Pediatric dentists are the pediatricians of dentistry. Dr. Shawn received two additional years of training and education to learn the specific needs and concerns of a growing child. She is also board certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, a respected qualifying status earned by fewer than three percent of all dentists. Like how your child sees a pediatrician, Dr. Shawn has more experience working with children than a general dentist. Especially the very young, nervous ones as well as patients with special health care needs.
Our mission is to help your child have a healthy, confident smile for life. This starts with the first tooth. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a child sees a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears or no later than their first birthday. In our office we say, before you turn 2, we want to see you!
Dr. Shawn Hanway is Tallahassees only female, board-certified pediatric dentist. She opened her practice, Tallahassee Pediatric Dentistry in 2016 to provide dental health care for children of all ages. She decided pediatric dentistry was her specialty after a mission trip to Guatemala in dental school. She enjoys the challenges of children who come into the office nervous or scared but then leave with a smile on their face.
Her goal is to protect their experience of visiting the dentist, which is why she works closely with an in-office pediatric anesthesiologist for providing safe dental treatment to her very young and special needs patients.
Dr. Shawns favorite part of her training would include being a part of UF Shands Craniofacial team and learning how to treat babies born with cleft lip/palate by providing taping and NAM fabrication to newborns. She also enjoys working closely with lactation specialists and speech pathologists in our area to provide tongue/lip tie releases with in-office laser. She was raised in Tallahassee and is delighted to have the opportunity to serve the needs of children in her hometown.
Dr. Carter is originally from North Carolina, where she graduated with a BS in Biology from North Carolina State University before attending East Carolina Universitys School of Dental Medicine. After graduating in 2015, Dr. Carter has spent her dental career focusing on the pediatric population. She worked 2 years in a pediatric clinic in Columbia, SC and then 1 year in another pediatric dental office in Dayton, Ohio. In Ohio, she completed in-office general anesthesia cases for children who were nervous or apprehensive and unable to tolerate treatment in the chair.
She also participates in a mission trip every year in the Dominican Republic where she provides dental services to families in underserved communities. These combined experiences helped grow her skill set to treat children and find her passion in working with kids.
She recently moved to Tallahassee with her husband Kyle, along with their two dogs (Alaska and Cooper), their cat (Mowgli), and her horse (Wally). Dr Carter enjoys hiking, showing horses, and running in her time away from the office.
Dr. Robert Watson received his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama. After completion of an internship at Carraway Methodist Medical Center, Dr. Watson completed his anesthesiology residency training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He received his pediatric anesthesiology training at the Childrens Hospital of Alabama.
Upon completion of his training, Dr. Watson returned to his hometown of Mobile, Alabama, to provide anesthesia care at the University of South Alabama Childrens and Womens Hospital as well as at USA Health University Hospital. He received board certification in the specialty of Anesthesiology in 2007 and achieved board certification in the subspecialty of Pediatric Anesthesiology when certification first became available in 2013.
After over twelve years of providing inpatient and outpatient anesthesia care at the University of South Alabama, Dr. Watson has now focused his practice on the care of children undergoing office-based dental procedures. Dr. Watson is committed to providing high-quality, safe sedation services to children in need of dental treatment in the offices of pediatric dentists.
Reviews
Rating 4.9 out of 5 based on 401 reviews
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newest oldest highest lowestDanielle
a year ago
Edit: i too recieved a letter that they would not do anymore care for my daughter after expressing my dislike here on this review. I have read that a couple others have had same experience. Would not recommend, seems like pediatric dentistry in tallahassee is hard to come by after I made 16 calls around town. Would not recommend these folks as they did not treat a visible cavity first, instead filled a nonvisible cavity and my daughter still has an abcesses tooth and cavity due to the fact that she "needed" sedation after they took 1 hour and 15 minutes filling a nonvisible cavity, so yea by that time she is over the visit and no longer wants to wait for an extraction that should have been done first bc it is the worst of the problem. Drive to Panama City and find a dentist there.
Ammie Bodiford
2 years ago
We love Tallahassee Pediatric Dentistry! Always a nice experience and super clean
Ann-Marie London
2 years ago
I love this office. The staff is so kind and so patient with the kids. You must take your kids here!!
CB
2 years ago
Hands down the BEST dentist office for your littles! From their friendly staff to the sweetest dentist, you are guaranteed to have a GREAT visit. My little one was hesitant and nervous so they didn't push anything he wasn't comfortable with. Instead, the wanted him to have a positive experience and we tried the X-rays on his next visit. After a few visits of gaining his trust, he's now confident, goes back by himself and comes out SMILING!
Nidha Bhakta
2 years ago
From the moment we walked in to the moment we left everyone at Tallahassee Pediatric Dentistry was very welcoming and professional. The whole environment at this place is carted to kids and babies so they do not feel scared of being at the dentist office. Our baby girl had her 1st visit last month and we were very comfortable walking in knowing she is going to be in good hands. We trust Tallahassee Pediatirc Dentistry for any of our baby's future dental visits. And one day when time comes as our family grows we know Tallahassee Pediatic Dentistry will be the one we choose. Oh and to put a cherry on top they take a very adorable photo of baby's 1st visit for parents to have as a keepsake.
katie chace
2 years ago
Simply the best dentist! Loving and sweet and very thoughtful and caring! It's immaculate , very inviting space for even the youngest of kiddos - the staff is always pleasant and welcoming! Could not feel more blessed!
