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.
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.
Southern Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, loves working with parents and children to create positive experiences at each visit, for every child. We believe our role is to provide all the information needed to help parents make informed choices about their childs oral healthcare, and to develop a plan that balances the wishes of parents with the wellbeing, health and wellness of the child. You can, and should expect to have all your questions answered, to have open and honest discussions about your dental concerns, and to have an outstanding experience for parents and children during every visit.
Take a second to meet the doctors that are here to work with you and your special ones. Each doctor brings a love for children, a gentle, compassionate heart, and a genuine interest in providing your child with an outstanding experience each and every time, combined with rigorous and outstanding academic and clinical training.
Monica comes to us with many years of general, oral surgery, and pediatric experience. She started her career in dentistry as a patient care coordinator and advanced into a management position where she has dedicated her time to helping patients and parents have an outstanding dental experience. In her downtime she likes to spend quality time with her son and husband, who is proudly serving in our armed forces.
Alexis is a native of Fayetteville and has worked at several dental practices in the Raleigh and Fayetteville area. Her calm and cool demeanor help our young guests and families feel welcome, whether they are visiting in person or calling us . Whether you are new to Southern Smiles, or a returning guest, Alexis is here to make sure that your visit is pleasant and relaxed.
Amanda comes to us from Ohio where she has had several years of experience working in general dentistry and pediatric dentistry. She has worked in the dental field for 7 years and her favorite thing is communicating with patients and creating lasting relationships with each and every patient. As our insurance coordinator, Amanda will make sure your insurance questions are answered, and that we are helping you to use your insurance benefits to the max. Her mastery of all things related to insurance will help to make sure your experience is pleasant, streamlined, and easy to understand.
Jennifer is a native of Fayetteville, and has lived in NC her whole life. After completing the dental assisting program at Fayetteville Tech in 2007, she successfully passed her state certification to become a certified dental assistant. Jenn has a natural way with children, and also has two children of her own. Jenn loves being a pediatric dental assistant, and believes If you love what you do, you never have to work a day in your life. Jenn loves photography, jewelry, going to the beach, eating ethnic foods and traveling!
Although Ashleigh is from Florida originally, she now considers herself a native of Fayetteville. After all, shes lived in Fayetteville for the last 18 years! She graduated from Terry Sanford High School and Fayetteville Technical Community College. She has been working in the dental field for eight years, primarily with children in pediatric dentistry. Ashleigh is our Frenectomy Coordinator, and handles all aspects of the patient experience when it comes to lip ties and tongue ties. As a mother of a child who had both lip and tongue revisions done, she has firsthand knowledge of what mothers are going through. 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.
Courtney graduated from Wayne Community College in 2011 with a diploma in dental assisting and, following graduation, successfully passed the Dental Assisting National Board exam. Since graduating, she has worked exclusively in pediatric dentistry, loving every minute of it. Courtney is from Autryville, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband and two little girls. She spends her free time with family, enjoying all sorts of outdoor activities. She and her family especially love spending time at the lake.
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.
Angela is native to North Carolina and comes to us after having worked at several dental practices in Raleigh, Fayetteville, and Holly Springs. With over 7 years of Dental experience and a love of working with kids, we are excited to have her as an addition to our team! During her spare time, she loves spending time with her adorable son, Emmitt.
Sadie comes to us from a Florida but the military has brought her to Raeford. Sadie worked for several years in Florida at both general dentistry and orthodontic practices, and has a natural way of making kids feel at ease. As a mother herself, Sadie knows how important it is to help children feel relaxed and safe at the dentist, and her outgoing and relaxed nature helps kids to settle in immediately. Sadie enjoys spending time with her husband and her young son.
From our unique waiting room to our treatment areas, every space is designed to cater to our most important visitors- your children. We follow strict OSHA and sterilization guidelines to assure your child a safe, modern, and fun place for their dental visits.
Reviews
Rating 4.7 out of 5 based on 87 reviews
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2 years ago
I would like to give praises to Courtney and Rachael. Courtney has always been the best hygienist here. She walks my son through each step and is so patient with him. He has extreme anxiety when it comes to the dentist. Every time we go I pray she's his hygienist. My little girl instantly fell in love with Rachael. She was definitely welcoming and friendly and I fell in love also. Those two and Dr Mark are by far the best and I definitely ask for them for my children each time.
Julie Rodriguez
2 years ago
Military families beware!! My kids have been going here for two years, my husband is active-duty and I am a federal employee. Everyone knows that with military families last minute emergencies happen especially when husband has an unpredictable schedule.While they advertise to be understanding to military families I got a letter in the mail that they no longer want to serve my family due to multiple reschedules in the past two years. Very sad in my opinion. I will look for a more understanding company elsewhere.
RYIAN BAIZE
2 years ago
Awesome office and staff. I highly recommend.
Stef Henson
2 years ago
This office is amazing and I would definitely recommend my friends and family to this Dentist. The staff are incredibly kind and patient with both children and parents! We recently moved here and have not yet established a Pediatric dentist for our children. However, we needed emergency care and this office was appealing because of all the great reviews online. My daughter had an accident that required an extraction of one of her front teeth. She's 5 and has never had any dental work, other than cleanings, so we were very nervous about how she would do. We could not have asked for a better experience for her. The dentist and assistant were so wonderful with her. They were gentle, comforting, and made her feel completely at ease. She said she didn't even feel the anesthetic injection and wasn't aware of the extraction except for "a little bit of tickling" :) I highly recommend this office to anyone in search of a new pediatric dentist just as we are. I'm so glad we have found ours.
