area as a hygienist with both adult and child patients. Her gentle demeanor puts children at ease during their dental cleanings. Anna enjoys working with children to improve their oral hygiene using fun and innovative techniques. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, and exploring new cities.
Payton comes to us from Sanford, NC. After graduating from Central Carolina Community College, she joined Dr. Ray at High House Pediatric Dentistry and has earned her designation as Certified Dental Assistant. Paytons calm and relaxed demeanor helps her make friends with our guests easily and allows her to make any situation easy for children.
Diana was born and raised in Mexico City and moved to Clinton, NC in 2002. Diana has over 10 years of experience working in adult and pediatric dental practices. She loves what she does, and enjoys making visits fun and relaxing for kids when they come to visit for their dental cleanings. Her calm demeanor and great smile put children at ease instantly! Diana has two children and spends her free time with her family going to the movies, and spending time outdoors. Diana has also served on international service trips to Guatemala with the High House clinical team to serve children in need.
Tatianna comes to us from South Carolina, where she worked in general and pediatric dentistry, and was also faculty at a local college in the dental assisting program. Tatianna enjoys working with children of all ages, and helping them to be more relaxed at their dental visits. In her spare time, Tatianna enjoys traveling around the world, with her most recent adventures taking her to Morocco, and the Caribbean.
Zaidaly graduated from Central Carolina Community College with her dental assisting degree, and has worked at High House Pediatric Dentistry before and after her graduation. As a native spanish-speaker, Zaidaly helps our young guests feel at ease in the dental chair, whether its their first or fifteenth visit. In her spare time, Zaidaly enjoys spending time with her family and her young son, and traveling to new places.
Ellie has lived in the Raleigh area for several years. She is Cuban and is our resident Spanish-speaking dental assistant. She comes to us with several years of experience in pediatric dentistry and has a natural ability to make kids feel comfortable and at ease. Ellie has also accompanied Dr. Ray on a dental service trip to Nicaragua where she helped serve over 475 kids with dental needs. Ellie enjoys movies and traveling.
The pediatric dentist has an extra two to three years of specialized training after dental school, and is dedicated to the oral health of children from infancy through the teenage years. You may know someone who had a bad dental experience as a child- The pediatric dentist is dedicated to making sure that this never happens. The very young, pre-teens, and teenagers all need different approaches in explaining dental procedures, guiding their dental growth and development, and helping them avoid future dental problems. The pediatric dentist is best qualified to meet these needs because of their extensive training in areas like behavior/fear/anxiety management, use of sedation/anesthesia when needed, and a focus on growth and development throughout the years
Theyre just baby teeth, right? Wrong! While the front 4 teeth last until 6-7 years of age, the back teeth (cuspids and molars) arent replaced until age 10-13. Also, primary teeth are much smaller and thinner than adult teeth, so cavities form a lot faster- in as little as a few weeks! For young children, this can lead to pain, inability to eat, and ultimately may lead to teeth having to be extracted. But it doesnt end there! If a child loses their primary teeth too early, problems can arise with spacing and drifting of other teeth, and can result in blocking out the permanent teeth from eruptiong.
Primary teeth, or baby teeth, are also important for (1) proper chewing and eating, (2) providing space for the permanent teeth and guiding them into the correct position, and (3) permitting normal development of the jaw bones and muscles. Primary teeth also affect the development of speech and add to an attractive appearance. Regular brushing and flossing is a step in the right direction on your journey to good oral health.