Kendall F
2 years ago
Great dental office!! My three kiddos love going to the dentist here because the staff makes my kids feel so comfortable and it is such a friendly environment!
Kristen Korepanov
2 years ago
We love Tallahassee Pediatric Dentistry! The staff is kind and caring. Our daughter is excited to get her teeth cleaned every time she goes to the office. After her last visit, she told me she wants to be a dentist when she grows up.
Stacy Forsthoefel
2 years ago
My big boys love going to the dentist! Dr. Shawn and all of her staff are so friendly. They make the kids feel comfortable and truly seem to love what they do. I'm excited to take my daughter in for her first visit soon!
James & Lauren Helm
2 years ago
From start to finish, a new patient dream! The front office communicated well on what to expect during our first visit and even though my daughter was afraid, all staff were so gentle with her. I like that they are kid-centric, offering tvs with headphones during cleanings, giving prizes for jobs well done, and offer a discount for those without dental insurance who pay in cash. We have been pleased with our experience at TLH Pediatric Dentistry and look forward to continuing our children's dental care with their practice.
Stephanie Link
2 years ago
Everything about Tallahassee Pediatric Dentistry is wonderful! From check-in, check-up, to check-out, the process was quick and painless. This was our son's first visit to the dentist at 20 months, and Dr. Shawn was so gentle and understanding when speaking to him and cleaning his tiny teeth. The Buzz Lightyear toothbrush she gave him was the icing on the cake. We cannot recommend this practice enough and will be back again!
Emily Lee
2 years ago
We love Tallahassee Pediatric Dentistry! They are so kind and patient with each child. The whole office really does go above and beyond.
Skyler Crum
2 years ago
This is the only dentist office I will use for my kids! They are super friendly and professional and my kids love going here.
Taylor Brown
2 years ago
TPD made our first visit a breeze! The staff is so kind and patient! Best pediatric dentist!
Angie Santopadre
2 years ago
We love Tallahassee Pediatric Dentistry! They are so efficient and very comforting for both of our daughters. They love going to the dentist!!
Alexa Bayer
2 years ago
Tallahassee Pediatric Dentistry is wonderful! Took my son for his first dentist appointment. They made him feel so comfortable during his visit and gave him lots of fun goodies that he still talks about. The staff members are very patient and kind. Highly recommend!
Paul Adrianse
2 years ago
Brought our child in with a visible cavity six months ago. Was told it was nothing to worry about. Sure enough the tooth is now half gone and needs to be pulled. Could have been a simple filling procedure that would have taken minutes but as always this office is too busy at the moment to do what should be done and instead schedules everything out six months in advance while conditions get worse and kids suffer in pain. Quick follow up we are on our annual family vacation and my 5 year old is crying in pain because her tooth is rotted out because the so called dentist here can't do a basic filling. Vacation ruined. Take your child to a normal dentist that sees kids these people are worse than incompetent. Went from filling to root canal to tooth pull because they are too busy to do what is right. Garbage I called last week to the on call "doctor" explained my child was in pain and the circumstances of the vacation situation. She promptly informed me my child should not be in pain but to give her antibiotics if it got worse. Pretty amazing they can tell your that your child who isn't eating and crying in pain shouldn't be in pain. Too busy for ten minute filling. More money to be made with pediatric root canals apparently. Another satisfied customer. What a joke. They are trying so hard to deal with the issue that they work 4 days a week. Must be nice. The real question is if their child had a cavity six months ago what would they have done? The answer is a filling immediately without question. This is what should be done for all kids what is best for the patient. Once you call them out instead of trying to fix the situation they send you a letter and say they won't treat your kids anymore as if we would ever take our kids here again. Treat? Is watching a cavity decay for six months treatment? Treatment is doing the right thing at the right time. Any fool can wait for a tooth to rot and then recommend sedation and extraction. That's the only treatment they provide here. More money in procedures then prevention.
Sarah Alvarez
2 years ago
We love Dr. Hanway and Dr. Mobley. The office is such a great environment for kids.
Racquel Hughes
2 years ago
Great customer service. Unwilling to communicate properly to derive a successful and affordable payment option.
Nilay Ozok
2 years ago
One day before our appointment, they canceled it because one of their staff had COVID. Then we rescheduled and even though I was hesitant, I had to take my child there because she had a cavity. During my appointment, I saw that They do not require masks in the lobby or in the treatment area. I had to take my child there but I got very nervous because the treatment area was full of unmasked parents. The person at the front desk was also maskless. I stated my concern. I told them that this was really irresponsible since we are in the middle of a pandemic and they treat kids --and in their most vulnerable situation their mouths wide open. They sent me a letter saying that they withdraw from service because they are not able to meet my expectations. My expectation is to have a health care provider who is committed to science and who can keep my child safe! I don't think this is an unreasonable expectation. They do absolutely nothing to keep the little ones safe in the middle of a pandemic.
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