Children’s Dentistry – Jacksonville, FL

The Secret to a Smile That’s Healthy for a Lifetime

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Children’s dentistry lays the foundation for lifelong oral health, creating positive experiences that shape how young patients view dental care for years to come. At Distinctive Dentistry by Mullens & Nguyen, we recognize that the early years of a child’s dental development require gentle, personalized care combined with advanced techniques to ensure optimal growth. Our approach to pediatric dental care emphasizes prevention, education, and comfort, making every visit enjoyable for both children and their parents.

Our general dentistry services offer comprehensive care for patients of all ages, with our children’s dentistry program specifically designed to meet the unique needs of developing smiles. Dr. Mullens, Dr. Nguyen, and Dr. Petrie combine their extensive training with a family-oriented approach, ensuring each young patient receives uncompromising care in our state-of-the-art Jacksonville facility.

Why Choose Distinctive Dentistry by
Mullens & Nguyen for
Children’s Dentistry?

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We Support Hendricks
Avenue Elementary School

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Kind, Experienced, & Friendly Dental Team

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Community-Trusted Dentist with 5-Stars on Google

Flexible Payment Plans Available
Quality dental care made accessible with payment plans designed to fit your family’s financial needs.
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When Should Children First Visit the Dentist?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children have their first dental visit by their first birthday or within six months of their first tooth appearing. This early introduction to dental care helps establish a comfortable relationship with the dentist while allowing us to monitor proper tooth development and jaw growth.

Early dental visits also provide valuable opportunities for parent education. We guide families through proper brushing techniques, appropriate nutrition choices, and preventive measures that protect developing teeth from decay and other typical childhood dental issues.

child at the children's dentist

What Makes Children's Dentistry Different from Adult Care?

Children’s dentistry requires specialized approaches that accommodate smaller mouths, developing teeth, and varying levels of cooperation. Our practice utilizes child-sized instruments and age-appropriate techniques that ensure comfort and effectiveness during treatments.

We also employ behavioral management strategies tailored to different developmental stages. These methods help children feel safe and engaged during their visits while building positive associations with dental care.

Preventive Focus

Children’s dentistry places heavy emphasis on prevention rather than treatment. By establishing good oral hygiene habits early and providing protective treatments like sealants and fluoride applications, we help prevent many common dental problems before they develop.

Regular checkups allow us to identify potential issues in their earliest stages, when treatment is typically simpler and less invasive than addressing advanced problems later.

What Dental Services Do Children Need?

Preventive care forms the cornerstone of pediatric dentistry, including professional cleanings, examinations, and protective treatments. These services help maintain healthy teeth and gums while monitoring proper development.

Regular preventive visits also enable us to monitor changes in your child’s oral health and provide recommendations for maintaining optimal dental wellness at home.

Common Pediatric Procedures

When treatment becomes necessary, children’s dentistry may include:

  • Cavity treatment using gentle, child-friendly techniques
  • Tooth-colored fillings that blend naturally with developing teeth
  • Protective treatments for trauma-prone front teeth
  • Space maintainers for premature tooth loss

Each treatment is performed with careful attention to your child’s comfort level and developmental stage, ensuring positive experiences that encourage continued dental care.

Give your child the gift of a healthy smile – quality pediatric dental care with budget-friendly monthly payment options.

Dentist doing regular dental check-up to little boy.

How Do We Make Dental Visits Comfortable for Children?

Our Jacksonville practice creates a welcoming environment where children feel safe and valued. From our friendly staff to our modern, comfortable facility, every aspect of the experience is designed with young patients in mind.

Dr. Nguyen’s artistic background and Dr. Mullens’ extensive training combine to provide gentle, precise care that minimizes discomfort while achieving excellent results. We take time to explain procedures in age-appropriate language and allow children to participate in their care whenever possible.

Building Positive Associations

Positive early experiences create lifelong healthy habits. Our team works patiently with each child to build trust and confidence, celebrating small victories and making dental care feel like a positive, empowering experience.


Parents play a crucial role in this process, and we provide guidance on how to prepare children for visits and reinforce positive messages about dental care at home.

What Role Do Parents Play in Children's Dental Health?

Parental involvement has a significant impact on a child’s oral health outcomes and their attitude toward dental care. We work closely with families to establish effective home care routines and provide education on nutrition choices that support healthy tooth development.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tooth decay is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting children, making parent education and involvement crucial for prevention.

Home Care Guidance

We provide detailed instructions on proper brushing and flossing techniques for different ages, helping parents adapt their approach as children develop independence in their oral hygiene routines.

