Business Details
Trusted Pediatric Dental Care in Augusta, GA
At Southern Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we specialize in creating a positive, fun, and educational experience for pediatric patients and their families. Our team of experienced professionals, including Dr. Kelly Hughes, Dr. Jennifer Bates, and Dr. Savanah Price, is dedicated to providing comprehensive dental care in a warm and caring environment. With years of experience serving Augusta and the greater CSRA, we prioritize building rapport with every child to foster trust and ensure they look forward to their visits. Our services range from preventive care and sealants to restorative treatments and sedation dentistry, tailored to meet the unique needs of children, including those with special health requirements.We believe in empowering parents with knowledge to support their child's oral health and strive to make each visit a memorable, confidence-building experience. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our personalized approach, community involvement, and continuous focus on innovative techniques that promote lifelong healthy smiles.
Services
Preventive Care
Sealants
Fluoride Treatments
Extractions
Restorative Dentistry
Sedation Dentistry
Special Needs Care
Space Maintainers
Highlights and features
- We specialize in pediatric dental care with a team of experienced, child-friendly dentists.
- Our practice focuses on building trust to create positive, stress-free dental experiences for children.
- We offer comprehensive services including preventive care, restorative treatments, and sedation dentistry.
- Our team understands local needs, with providers raised and trained in the CSRA community.
- We provide individualized care for children with special health needs and developmental challenges.
What people say
Fun, educational experience
Positive, stress-free visits
Trust-building approach
Child-friendly dentists
Knowledgeable team
Services
Preventive Care
Our preventive care visits focus on maintaining optimal oral health through biannual examinations, professional cleanings, fluoride applications, and digital X-rays. These appointments help detect early signs of decay or developmental issues while teaching children proper hygiene techniques. Our team emphasizes education to establish lifelong dental habits in a stress-free environment.
Sealants
Dental sealants provide a protective barrier on molars' chewing surfaces to prevent cavities. This quick, painless procedure fills deep grooves where food particles accumulate, reducing decay risk by up to 80%. Ideal for children with newly erupted permanent teeth, sealants offer long-lasting protection when applied by our experienced pediatric specialists.
Sedation Dentistry
We offer safe sedation options for children requiring complex treatments or experiencing dental anxiety. Using carefully monitored medication, our team ensures comfortable procedures while maintaining strict safety protocols with digital monitoring equipment. This service enables effective care delivery for patients who might otherwise struggle with traditional dental visits.
Special Needs Care
Our practice provides individualized dental care for children with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other developmental or medical conditions. We implement customized treatment plans and sensory-friendly techniques to accommodate unique needs while maintaining high-quality oral health standards through specialized approaches and compassionate care delivery.
Space Maintainers
Space maintainers preserve proper alignment when primary teeth are lost prematurely. These custom appliances prevent adjacent teeth from shifting, ensuring adequate room for permanent teeth eruption. Our team designs comfortable, durable solutions that protect your child's developing bite pattern and reduce future orthodontic needs.
People
Dr. Kelly Hughes
Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Hughes combines extensive pediatric dental expertise with a passion for making dental visits positive experiences for children. Raised in the CSRA community, she completed her pediatric residency at the Dental College of Georgia, bringing local knowledge and specialized training to every patient interaction.
Dr. Jennifer Bates
Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Bates focuses on building trust with young patients through personalized care and educational approaches. As a graduate of the Dental College of Georgia's pediatric program, she brings both technical proficiency and child-friendly communication skills to create comfortable dental experiences for children of all ages.
Dr. Savanah Price
Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Price contributes her specialized training and local perspective to our team, having grown up in the CSRA and completed her residency at the Dental College of Georgia. She emphasizes creating positive associations with dental care to establish lifelong oral health habits in her young patients.
Mary Kay Shirley
Practice Administrator
Mary Kay oversees our practice operations with a focus on ensuring smooth patient experiences from scheduling through treatment coordination. Her administrative leadership supports our clinical team in delivering efficient, family-centered dental care services to the Augusta community.
Amy Taylor
Dental Hygienist
Amy provides professional dental cleanings and preventive care while educating children on proper oral hygiene techniques. As a key member of our hygiene team, she helps create comfortable, educational experiences that reinforce positive dental habits during routine visits.
Questions
When should my child first visit a pediatric dentist?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends seeing a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears or by age one.
What makes pediatric dentists different from general dentists?
Pediatric dentists complete 2-3 additional years of specialized training focusing exclusively on children's dental care and developmental needs.
How can I prevent nursing-related tooth decay?
Avoid nursing children to sleep and always clean teeth and gums before bedtime to prevent decay from prolonged milk exposure.
Are dental X-rays safe for children?
We use lead aprons and digital radiography to minimize radiation exposure, making X-rays safe while providing essential diagnostic information.
Can I stay with my child during dental treatments?
Parents may accompany children during initial visits, but we recommend allowing our trained team to guide children through treatment appointments independently.
How do dental sealants protect my child's teeth?
Sealants fill chewing surface grooves to prevent food accumulation, reducing cavity risk by up to 80% in protected areas.
