Dr. Donna Thomas was born and raised in the Kansas City area. She attended St. Marys high school and Rockhurst College. She received her Doctorate of Dental Surgery from University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Dentistry. Following graduation, Dr. Thomas completed a 2-year Pediatric Dental Residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha where she also obtained a Masters Degree. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, and a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association and the Kansas Dental Association. She previously served on the Kansas Dental Board, after being appointed by the Governor, for 5 years and was President during her last year. Dr. Thomas completed the prestigious Leadership Kansas program and is currently serving as a Board of Trustees for the program. She was appointed to the Friends of Cedar Crest Association. Most recently, Dr. Thomas was appointed by the Governor to serve as on the Board of Directors to The KU Hospital Authority Board. She is married to Dr. Daniel Thomas, a Periodontist and they have 2 children, Alexandria and Preston, both currently in college. Dr. Thomas enjoys spending her free time with her family, traveling and exercising.
Dr. Nicole Hawkinson was raised in central Iowa and attended Luther College where she received a degree in biology. She then attended the University of Iowa, College of Dentistry, where she completed her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. Dr. Hawkinson went on to continue her education and received a certificate in Pediatric Dentistry at Strong Memorial Hospital and the University of Rochester, NY. She received extensive training in child psychology, dental trauma, sedation, hospital dentistry and development.
Following residency she and her husband returned to the Midwest and settled in the Kansas City area. They are members at Church of Nativity, and are avid fans of Sporting KC soccer and the Kansas City Ballet. Dr. Hawkinson enjoys spending most of her free time with her children, Ethan, Henry and Kate.
Dr. Claudia Lopez is originally from Bogot, Colombia. She graduated first in her class at the El Bosque University of Dentistry. In 1992, she moved to the United States and obtained a certification in Pediatric Dentistry from New York University College of Dentistry. Dr. Lopez completed a DDS certificate and one year of dental research fellowship training at Childrens Mercy Hospital and the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry. Dr. Lopez is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. She is fluent in Spanish and has 17 years of teaching experience. She is active in the community and enjoys Tae-kwon-do, volleyball, yoga and swimming.
Dr. Frank Crist attended Park Hill High School where he graduated in 1982. He received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Kansas State University in 1986 and went on to attend the University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Dentistry where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) in 1990. Dr. Crist completed a General Practice Residency at the Miami Childrens Hospital in Miami, Florida.
In 1993 he earned his certificate in Orthodontics and Master of Science in Oral Biology from UMKC School of Dentistry. Dr. Crist is a Diplomat of the American Board of Orthodontics. Dr. Crist and his family reside in Leawood, Kansas. He and his wife have three daughters, all of whom attend Blue Valley Schools.
We make every effort to ensure that your child has a positive experience in our office. At their first visit we will count teeth and tickle or brush their teeth. Should your child require further treatment such as a filling based on findings in your childs exam, our experienced staff will be selective in their use of words. We try to avoid words that may scare your child. We ask for your support in not using words that are often used for dental care. They include:
Our equivalent:-- Sleepy Water-- Whistle or water toothbrush-- Wash a tooth-- Wiggle a tooth out-- Sugar bugs-- Count teeth-- Tickle teeth or brush teeth-- Tooth counter-- Raincoat-- Laughing Gas/Happy air-- Discomfort
Our intention is not to fool the child; it is to create a dental experience that is positive. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us build a great relationship with you and your child. And remember, here at Pediatric Dental Specialists PA, we not only care; we truly believe Kids are Dino-mite.
Reviews
Rating 4.5 out of 5 based on 45 reviews
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newest oldest highest lowestMichelle Hobbs
2 years ago
The people here are friendly and they seem to truly care about my child. They work with his anxiety and explain in detail to him what they are going to do next.
James McCarthy
2 years ago
They're great with kids.
Amazing Mary the first
2 years ago
Always an easy, efficient, and pleasant experience!
Jon Mitchell
3 years ago
Both of my daughters now come here for all of their dental needs. The staff is friendly, and always willing to help if something arises. My oldest daughter loves all of the staff for the care that they show when she is getting dental work done, and my youngest just had her first appointment. The staff took exceptional care with her, and were more than happy to spend the extra time with her to keep her comfortable and happy.
Rachael Schneider
3 years ago
Every staff member we've spoken to has been both kind and knowledgeable. They've helped both of my children feel comfortable at the dentist's office. Their facility is always spotless and my daughter makes a new discovery on their dinosaur murals during almost every visit!
