The Kids Dentist in Albuquerque, NM was founded in 1972 by Stanley C. Hess, DDS. Dr. Hess and the rest of the staff encourage full-skeletal development and the preservation of teeth. We help families in the area improve nursing, speech and digestion. We are one of the few providers in the area that offers frenectomies, sedation and a holistic approach to the dental and overall health of each patient.
Motivated to help people achieve the best oral health possible, Dr. Hess began his dental career training in General and Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in Chicago, ILL. Then he learned facial development philosophy and technique. Later, Dr. Hess participated in a study in the mid-1970s about saving primary teeth. Dr. Hess has a well-versed knowledge of FASTBRACES technology, which minimizes time and discomfort in tooth alignment and smile development. which minimizes time and discomfort in tooth alignment and smile development. Dr. Hess is always excited to work with new families and teach them healthy practices!
I have been a Dental Assistant for over 15 years, assisting Dr. Hess with treatment and patient care for 14 years. I love working with children and taking time with each patient to ensure a comfortable and positive experience, and of course, decorating the office for monthly holidays. On my free time you can find me spending time with my two sons and husband at the baseball and softball fields. I also love going to watch movies and bowling.
Ive worked as a Dental assistant for Dr. Hess for a total of 7 years now. I love working with children and helping them to have an easy and comfortable visit to the dentist. Traveling and music are my number one passions in life. I also enjoy time with my family on the weekends.
I have been in the dental field for 15 years. Ive worked a total of 7 years with Dr. Hess. You can find me behind the front desk welcoming patients and parents and you may also see me assisting Dr. Hess in the back office. Im a mom and wife first, my family is my world. I love music, going to concerts, traveling when I can and I love to bake.
Reviews
Rating 4.7 out of 5 based on 54 reviews
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newest oldest highest lowestMaleri Gallegos
3 years ago
My son had a terrible dental experience with Dr. Hess and it still haunts him (and me) to this day. If we drive by his office, my son immediately remembers. It's taken a lot of courage for me to write this, because I typically have a lot of respect and patience with dental providers. This was different though. I am writing this 2 years later and the details are still very clear in my mind. My son had a severe cavity that needed a pulpectomy. Dr. Hess gave my son a numbing shot. He didn't wait that long after and started working on my son. Dr. Hess said, "raise your hand if it starts to hurt." My son raised his hand immediately when Dr. Hess started working. He stopped and looked at my son and said, "now that's not pain. I just numbed you. You can't say that it's already starting to hurt. Do you know what pain is?" He poked my sons cheek with his instrument and said, "now that's pain!" The dental assistant wasn't very much help because she said that he is psyching himself out. My son had asked to go to the bathroom. Dr. Hess said, "absolutely not, you had your opportunity to go before." My son wanted out. After the procedure I realized my son never had to use the bathroom, but he was trying to tell me that the man was hurting him. The dentist continues to drill even though my son was telling him that it hurt. I asked the doctor if he could use something different to numb him, give him more, do something else and the dentist continued and said it shouldn't be hurting him. My sons legs were shaking, tears were coming down the sides of his face. I was squeezing his hands as hard as I could reassuring him that he was brave and that he was almost done. Dr Hess jumped at me and said, "you don't tell him when it's over, I SAY WHEN WE ARE DONE!" He threatened my son and said if he didn't cut it out, he would have his mom sit in the lobby. My son was not misbehaving. He was being respectful. He was just trying to tell the dentist that what he was doing was painful. My son has a high tolerance for pain. He's a tough kid. He falls on his bike and gets back up again. Once my son hears that the dentist would kick me out, he just took the pain. I was in tears. After the procedure, my son got up from the chair and went to hide in the lobby under a chair. Dr. Hess starting talking to me and said that the cavity was worse than what he had expected and he couldn't finish it. I went to the bathroom and balled my eyes out. I regret to this day that I didn't advocate for my son and stop that man from working on my sweet boy. Thank goodness we have switched dentists and have a gentle, caring dentist now who has worked with us and relieved my son's anxiety about having any dental work. And guess what? My son is very respectful and the dentist is able to do the work they need with no problem. Dr. Hess never provided the right anesthetic, didn't listen to my son, was extremely rude, didn't listen to me, and overall did a poor job. PLEASE do NOT send your children to this dentist!!!!!!
