Most parents searching for a pediatric dentist in Glen Allen, VA want two things that never make it into the search box. Somewhere their child doesn’t dread going. And somewhere nobody makes them feel bad about how long it’s been.
Cavities show up in careful households. Toddlers clamp their mouths shut. Schedules slip, especially with more than one kid. None of that is a verdict on your parenting, and none of it changes how we treat you here.
No parent should feel graded at their child’s dental appointment. And a routine checkup shouldn’t cost your child a school day and you a work day.
Medicaid accepted
Cardinal Care Smiles, DentaQuest and Doral at both offices
Specialty trained
Pediatric residency training, not a general office that sees kids
Privately owned
Not a corporate chain, with roots going back over 100 years
Two offices nearby
Short Pump and West End, both a short drive from Glen Allen
How it works
Request a visit
Online, in about a minute. No referral needed, and we are accepting new patients at both offices.
We check your coverage first
Including Virginia Medicaid. You will know what is covered before the visit rather than finding out at checkout.
Your child meets the team
Before anything happens in the chair. Tell us in advance about anxiety, sensory needs, or a rough experience somewhere else.
One thing parents mention a lot: you can book the next visit at the front desk while your child is still finishing their cleaning, so there is no second phone call later.
Which of our offices is closest to you?
Glen Allen spans two zip codes and about twenty minutes of driving. Tap the area you live in.
Richmond Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics is a specialty pediatric and orthodontic practice, privately owned, with roots in Richmond-area dentistry going back more than 100 years.
Jump to: Drive times | How to choose | Cost and insurance | Orthodontics | Anxiety and special needs | FAQs
How Far Is Each Office From Your Glen Allen Neighborhood
Glen Allen covers a lot of ground. It runs from I-295 down through the Innsbrook corridor to I-64, across zip codes 23059 and 23060. A family off Nuckols Road and a family near Mountain Road are not making the same drive, so here’s roughly what you’re looking at.
Estimates only. They vary with traffic, school schedules, and construction.
Estimates only. Drive times vary with traffic, school schedules, and construction.
Twin Hickory, Wyndham, Wyndham Forest, Pouncey Tract
Wellesley, John Rolfe, upper Nuckols Road
Innsbrook, Cox Road, Staples Mill corridor
Echo Lake, Dunncroft, Crossridge
Historic village, Mountain Road, Woodman Road
Straight talk on that last row. If you are out past Woodman Road, we are a real drive, not a quick one. Plenty of families make it because of what they get when they arrive, but you should know that going in rather than finding out on a Tuesday morning.
If your kids are at Twin Hickory Elementary, Shady Grove Elementary, Holman Middle, or Deep Run High, Short Pump is almost certainly your office.
Straight talk on that last row: if you’re out past Woodman Road, we’re a real drive, not a quick one. Plenty of families make it because of what they get when they arrive, but you should know that going in rather than finding out on a Tuesday morning.
Short Pump office details | West End office details
How to Choose a Pediatric Dentist in Glen Allen
Five questions worth asking any pediatric dentist
Including us. You can get through all five on the phone in about four minutes, and the answers separate offices far better than any website does. Tick them off as you go.
Happy to answer all five for our offices. Ask us on the phone or when you request a visit.
Your Child Won’t Have to Switch Practices at Age Seven
When orthodontic care sits at a separate practice, the age seven evaluation means starting over somewhere new: new paperwork, new insurance verification, records requested from one office and sent to another.
At RPDO it’s one practice. If Dr. Bibona spots something worth watching during an early evaluation, he’s talking to your child’s pediatric dentist directly, not faxing a note across town.
For most kids, that visit ends with “let’s watch it,” not braces. Catching a crossbite or a crowding pattern while the jaw is still growing often means simpler treatment later, or none at all.
Learn about early orthodontic treatment
And when your teen is actually ready
The age seven visit is a checkpoint, not the treatment. Most kids start orthodontic treatment somewhere between ages 11 and 14, once enough permanent teeth are in.