Tiffany Pafford
2 years ago
I can not praise this place enough! My 6 year old had to have pretty serious treatment done and was very hesitant about going to the dentist. The staff is so caring and so considerate of not just the worries from my kid but also my own. They were the best today! They made what could of been a traumatic day into a very pleasant experience! I can't not thank them enough!
Josh Dehnert
2 years ago
Absolutely awful, we waited 6 months for a cleaning, then our daughter got a cold, we got a covid test that morning, she came back negative (we had the test in hand) and they still refused to see her or her brothers. They said we would have to wait till April (it's October) for another appointment. If another child gets a cough then 6 more months after that. Apparently negative COVID test don't matter when you can instead be lazy and go home early.
Lana Garitty
3 years ago
My son had a severe lip and tongue tie. Dr. Ray did an amazing job fixing it. He and his staff were amazing.
Tiffany Pafford
3 years ago
I can not praise this place enough! My 6 year old had to have pretty serious treatment done and was very hesitant about going to the dentist. The staff is so caring and so considerate of not just the worries from my kid but also my own. They were the best today! They made what could of been a traumatic day into a very pleasant experience! I can't not thank them enough!
RYIAN BAIZE
3 years ago
Awesome office and staff. I highly recommend.
Stef Henson
3 years ago
This office is amazing and I would definitely recommend my friends and family to this Dentist. The staff are incredibly kind and patient with both children and parents! We recently moved here and have not yet established a Pediatric dentist for our children. However, we needed emergency care and this office was appealing because of all the great reviews online. My daughter had an accident that required an extraction of one of her front teeth. She's 5 and has never had any dental work, other than cleanings, so we were very nervous about how she would do. We could not have asked for a better experience for her. The dentist and assistant were so wonderful with her. They were gentle, comforting, and made her feel completely at ease. She said she didn't even feel the anesthetic injection and wasn't aware of the extraction except for "a little bit of tickling" :) I highly recommend this office to anyone in search of a new pediatric dentist just as we are. I'm so glad we have found ours.
C K
3 years ago
Excellent visit for my six year old. The front desk staff was friendly and reassuring. The dentist and his hygienist staff were absolutely amazing! Very patient and kind to my daughter. There are movies playing for the patients to watch while they have their teeth cleaned or during longer procedures . Highly recommend this dental group.
Victoria Bowen
3 years ago
Love this place. I have a two year old and he doesn't like anyone in his mouth ever but the staff and dentists here are so patient and kind. They also always ask if I am okay with them using fluoride on my son's teeth. I haven't been to many dentists where they ask if it is okay, so I appreciate that. Also, I have never had to wait long.
siera devault
3 years ago
We have been with Southern Smiles for over a year and my only complaint is that we didn't find them sooner! If you are looking for excellent dental care for your children and friendly staff this is the place for your family! I have a 7 year old and a 3 year old and both have had major dental treatments in office and under general anesthesia with this office. Dr. Ray is a ray of sunshine!!
Kodie Simon
3 years ago
We are regular patients at SSPD and they are always great! Dr Mark is awesome with my kiddos who range from 21mo-6yo. He is always very patient when they have a fit and makes visiting the dentist fun! The staff is also remarkable, they are friendly and very attentive to parents concerns! Since Covid-19 the office has taken every precaution possible to protect themselves and their patients. When I heard the new protocols being utilized before our recent appointments I thought it was going to be a pain, especially with four kids, but to my surprise our visit went very smooth and QUICK even with the new added safety steps! Southern Smiles had my families business before the pandemic and will KEEP our business for long after. We can't sing their praises enough!
Lana Garitty
3 years ago
My son had a severe lip and tongue tie. Dr. Ray did an amazing job fixing it. He and his staff were amazing.
Kodie Simon
4 years ago
We are regular patients at SSPD and they are always great! Dr Mark is awesome with my kiddos who range from 21mo-6yo. He is always very patient when they have a fit and makes visiting the dentist fun! The staff is also remarkable, they are friendly and very attentive to parents concerns! Since Covid-19 the office has taken every precaution possible to protect themselves and their patients. When I heard the new protocols being utilized before our recent appointments I thought it was going to be a pain, especially with four kids, but to my surprise our visit went very smooth and QUICK even with the new added safety steps! Southern Smiles had my families business before the pandemic and will KEEP our business for long after. We can't sing their praises enough!
siera devault
4 years ago
We have been with Southern Smiles for over a year and my only complaint is that we didn't find them sooner! If you are looking for excellent dental care for your children and friendly staff this is the place for your family! I have a 7 year old and a 3 year old and both have had major dental treatments in office and under general anesthesia with this office. Dr. Ray is a ray of sunshine!!
Victoria Bowen
4 years ago
Love this place. I have a two year old and he doesn't like anyone in his mouth ever but the staff and dentists here are so patient and kind. They also always ask if I am okay with them using fluoride on my son's teeth. I haven't been to many dentists where they ask if it is okay, so I appreciate that. Also, I have never had to wait long.
C K
4 years ago
Excellent visit for my six year old. The front desk staff was friendly and reassuring. The dentist and his hygienist staff were absolutely amazing! Very patient and kind to my daughter. There are movies playing for the patients to watch while they have their teeth cleaned or during longer procedures . Highly recommend this dental group.
Elizabeth Burr
4 years ago
Dr. Ray and staff are wonderful! They are kind, helpful, patient and very knowledgeable. I appreciate Dr. Ray always taking the time to thoroughly explain things and never rushing through the process. My sonjust had oral surgery and frenectomies done at the High House location and the staff there was wonderful as well. The anesthegiologist, Dr. Cangemi, was very patient and took as much time as we needed to answer all of our questions and made us feel very safe and comfortable. The process went very smoothly for us. My son was their at 7am and by 1pm he was up, eating and playing games. We are switching to them for our regular pediatric dental needs.
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