Mary McCleary
3 years ago
Update: All the reviews are super favorable except 1) Colleen R who had basically my exact same complaint and 2) an opponent of "Hess' s crazy anti-suger campaign" who is the only parent to describe a poor outcome. So basically you have a very skilled and experienced practice marred by an old-fashioned reliance on "tough love" in a society that's no longer built for it. Original: I agree with the other reviewers who say that the staff is far more helpful than average, Dr. Hess is very competent and experienced, and the treatment babies receive here is excellent: the best I know of in Albuquerque. I would have no hesitation recommending Dr. Hess for children up to about age 5. However, there has been a repeated problem with the care my older son received. Like his father, he has needed multiple baby teeth extracted. I think his need is at least partially genetic, not anyone's fault. I believe that extraction hurts because there's a visible bleeding hole in the gums and he reacts immediately even though he's been numbed and not warned of the exact moment the tooth will be pulled. After each extraction, my son has cried. Dr. Hess responded that it would be okay to cry if the procedure hurt, but it doesn't hurt. My son says it does. I disagree that a service provider has the authority to tell a child not to cry. I believe that medical gaslighting happens. I believe that it's not helpful to engage a crying seven year old in an argument about what he feels. I discern that Dr. Hess disagrees with all these beliefs because Dr. Hess has repeated these ideas at each extraction: It's not okay to cry right now, this doesn't hurt, you are an anxious person who needs to shape up or you will always be unhappy. The last point would be valid if made in a better way at a better time, but I don't know one parent who goes to the dentist for help in describing a child's character flaws. Many of us do it loudly, for free, more often than we should. Last time, the assistant piled on by saying, "If you wiggle your teeth out for yourself, this won't happen." So it doesn't hurt, it's all in your head, but also the pain is punishment for not meeting your responsibilities. After we left, my son and I were both angry. My only evidence that this is a pattern is that it's happened twice to us. I've considered whether it's unfair to skip straight to writing a review. I did not raise this complaint with the office because the basic issue is that people who complain are disregarded and made to feel worse. I don't want to put in effort just to be blamed for the problem and either get into an argument about whether my crummy family is really crummy enough to cause this problem or else give up and know I've merely hardened everyone's resolve to talk tough with kids. So my compromise is to write a really long review, that way only fair-minded people will consider it. Hope it helps.
Mary McCleary
3 years ago
Update: All the reviews are super favorable except 1) Colleen R who had basically my exact same complaint and 2) an opponent of "Hess' s crazy anti-suger campaign" who is the only parent to describe a poor outcome. So basically you have a very skilled and experienced practice marred by an old-fashioned reliance on "tough love" in a society that's no longer built for it. Original: I agree with the other reviewers who say that the staff is far more helpful than average, Dr. Hess is very competent and experienced, and the treatment babies receive here is excellent: the best I know of in Albuquerque. I would have no hesitation recommending Dr. Hess for children up to about age 5. However, there has been a repeated problem with the care my older son received. Like his father, he has needed multiple baby teeth extracted. I think his need is at least partially genetic, not anyone's fault. I believe that extraction hurts because there's a visible bleeding hole in the gums and he reacts immediately even though he's been numbed and not warned of the exact moment the tooth will be pulled. After each extraction, my son has cried. Dr. Hess responded that it would be okay to cry if the procedure hurt, but it doesn't hurt. My son says it does. I disagree that a service provider has the authority to tell a child not to cry. I believe that medical gaslighting happens. I believe that it's not helpful to engage a crying seven year old in an argument about what he feels. I discern that Dr. Hess disagrees with all these beliefs because Dr. Hess has repeated these ideas at each extraction: It's not okay to cry right now, this doesn't hurt, you are an anxious person who needs to shape up or you will always be unhappy. The last point would be valid if made in a better way at a better time, but I don't know one parent who goes to the dentist for help in describing a child's character flaws. Many of us do it loudly, for free, more often than we should. Last time, the assistant piled on by saying, "If you wiggle your teeth out for yourself, this won't happen." So it doesn't hurt, it's all in your head, but also the pain is punishment for not meeting your responsibilities. After we left, my son and I were both angry. My only evidence that this is a pattern is that it's happened twice to us. I've considered whether it's unfair to skip straight to writing a review. I did not raise this complaint with the office because the basic issue is that people who complain are disregarded and made to feel worse. I don't want to put in effort just to be blamed for the problem and either get into an argument about whether my crummy family is really crummy enough to cause this problem or else give up and know I've merely hardened everyone's resolve to talk tough with kids. So my compromise is to write a really long review, that way only fair-minded people will consider it. Hope it helps.