Michelle Hobbs
3 years ago
The people here are friendly and they seem to truly care about my child. They work with his anxiety and explain in detail to him what they are going to do next.
Teresa Purnell
3 years ago
As always my regular teeth cleaning was GREAT! Dr. Thomas Anderson has done a Fantastic job getting my gums and teeth looking the way they should. Didn't hurt that I followed his instructions for after care as well. He will be my dentist for life!
Nichole Sullivan
3 years ago
We had such a great experience at the North Oak location, my kiddo is not a huge fan of dentists (not the best experience with a previous Dentistry) and from the moment we arrived Pediatric Dental Specialists was welcoming, caring, and extremely efficient throughout my sons appointment. Even when my son was not happy and was being resistant, the Dentist calmly explained what she was doing every step of the way to ease his mind and help move things along. I've recommended this place to many neighbors and am so happy we found Pediatric Dental Specialists!
James McCarthy
3 years ago
They're great with kids.
Amazing Mary the first
3 years ago
Always an easy, efficient, and pleasant experience!
Jon Mitchell
3 years ago
Both of my daughters now come here for all of their dental needs. The staff is friendly, and always willing to help if something arises. My oldest daughter loves all of the staff for the care that they show when she is getting dental work done, and my youngest just had her first appointment. The staff took exceptional care with her, and were more than happy to spend the extra time with her to keep her comfortable and happy.
Stephen Galler
3 years ago
Made an appointment with the the orthodontist consult. We had to wait for a date the orthodontist was open (1 month). When we got there they told us "he was not there today". No phone call no heads up just took the morning off work for absolutely nothing. The attitude they gave me was an O well sorry. Never again!
The Mane Idea
3 years ago
Absolutely love this doctors office. My children are never scare because the staff is never anxious. They are friendly and patient.
Teresa Purnell
3 years ago
As always my regular teeth cleaning was GREAT! Dr. Thomas Anderson has done a Fantastic job getting my gums and teeth looking the way they should. Didn't hurt that I followed his instructions for after care as well. He will be my dentist for life!
Jennifer Thomas
3 years ago
My kids have been patients at this practice since they were littles and I love the care and attention they receive every time. My son recently had to have some teeth pulled (aka "wiggled"); understandably he was a bit nervous but the staff talked him through and made him feel so comfortable and he said he didn't feel anything after the numbing. They talked to me afterwards and shared in front of him how great he did and made this Mama so happy (and relieved). <3
Shantai McCray
3 years ago
My son has a great deal of anxiety about going to the dentist. The tech and dentist were very friendly, calming and understanding. He did great thanks to the wonderful staff.
Nichole Sullivan
3 years ago
We had such a great experience at the North Oak location, my kiddo is not a huge fan of dentists (not the best experience with a previous Dentistry) and from the moment we arrived Pediatric Dental Specialists was welcoming, caring, and extremely efficient throughout my sons appointment. Even when my son was not happy and was being resistant, the Dentist calmly explained what she was doing every step of the way to ease his mind and help move things along. I've recommended this place to many neighbors and am so happy we found Pediatric Dental Specialists!
Cheyenne Ade
3 years ago
We were told my 6 year old would have to have 2 teeth pulled due to crowding. When my son heard them talking about it, he wanted to start crying. The staff was great. They immediately saw his reaction and stopped talking about it and told him not to worry. I was told they would send an email providing me with information about the tooth extraction so we knew what to expect. I never got the email even after calling back about it. We didn't have a clue what to expect going in. After it was done, we weren't given any guidelines either. I tried calling the office just to see when we could give Ibuprofen/Tylenol for pain. I had to leave a message and never got a call back. If you just need a cleaning, the staff is great with the kids. Since my kiddo will need more work done in the future, he'll be going to our family dentist from now on. Review edit: the office called after seeing my review to let me know the steps they have already taken to make sure everyone has a pleasant experience. I was irritated when I posted my reveiw, so I wasn't being totally fair. The office has been great, other than the miscommunication with our most recent visit. In fact, my same kiddo knocked his tooth out at 3 years old on his daycare playground, at the end of the day. The staff stayed late in order to see him. They even helped keep my 1 year old occupied so I could be with him.
Rachael Schneider
3 years ago
Every staff member we've spoken to has been both kind and knowledgeable. They've helped both of my children feel comfortable at the dentist's office. Their facility is always spotless and my daughter makes a new discovery on their dinosaur murals during almost every visit!
Ron Gourley
3 years ago
I always seem to enjoy my visit with the friendly and courtesy that I receive that makes the world of difference to me.
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