Expert care
Friendly providers give thoughtful, comprehensive care.
Friendly, affordable dental Care
Great oral health starts with their
first visit
Nothing is as beautiful as your child’s smile. We are here to provide the expert dental care that can keep that smile healthy and bright.
At Tufts University Dental Care Center, we care for all of you.
Confidence
Boost theirs with a healthy smile; boost yours with affordable prices.
Affordability
High-quality dental careat a low price.
Pediatric dental care that makes you smile.
We offer comprehensive dental services to meet your needs, from birth to age 18.
- Routine care
- Teeth cleaning
- Flouride treatments
- Sealants and fillings
- Orthodontics
- And more...
A lifetime of healthy smiles starts with the first appointment
Our provider teams and staff are ready to help you every step of the way.
Request your appointment
Fill out this form, or call our office at 617-XXX-XXXX, and we will schedule your child’s first visit.
Get a thorough assessment
The first oral exam is a chance for our friendly care team to evaluate your child’s oral health. Starting with that first visit, we focus on making your child–and you–comfortable and confident about their dental health.
Make a plan for treatment
Our provider teams will work with you to determine the best plan for achieving the goals you have for your child’s oral health.
Follow up with routine cleanings and treatment
Our team is ready to:
- Help your child create good dental habits
- Provide preventative dental care
- Treat any issues that may arise
What to know before your child’s first visit
Tufts University Dental Care Center is a top-rated teaching facility with a team of providers that include students, residents, and faculty. The care of every patient is overseen by an experienced faculty member, and you may see multiple providers throughout your child’s treatment.
Routine pediatric appointments usually take 1–1.5 hours for things like cleanings, fillings, and extractions.
For more complicated procedures (such as root canal treatment or general anesthesia), more time may be needed. Call us before your child’s appointment to find out how long it is expected to take so you can plan accordingly.
Payment or co-payment is expected at the time of service. Please note: Patient co-payment is necessary with all insurances (other than with MassHealth).
Most procedures for children are fully covered by your insurance provider. However, coverage depends on your individual plan. Please review your benefits with your insurance provider.
Learn more about insurance and billing.
We offer financing options through LendingClub.
It is very important to protect primary or “baby” teeth. Children with healthy teeth chew food easily, speak clearly, and have a happy smile.
At your infant’s first oral exam (strongly recommended for 6-12 month olds*), we:
- Evaluate your infant’s oral health
- Provide education about cleaning baby teeth & gums
- Discuss the effects of bottle feeding, nursing, & baby food on your infant’s teeth
- Discuss growth & development of a healthy mouth
Starting early and establishing good habits can help prevent tooth decay and other types of oral diseases. Having a comfortable and friendly first visit with our care team can get your child on the path to a lifetime of good oral health.
*To prevent dental problems, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that your baby’s first oral exam should be no later than his/her first birthday.
Frequently asked questions
If you are being sent to our clinic by another dentist, you need a referral. The referral should state what treatment the child needs and emailed, along with any recent X-rays to pediatrics@tufts.edu.
If your child is new to our practice and is coming for routine dental evaluations and cleanings, you do not need a referral.
We accept the following insurances:
- MassHealth
- Delta Dental insurance (with patient co-payment)
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Cigna
Most procedures for children are fully covered; however, coverage depends on your individual plan.
Learn more about insurance and billing.
We most often care for children as young as 6 months up to age 18 for routine care (e.g., cleanings, fluoride treatment). We also treat children under 6 months, including newborns, with more acute needs, when needed (e.g. tongue ties, neonatal teeth, cleft lip and palate).
When the young adult turns 18, we typically refer that patient to our Comprehensive Care Clinic that sees adult patients for general dentistry. For some patients with special health needs, however, we can continue to treat them in the Pediatric Clinic if they prefer. If you have questions about what happens during the transition from minor to adult age, please talk to your dental provider.
Yes—We welcome patients with special needs.
The Pediatric Dental Clinic provides comprehensive dental care for patients with special health care needs up to the age of 18 years. Tufts Special Care Dental Clinics provide care to adults (older than 18 years) with developmental disabilities who meet certain qualifications. Caregivers should contact their nearest Tufts Special Care Dental Clinic location and speak with our staff to determine eligibility.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer free care. However, as a teaching facility, we are committed to offering dental care at lower cost than a typical private practice. We offer self-pay options and financing options through LendingClub (soon to become Happen Bank).
In our Pediatric Clinic, we offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) or sedation, if needed, to help children relax. We also offer general anesthesia for more extensive dental treatments.
Yes, if you or your family member need assistance in a non-English language, we offer interpreters at no personal cost to you. Some commonly spoken languages are:
- Arabic
- Brazilian Portuguese
- Cambodian
- Cantonese
- European Portuguese
- French
- Haitian Creole
- Korean
- Mandarin
- Pashto
- Russian
- Spanish
- Toishanese
- Vietnamese
Learn more about our language assistance services.
Pediatric Clinic:
Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
If your child has an dental emergency when our clinic is closed, you can call Tufts Medical Center at 617-636-5114 and ask for “Emergency Dental Care."
Yes, we treat patients with swelling, acute pain, or immediate dental needs in our Pediatric Clinic.
If your child has an dental emergency when our clinic is closed, you can call Tufts Medical Center at 617-636-5114 and ask for “Emergency Dental Care."
Welcoming new pediatric patients now.
Our staff of real, friendly humans is ready to help you start changing today.
Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (last appointment is at 4:30 p.m.)
Friday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (last appointment is at 3 p.m.)
1 Kneeland Street, Boston, MA 02111 • Directions and parking information