Maleri Gallegos
3 years ago
My son had a terrible dental experience with Dr. Hess and it still haunts him (and me) to this day. If we drive by his office, my son immediately remembers. It's taken a lot of courage for me to write this, because I typically have a lot of respect and patience with dental providers. This was different though. I am writing this 2 years later and the details are still very clear in my mind. My son had a severe cavity that needed a pulpectomy. Dr. Hess gave my son a numbing shot. He didn't wait that long after and started working on my son. Dr. Hess said, "raise your hand if it starts to hurt." My son raised his hand immediately when Dr. Hess started working. He stopped and looked at my son and said, "now that's not pain. I just numbed you. You can't say that it's already starting to hurt. Do you know what pain is?" He poked my sons cheek with his instrument and said, "now that's pain!" The dental assistant wasn't very much help because she said that he is psyching himself out. My son had asked to go to the bathroom. Dr. Hess said, "absolutely not, you had your opportunity to go before." My son wanted out. After the procedure I realized my son never had to use the bathroom, but he was trying to tell me that the man was hurting him. The dentist continues to drill even though my son was telling him that it hurt. I asked the doctor if he could use something different to numb him, give him more, do something else and the dentist continued and said it shouldn't be hurting him. My sons legs were shaking, tears were coming down the sides of his face. I was squeezing his hands as hard as I could reassuring him that he was brave and that he was almost done. Dr Hess jumped at me and said, "you don't tell him when it's over, I SAY WHEN WE ARE DONE!" He threatened my son and said if he didn't cut it out, he would have his mom sit in the lobby. My son was not misbehaving. He was being respectful. He was just trying to tell the dentist that what he was doing was painful. My son has a high tolerance for pain. He's a tough kid. He falls on his bike and gets back up again. Once my son hears that the dentist would kick me out, he just took the pain. I was in tears. After the procedure, my son got up from the chair and went to hide in the lobby under a chair. Dr. Hess starting talking to me and said that the cavity was worse than what he had expected and he couldn't finish it. I went to the bathroom and balled my eyes out. I regret to this day that I didn't advocate for my son and stop that man from working on my sweet boy. Thank goodness we have switched dentists and have a gentle, caring dentist now who has worked with us and relieved my son's anxiety about having any dental work. And guess what? My son is very respectful and the dentist is able to do the work they need with no problem. Dr. Hess never provided the right anesthetic, didn't listen to my son, was extremely rude, didn't listen to me, and overall did a poor job. PLEASE do NOT send your children to this dentist!!!!!!
Purple Zephyrs
4 years ago
Awesome experience to get my 6year old much needed fillings. Staff is very knowledgeable and dr Hess was great!
Amanda Joy Gately
4 years ago
My daughter loves going to see Dr. Hess. Her teeth look amazing! Would highly recommend.
Mariah Jim
4 years ago
great experience and fabulous outcome!