Our team also offers guidance on managing common challenges, such as thumb-sucking, pacifier use, and dietary choices that impact oral health, providing practical solutions that work for busy families.

How Does Technology Improve Children's Dental Experiences?

Our practice utilizes digital X-rays, intraoral cameras, and other advanced technology to provide precise diagnoses while minimizing radiation exposure and treatment time. These tools allow us to show children what we’re seeing, making them active participants in their care.

The DIGIDOC cavity detection system and other advanced diagnostic equipment enable us to identify problems early, when treatment is simpler and less invasive.

Comfortable Treatment Options

Modern dental technology enhances comfort during treatment procedures. The Wand system for localized anesthesia and soft-tissue laser technology reduces discomfort and anxiety while improving treatment outcomes.

These advanced tools allow us to provide comprehensive care with minimal disruption to your child’s daily activities and maximum comfort during procedures.

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Give Your Child the Best Start at Distinctive Dentistry by Mullens & Nguyen

Children’s dentistry at Distinctive Dentistry by Mullens & Nguyen combines gentle, personalized care with advanced technology to create lasting, positive experiences. Our comprehensive approach to pediatric dental care emphasizes prevention, education, and comfort, while building a solid foundation for excellent oral health. With Dr. Mullens’ recognition as a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, Dr. Nguyen’s artistic precision, and Dr. Petrie’s previous hospitality experience, your child receives the highest quality care in a warm, family-oriented environment.


Don’t wait to give your child the gift of excellent oral health and positive dental experiences. Call us at 904-399-3163 or complete our contact form to request an appointment today to discover how our Jacksonville children’s dentistry services can support your family’s dental wellness journey. Our experienced team at Distinctive Dentistry by Mullens & Nguyen is ready to welcome your child into our dental family with the caring, professional attention they deserve.

Office Hours

8:00 am – 5:00 pm
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
8:00 am – 11:30 am

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

If you have any food debris or an object stuck between your teeth, don’t try to remove it with a toothpick or any sharp objects, as this could damage your gums. Typically, gently flossing around the tooth and rinsing your mouth with saltwater can help dislodge it. However, if you’re not having any luck, you can also give our office a call. Our dental hygienists have all of the necessary tools to safely remove the debris.

Jaw Pain

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? Lockjaw, jaw tension, and pain are just a few of the many different types of jaw pain. If your discomfort is chronic, our team can help you determine the underlying cause of it and refer you to a specialist if necessary. However, if your pain is a result of an impact, visit your local emergency room.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain: Our team is happy to provide you with further guidance over the phone if you’re unsure of where to go for help. You can place an ice pack on the outside of your face to relieve any discomfort.

How We Treat Jaw Pain: If you believe your jaw is broken, dislocated, or damaged due to trauma, visit your local ER immediately. If it’s a reoccurring issue, our team can help you determine best next steps for finding relief after conducting an examination.

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency?  If your oral injury doesn’t stop bleeding after 10 minutes, you may need to go to the emergency room. Or, if you’re conflicted about what to do, give our office a call and our team can help.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: Oral wounds can bleed a lot, and when the blood mixes with the saliva, it can make the injury look a lot worse than it is. You can stop the bleeding by using a clean washcloth or piece of gauze and pressing it against the cut. A cold compress can help to reduce any swelling that may occur.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: Our team typically doesn’t see patients for injuries. If you require stitches or the bleeding doesn’t stop within 10 minutes of placing pressure on it, visit your local emergency room.

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? If your tooth is wiggling in its socket or partially dislodged, try to get to our office as soon as possible to prevent any further damage. If you’re experiencing pain, our team can provide you with first aid guidance over the phone.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth: Avoid touching your tooth and eating any foods (especially those that are chewy or sticky), and rinse your mouth with lukewarm saltwater to remove any debris and cleanse the area. Avoid flossing or brushing your teeth until you’re able to see us.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth: If your tooth has become partially dislodged due to impact, our team may be able to salvage it and see if the roots are able to re-fuse with the bone. In the case that your tooth can’t be saved, we may recommend an extraction and replacement with a dental implant or bridge.

Broken Denture

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? Whether your denture has broken to the point of it being unwearable or it just has a crack, you should never wear a damaged prosthetic. It can lead to irritation of the oral tissues in addition to jaw discomfort. If you have existing teeth and try to wear your damaged denture, it could also harm those teeth. Call our office immediately so our team can assess your prosthetic.

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture: Although your local department store likely sells a denture repair kit, do not try to superglue or repair your own dentures. The best option in this scenario is to see a professional as soon as possible.

