Pediatric Dentist in Knoxville

June 14, 2026

Set on the Tennessee River and serving as the seat of Knox County, Knoxville is the largest city in East Tennessee and home to the state’s flagship campus, the University of Tennessee. Its population stood at roughly 195,185 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and the families spread across Knox County and the wider East Tennessee communities give children’s dental care a reliable base of demand. For many of those families, the search leads to a pediatric dentist, the provider whose practice is devoted to the oral health of infants, children, adolescents, and patients with special health care needs. The appeal over a general dentist who treats all ages is a team and an environment organized around children, capable of guiding a patient from a first tooth through the teenage years while keeping anxiety low.

The credential behind that focus is substantial. Pediatric dentistry is a specialty recognized by the American Dental Association, and reaching it means finishing dental school, earning a DDS or DMD, and then completing two to three more years of residency built around the dental development, behavior, and treatment of children, including those with medical, physical, or developmental conditions. A number of these dentists also pursue voluntary board certification through the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, awarded after a rigorous examination. That added depth is usually what draws parents of young, anxious, or special-needs children toward a dedicated office.

Every dentist practicing in Knoxville answers to the Tennessee Board of Dentistry, an arm of the Tennessee Department of Health that establishes licensure rules, continuing-education requirements, and disciplinary processes. Families can confirm a dentist’s active Tennessee license through the Department of Health’s verification system, while complaints about care or conduct go to the department’s Division of Health Related Boards, and billing or advertising concerns may instead be handled under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104) through the Division of Consumer Affairs. One useful detail for parents: because the board licenses individual dentists rather than routinely certifying advertised specialties, asking an office directly about residency and certification is the clearest path to confirming pediatric training.

In practice, a Knoxville children’s office typically delivers the entire range of childhood dental needs, from infant oral exams and routine cleanings to fluoride treatments, sealants, tooth-colored fillings, crowns, space maintainers, and early orthodontic screening. When sedation is appropriate, options extend from nitrous oxide to general anesthesia for very young or special-needs patients. Tennessee’s 7% state sales tax and Knox County’s local option combine on taxable purchases, though most medical and dental services are not taxed. The information presented here is general and educational rather than medical or dental advice, and any decision about a specific child belongs with a licensed dentist.

Top Pediatric Dentist Providers in Knoxville

1. Children’s Dentistry of Knoxville

Address: 9229 Westland Drive, Knoxville, TN 37922
Phone: (865) 357-5560
Website: https://childrensdentistryofknoxville.com
Services: infant dental exams, preventive care (cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants), digital X-rays, fillings and restorations, pulpotomies and root canals, tooth extractions, frenectomies, sedation dentistry, special-needs dentistry, orthodontics, emergency services
Description: Children’s Dentistry of Knoxville was founded in 2006 and provides pediatric dental care to families across Knoxville and the Farragut area. The practice is staffed by several pediatric dentists, including Dr. Darryl Phillips, DDS, Dr. Mark Britton, DDS, Dr. Jim Hollingsworth, and Dr. Mary Helen Moore, DDS. Its services cover the full range of children’s needs, from infant dental exams and preventive care such as cleanings, fluoride treatments, and sealants to restorative work including fillings, pulpotomies, root canals, and extractions, along with frenectomies, sedation dentistry, special-needs dentistry, and orthodontics. The office is designed with the comfort of families in mind, featuring a welcoming, play-oriented environment.

2. Rocky Top Pediatric Dentistry

Address: 9700 Westland Drive, Suite 101, Knoxville, TN 37922
Phone: (865) 691-1404
Website: https://www.rockytopkidsteeth.com
Services: exams and cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, fillings, space maintenance, extractions, pulpotomy and pulpectomy, orthodontics, nitrous oxide sedation, hospital dentistry, digital X-rays, mouthguards and sports dentistry, special-needs dentistry, pediatric dental emergency care
Description: Rocky Top Pediatric Dentistry is a children’s dental practice in West Knoxville led by Dr. Jeff Arrowood. The office provides care for patients ranging from babies to adolescents and teens and offers a comprehensive set of services, including exams and cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, fillings, space maintenance, extractions, pulpotomy and pulpectomy procedures, and orthodontics. For patients who need it, the practice offers nitrous oxide sedation and hospital dentistry with safe sedation options, along with digital X-rays, mouthguards and sports dentistry, special-needs dentistry, and emergency care. The practice emphasizes a fun, welcoming environment intended to help children feel safe and comfortable at the dentist.

3. Bearden Pediatric Dentistry

Address: 6207 Highland Place Way, Suite 101, Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: (865) 851-9347
Website: https://www.beardenpediatricdentistry.com
Services: cleanings and check-ups, preventive sealants, cavities and fillings, pulpotomies, crowns, sedation dentistry
Description: Bearden Pediatric Dentistry is a children’s dental office in the Bearden area of Knoxville, near Kingston Pike. The practice is staffed by pediatric dentists Dr. Elise Evans, DDS, Dr. Kendall Allen, DDS, and Dr. Sarah Hamil, DDS. Its services include cleanings and check-ups, preventive sealants, treatment of cavities with fillings, pulpotomies, crowns, and sedation dentistry. The office describes its setting as a friendly, fun, and positive environment and provides amenities to keep children entertained during their visits.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pediatric Dentist in Knoxville

Q: What is a pediatric dentist, and how is one different from a general dentist?

A pediatric dentist is a dental specialist who has completed dental school plus an additional two to three years of residency training focused on the oral health of infants, children, teenagers, and patients with special health care needs. A general dentist treats patients of all ages, while a pediatric dentist concentrates on the dental development and behavioral needs of children. Many pediatric dentists also pursue voluntary board certification through the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

Q: Who licenses and regulates dentists in Knoxville and Tennessee?

Dentists in Tennessee are licensed and regulated by the Tennessee Board of Dentistry, which operates under the Tennessee Department of Health. The board sets licensing and continuing-education requirements and handles disciplinary matters for dentists practicing anywhere in the state, including Knoxville.

Q: How do I verify a Knoxville dentist’s license?

You can confirm that a dentist holds an active Tennessee license through the Tennessee Department of Health’s online license verification system, which lists the practitioner’s license status. If you want to confirm that a dentist is a trained pediatric specialist, you can also ask the office about the dentist’s residency training and any board certification.

Q: How do I file a complaint about a pediatric dentist in Knoxville?

Complaints about a dentist’s care or professional conduct are filed with the Tennessee Department of Health through its Division of Health Related Boards, which oversees the Board of Dentistry. Complaints about billing or advertising practices may also fall under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), enforced by the Division of Consumer Affairs.

Q: When should a child first see a pediatric dentist?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a child have a first dental visit by the time the first tooth appears and no later than the child’s first birthday. Many Knoxville pediatric offices offer infant oral exams for exactly this reason, allowing the dentist to monitor development early and give parents guidance on home care. This is general information; a licensed dentist can advise on the right timing for a specific child.

Q: What services do pediatric dentists in Knoxville typically offer?

Pediatric offices in Knoxville commonly provide infant exams, routine cleanings and exams, fluoride treatments, dental sealants, tooth-colored fillings, crowns, space maintainers, orthodontic screening, and sedation options such as nitrous oxide or treatment under general anesthesia for younger or special-needs patients. Specific services vary by office, so families should confirm availability directly with the practice.