When your child gets there, braces and clear aligners are both available at our Short Pump office with Dr. Bibona and our orthodontic team. Same practice, same records, same people you’ve been talking to since your child was two. If Short Pump is already your pediatric office, that’s one address on West Broad instead of a pediatric office in one direction and an orthodontist in another.
Orthodontic consultations are complimentary, and you don’t need a referral for that either.
More on orthodontics for teens
No referral needed for this one either.
What We Handle
First dental visits by age one, per the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Short, mostly a lap exam and a conversation about bottles, sippy cups, and brushing.
Exams and cleanings every six months, where most problems get caught while they’re still small.
Sealants on permanent molars, usually soon after they arrive around age six and again around age twelve.
Fillings and crowns when decay has gone past the enamel, including pulp treatment.
Sedation with nitrous oxide for mild anxiety or oral sedation for longer appointments.
Special needs dentistry with sensory-aware scheduling and longer appointment blocks.
Tongue-tie and lip-tie evaluation for infants struggling with feeding.
Dental emergencies, including chipped, knocked out, or badly aching teeth.
Nobody Here Is Going to Make You Feel Bad
Some of what parents tell us in the first five minutes, usually fast and a little apologetically:
It’s been almost two years. She still nurses at night. I know. He had a meltdown at the last place and I could tell they were over it. I think there are cavities. Maybe a lot of them.
None of that is new to us, and none of it changes how we treat you or your child.
Cavities in young kids are common, and they show up in careful households with good habits and parents who are doing everything right. Toddlers refuse to open their mouths. Schedules slip, especially with more than one kid. Two years between visits is something that happens to families; it isn’t a verdict on your parenting.
We care about the next visit, not the last two years. Tell us what’s actually going on and we’ll start from there.
If your child is scared of the dentist
Some kids walk in fine. Some cry in the parking lot. We see both every week, and neither one is a problem you need to solve before you come in.
What helps: booking early in the day before a child is tired, keeping your own language neutral (skip “shot,” “hurt,” and “don’t worry”), and letting us handle the introductions. Behavior guidance is a formal component of pediatric dental residency training, not a personality trait.
For children with significant anxiety, sensory sensitivities, or extensive treatment needs, we can discuss sedation. Dr. Bill Dahlke holds hospital affiliations at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, VCU Medical Center, and Bon Secours St. Mary’s, so hospital-based dentistry is available when a child’s needs call for it.
Read more about dental anxiety in children
Dental Emergencies Near Glen Allen
Knocked-out tooth, facial swelling, or heavy bleeding? Call now.
(804) 741-2226Short Pump and West End. Call first, then follow the steps below while you are on the way.
If a permanent tooth was knocked out
- Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown, the chewing surface, never the root.
- Rinse it gently with milk or saline if it is dirty. Do not scrub it and do not use soap.
- Try to put it back in the socket if your child is old enough to hold it in place. If not, store it in milk or your child’s own saliva.
- Get to us right away. A permanent tooth has its best chance when it is replanted quickly.
A permanent tooth has the best chance of surviving when it is replanted within about 30 minutes.
Baby teeth are different. Do not try to reinsert a knocked-out baby tooth. It can damage the permanent tooth developing underneath. Call us either way and we will tell you what to do next.
Emergency pediatric dentist in Richmond, VA
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have an office located in Glen Allen?
Our closest offices are Short Pump at 12270 W Broad St and West End at 2560 Gaskins Rd. Most families in the area are 8 to 18 minutes away depending on the neighborhood. Twin Hickory and Wyndham are usually closest to Short Pump; Innsbrook and Staples Mill are usually closest to West End.
When should my child first see a pediatric dentist?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a first dental visit by your child’s first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth appearing. These early visits are brief and focus on prevention, feeding habits, and showing you how to brush a very small mouth. Starting early also means your child grows up viewing the dentist as ordinary rather than alarming.
What’s the difference between a pediatric dentist and our family dentist?