Sarah Smith
4 years ago
Dr. Hess is OUTSTANDING! He is wonderful at making kids feel comfortable in the dentist chair, and super knowledgeable about the best, healthiest ways to treat dental issues. My daughter had crowded baby teeth and not enough space for her permanent teeth. Dr. Hess was able to start treating her at age 7, using the Ortho-Tain orthodontic appliance which actually prompts the jaw/palate to grow large to be able to accommodate all of the teeth without needing braces or removal of teeth. It has worked marvelously for my now-11-year-old daughter, and her mouth now has space for ALL of her teeth. Her smile is beautiful and she breathes better since it has helped her overall facial development, too. We don't live in Albuquerque, but the 3-hour drive is worth it because Dr. Hess is amazing. No one in Las Cruces or El Paso uses the cutting-edge techniques that Dr. Hess uses for widening the palate/jaw.
Lyndsey Nations
4 years ago
The best Dentist and Staff at calming and preparing a child for dental work!
Bernadette Flemming
4 years ago
Everyone here is very professional and friendly. Dr Hess is a kind, gentle, caring & highly skilled dentist.
Margaret Wyatt
4 years ago
We took my 6 month old to Dr. Hess to fix his tongue and lip ties. I was nervous at first, but immediately put at ease after talking to Dr. Hess. Everything was explained, and all my questions were answered. The operation was quick and simple, and I went home informed and confident of how to take care of my baby post surgery.
YouniquebyCindy (YouniquebyCindy)
4 years ago
Dr.Hess has been my daughter's dentist since she was 6 months. He has taken the time to build a respectful relationship with my child. He takes his job extremely seriously, works very well with children and is very patient. My husband and I respect him very much and are greatful to have found him.
Lisa Lostetter
4 years ago
My children have been seeing Dr. Hess for about 6 years. I'm very happy with the care they've received from Dr. Hess and his staff.
Nicole Huber
4 years ago
I can't express enough how wonderful and kind Dr. Hess and his team are! I took my 9 week old baby to Dr. Hess because he was having severe reflux and gas issues, and we tried everything, nothing helped. Then I learned it could be due to a lip tie. Dr. Hess was so fabulous with helping us understand if our baby's ties we're actually causing any problems or not. They do not pressure you into having anything done, which I really appreciated. We decided to have the lip and tongue tie procedures done and1.5 weeks later, my baby's reflux and gas was completely gone! He was back to his happy baby boy self again :) Dr. Hess will be our pediactric dentist from now on! Hands down!
Elizabeth Madrid
4 years ago
Dr Hess was wonderful! He revised lip and tongue ties on our 5 week old daughter. The procedure went well with no complications. Both Dr Hess and his staff were helpful, calm, and sympathetic. They took time to ensure we understood the procedure and necessary follow up and ensured all questions were thoroughly answered. We are looking forward to seeing Dr Hess as our regular pediatric dentist once our daughter's teeth come in!
Teresa Marin
4 years ago
Today my daughter had to be seen last minute for an emergency visit. The staff at the kid's dentist scheduled her to get in right away and as usual Dr. Hess greeted her and made her feel very comfortable. Her tooth was fixed in a timely fashion and our four year old who started out hating the dentist prior to making the switch to the kid's dentist left extremely happy hugging and thanking everyone.
Evelyn Ruiz
4 years ago
Fixed my 18 months olds four front teeth without putting her under, and without root canals. She has the mthfr gene mutation and cannot be put under. Dr Hess gave her pearly whites! 4 other dentist only offered sdf which would turn the teeth black or, being put under, silver caps with root canals, and not until she reached the weight and age limit. They basically would've let her rot until then. We reached the one year mark today since her teeth have been fixed, she barley hit that weight limit those other dentists wanted her to reach.
Kristina Sowar
4 years ago
Had a very positive experience with Dr. Hess who took time to answer our questions. Had a concern requiring his time after hours, following lip and tongue tie treatment, and he was supportive and continued to check in on our little one. Makes a huge difference to trust the provider we trust our little girl with
Lisa Shima
4 years ago
We have been taking our son here since he was little. We love it! Recently started orthodontics and are very pleased with the progress.
R Boday
4 years ago
Cancelled our tongue- and lip-tie revision for my infant after a weird run-around with the expensive in-house myofascial therapist he routes all potential tongue- and lip-ties through. He only scheduled revisions weeks out, and said we wouldn't be allowed back with the baby during the procedure. Everything gave us a really bad feeling.
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