Pediatric Dentist in Nashville

June 14, 2026

As the seat of Davidson County and the largest city in Tennessee, Nashville is home to roughly 715,388 residents as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and a steady influx of young families across the metro has kept demand for children’s dental care high. Within that market, a pediatric dentist is the provider who concentrates specifically on the oral health of infants, children, adolescents, and patients with special health care needs. The practical distinction for parents is straightforward: rather than a general practice that sees patients of every age, a dedicated children’s office is staffed and equipped to guide a child from a first tooth through the teenage years in a setting built to lower anxiety.

What separates that provider from a general dentist is training. Pediatric dentistry is a dental specialty recognized by the American Dental Association, and the path to it runs through dental school and a DDS or DMD degree followed by an additional two to three years of residency. That residency centers on the dental development, behavior, and treatment of children, including those living with medical, physical, or developmental conditions. Some practitioners go a step further and earn voluntary board certification from the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, a credential earned by passing a rigorous examination. For families with very young children, anxious children, or children who have special needs, that depth of preparation is often the deciding factor.

A Nashville office’s day-to-day work tends to cover the full arc of childhood dentistry. Visits commonly include infant oral exams, routine cleanings and checkups, fluoride applications, sealants, tooth-colored fillings, crowns, space maintainers, and early orthodontic screening, with sedation choices ranging from nitrous oxide to, in select cases for very young or special-needs patients, treatment under general anesthesia. On the cost side, Tennessee applies a 7% state sales tax and Davidson County’s local option brings the combined rate to about 9.75%, although most medical and dental services are themselves exempt from sales tax.

Oversight of these providers rests with the Tennessee Board of Dentistry, a body that sits within the Tennessee Department of Health and sets licensure requirements, continuing-education standards, and disciplinary procedures. Parents can check that a dentist holds an active Tennessee license through the Department of Health’s verification system, and concerns about a dentist’s care or conduct go to the department’s Division of Health Related Boards; billing and advertising disputes may instead fall under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), enforced by the Division of Consumer Affairs. Because the board licenses individual dentists rather than routinely certifying advertised specialties, a parent who wants to confirm pediatric training can simply ask the office about residency and board certification. The material here is general and educational, not medical or dental advice, and a licensed dentist should be consulted about any specific child.

Top Pediatric Dentist Providers in Nashville

1. Adams & Seaton Pediatric Dentistry

Address: 5115 Harding Pike, Suite 201, Nashville, TN 37205
Phone: (615) 297-7597
Website: https://adamsandseaton.com
Services: care for infants, children, and adolescents, preventive care, dental care for special-needs children, oral sedation, hospital dentistry
Description: Adams & Seaton Pediatric Dentistry has served children and families in Nashville since 1977, making it one of the longer-established pediatric practices in the city. The office is led by Dr. George Adams Jr. and Dr. Ryan Seaton and provides care for infants, children, and adolescents, including dental care for children with special needs. Its services include preventive care, oral sedation, and hospital dentistry for cases that require treatment in a hospital setting. The practice describes its approach as an adventurous, relaxed, and non-intimidating atmosphere, framing treatment decisions around the question of what the dentists would do for their own children.

2. Green Hills Pediatric Dentistry

Address: 3990 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 360, Nashville, TN 37215
Phone: (615) 610-2563
Website: https://www.greenhillspediatricdentistry.com
Services: comprehensive exams, preventive care (fluoride treatments, sealants, space maintainers, hydroxyapatite alternatives), white fillings and crowns, dental bonding, conscious sedation and general anesthesia, lip and tongue tie release, emergency care, nightguards and mouthguards, care for children with special needs
Description: Green Hills Pediatric Dentistry is led by Dr. Brittany Adamiak, a board-certified pediatric dentist who earned her dental degree from the University of Tennessee and completed her pediatric dentistry residency at the University of Mississippi. The practice offers a full scope of specialized pediatric services, from comprehensive exams and preventive care to restorative work such as white fillings and crowns, sedation options including conscious sedation and general anesthesia, lip and tongue tie release, and care for children with special needs. The office is designed to put children at ease, with features such as ceiling-mounted TVs above the dental chairs, wireless headphones to block dental sounds, a kids’ corner in the waiting room, and balloons and prizes at each visit.

3. Hillsboro Pediatric Dentistry

Address: 2016 Beechwood Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: (615) 750-2713
Website: https://www.hillsboropediatricdentistry.com
Services: checkup and hygiene appointments, preventive dentistry, restorative and cosmetic dentistry, sedation and hospital dentistry
Description: Hillsboro Pediatric Dentistry is a children’s dental office in Nashville’s Hillsboro-Belmont area, led by Dr. Mirna Caldwell. The practice offers checkup and hygiene appointments, preventive dentistry, restorative and cosmetic care, and sedation and hospital dentistry for patients who need it. The office is intentionally designed to look less like a medical setting and more like a home, with a colorful, themed interior, and it operates as a mercury-free and BPA-free practice. The team is also active in community outreach, including preschool visits and dental-hygiene education, alongside volunteer clinic work and donations to local organizations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pediatric Dentist in Nashville

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 Nashville 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 Nashville.

Q: How do I verify a Nashville 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 Nashville?

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 Nashville 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 Nashville typically offer?

Pediatric offices in Nashville 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.