How We Treat Broken Dentures: Our team will examine your dentures and see if we’re able to repair them. If they’re damaged beyond repair, we can start the process of replacing them for you.

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? Yes, both of these situations warrant an immediate call to our Jacksonville dental office. That way, we can repair or replace your restoration as quickly as possible.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown In addition to reaching out to us to schedule an appointment, we recommend not eating anything crunchy, hard, or sticky. Additionally, keep your restoration somewhere safe, like a small, clean container.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns There are some cases where we can re-cement your restoration back in place, like if your dental crown is relatively new and in good condition. Other times, our only option is to replace your dental crown or filling with a new one.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? Since this dental injury can cause a significant amount of pain and there is only a small window of time where we can save your tooth (about 60 minutes), the answer is “yes!” So, don’t hesitate – contact our Jacksonville dental team right away to schedule an emergency appointment.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth Calling us is an important first step. This ensures that we can schedule an appointment for you with one of our dedicated emergency dentists right away. Plus, it allows us to guide you through the process of preserving the root of your tooth – whether that’s by placing it back in its socket or putting it in a clean container filled with milk.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth Fortunately, a knocked-out tooth can sometimes be saved. If that’s not the case for some reason – like you weren’t able to find your tooth – then we will instead begin the process of replacing it with a dental bridge or implant so the look, health, and function of your smile are restored.

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? Very sensitive teeth can be a dental emergency. That’s why it’s important to consider how long you’ve been experiencing symptoms and if they are present in tandem with others, like pain when biting down.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth There’s really only one thing you can do until your appointment: try to avoid things that could exacerbate your discomfort. In other words, don’t drink anything really hot, don’t eat anything really cold, and take OTC pain medication as directed on the label (if needed).

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth That depends on what’s causing your dental sensitivity. If it’s a cavity, then it’s likely that a tooth-colored filling or dental crown is the answer. If it’s an infection in your gums, then gum disease treatment is needed instead.

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency? Cracked teeth are considered dental emergencies and you’ll need to visit your emergency dentist as soon as possible. Leaving your tooth untreated can allow it to be vulnerable to further damage and bacteria. Before the situation worsens, schedule an appointment with our team so we can determine the best way to address your tooth.

How you should handle a cracked tooth: Refrain from chewing on that side of your mouth, otherwise you could end up disturbing your injured tooth. Take over-the-counter pain relievers to minimize discomfort. You can also rinse with saltwater to keep your tooth bacteria-free. If you notice any sharp or jagged edges on your tooth, you can use dental wax or sugar-free gum to protect your soft oral tissue.

How we treat cracked teeth: We’ll examine your cracked tooth to determine the cause of the situation as well as the proper treatment for it. If the crack is minor, then we can typically address it with composite resin to improve and strengthen your tooth. For more severe damage, you may require a dental crown to repair the structure and prevent future discomfort. If the tooth cannot be saved, then we’ll likely have to extract it and replace it with something else, such as a dental bridge, partial denture, or dental implant.

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? Chipping your tooth isn’t always considered an urgent dental situation, so it isn’t the end of the world if you don’t get it treated right away. That said, leaving it exposed to bacteria for too long can lead to problems later on. Before the situation can become worse, it’s best to visit your dentist for help.

How you should handle a chipped tooth: Until you’re able to see us for treatment, be sure to avoid chewing on that side of your mouth. Be gentle when brushing your teeth and gums, and don’t hesitate to use dental wax to cover up any rough or sharp edges you might notice. This can help you prevent harming your cheeks or other soft oral tissue.

How we treat chipped teeth: Chipped teeth can typically be treated by using composite resin to repair and improve them. However, if the damage is more visible and toward the front of your smile, then veneers might be the longer-lasting solution you’re looking for.

Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency? Toothaches can be due to various reasons, some of which might not be particularly urgent. Even so, this can sometimes be an indication of a more serious dental emergency, such as an oral infection. That’s why it’s best to visit your dentist sooner rather than later so that they can address the underlying problem before it grows.

How you should handle a toothache: Rinse your mouth with saltwater to sanitize the area, dislodge any stuck objects between your teeth, and help alleviate any discomfort. You can also take over-the-counter pain medications to further minimize the aching.

How we treat toothaches: Our team will need to thoroughly evaluate your smile to determine the root cause of your toothache. If it’s due to periodontal issues, then we’ll provide gum disease treatment. Other procedures to get rid of your toothache might involve root canals or tooth extractions, if necessary. We’ll be sure to walk you through your options before moving forward with any treatment.