A pediatric dentist completes two to three additional years of residency after dental school, focused on children, adolescents, growth and development, and behavior guidance. Pediatric offices are also set up for children, from equipment sizing to how appointments are paced. A family dentist can absolutely clean a child’s teeth; a pediatric specialist is trained for the situations that are harder to manage.
Do I need a referral to book?
No. You can schedule directly with us, whether your child is coming for a first visit, a cleaning, or a second opinion.
Do you accept Medicaid for children in Henrico County?
Yes. We’re in-network for Cardinal Care Smiles (formerly Smiles For Children), DentaQuest, and Doral at both our Short Pump and West End pediatric offices. Cardinal Care Smiles has no copays or costs for covered dental services, and it doesn’t reimburse out-of-network providers, so in-network status matters. We verify your child’s benefits before the appointment.
Are dental X-rays safe for my child?
Yes. Modern digital dental X-rays use a very low radiation dose, and pediatric offices use protective aprons and thyroid collars along with the smallest number of images needed. Your child’s dentist decides on X-rays based on their individual cavity risk, age, and history rather than a fixed schedule, so a low-risk child may need them far less often than a high-risk one. Ask us what we’re taking and why at any visit.
Should my child use fluoride toothpaste?
Fluoride is one of the most studied cavity-prevention tools available, and both the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association recommend fluoride toothpaste starting with the first tooth. The amount matters more than the question: a smear the size of a grain of rice for children under three, and a pea-sized amount from ages three to six, with an adult supervising to limit swallowing.
At what age should my child see an orthodontist?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic evaluation by age seven. At that age most children have a mix of baby and permanent teeth, which lets an orthodontist spot bite and spacing issues while the jaw is still growing. Most seven-year-olds don’t start treatment at that visit. Our orthodontists and pediatric dentists are part of the same practice, so records and treatment are coordinated internally. At Short Pump, that evaluation happens in the same office as your child’s dental care. West End families may visit another RPDO location for orthodontic treatment, but the providers remain part of the same practice.
Can you get us an early appointment?
Both offices open at 8:00 AM Monday through Friday and schedule through 5:00 PM Monday through Thursday. For elementary-age children in the Twin Hickory, Shady Grove, and Holman zones, an 8:00 AM slot often means a late start rather than a missed day. Ask for the first appointment of the day when you request your visit and we’ll get you as close to it as we can.
My child has autism and struggles with dental visits. Can you help?
Yes. We care for children with developmental, sensory, and behavioral differences using longer appointment blocks, quieter scheduling windows, and a gradual introduction to the exam. Nitrous oxide and oral sedation are available, and hospital-based dentistry is an option for children who need extensive treatment completed in one setting. Tell us what has and hasn’t worked before, and we’ll plan around it.
Schedule a Visit
Pick the office closest to you and we will take it from there
Tell us ahead of time about any anxiety, sensory needs, insurance questions, or scheduling constraints. We would rather plan around them than find out in the chair.
If you have been putting this off, that is alright. Most parents who call us have been meaning to for a while.
Short Pump
12270 W Broad St. Closest to Twin Hickory, Wyndham, Wellesley and Pouncey Tract. Pediatric dentistry and orthodontics.
Request a Short Pump visitWest End
2560 Gaskins Rd. Closest to Innsbrook, Cox Road, Dunncroft and Staples Mill. Pediatric dental care.
Request a West End visitNew patients welcome at both offices, no referral needed. Prefer to talk it through first? Call (804) 741-2226.
About the Author
This page was reviewed by Bill Dahlke, DMD, a specialty-trained pediatric dentist at Richmond Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics and a three-term past president of the Virginia Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Dahlke holds hospital affiliations at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, VCU Medical Center, and Bon Secours St. Mary’s, and was named a 2025 Virginia Living Top Dentist in pediatric dentistry.
Meet our pediatric dentists | Pediatric dentistry services | Orthodontics | Pediatric dentist in Short Pump, VA
