Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Children's Dental Center?
Where is the Children's Dental Center located?
How is the Children's Dental Center unique?
What ages are accepted?
What services are offered? Are anesthetics used?
Does the Children's Dental Center take emergency cases?
Do I need an appointment?
What insurances are accepted? What if a family does not have insurance?
What type of identification is accepted?
Do you offer dental screenings in the community?
What are the hours of operation?
How do I contact or refer families to the Children's Dental Center?

What is the Children's Dental Center?
The Children’s Dental Center represents an innovative approach to providing pediatric dentistry that will significantly improve access to high quality dental care for the children of our local communities. It combines the latest equipment and technologies and the best practices of pediatric dentistry with a fun, kid-friendly environment that is welcoming to children and families of various cultures, income and education levels.

The Children’s Dental Center is a unique partnership between The Health Trust and Children’s Dental Group, a private enterprise that operates successful pediatric dental centers in Southern California. The Health Trust has a 10-year agreement with Children's Dental Group to operate the Children's Dental Center and has funded the furniture and equipment at the facility. The Children’s Dental Group employs local dentists and other staff and operate the facility with its successful, high efficiency business model. This is not a “free clinic,” but an innovative, sustainable for-profit business that will allow thousands more children to receive the dental care they need. All children will be served – those covered by private or government insurance programs, those whose parents qualify for reduced sliding scale fees, and those who need an oral health “scholarship” from The Health Trust.

The Children's Dental Center employs a bilingual staff fluent in English and Spanish.  Insurance enrollment specialists of The Health Trust are available to work with clients in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
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Where is the Children's Dental Center located?
The Children's Dental Center is located in the heart of east San Jose, at the corner of King and Story roads.  It is in the Tropicana shopping center, located in the corner building at the back of the parking lot. 

Children's Dental Center
Tropicana Shopping Center
1153 S. King Rd. (at Story Rd.)
San Jose, CA 95122

Tropicana Shopping Center is located on VTA bus routes 12, 22, 25, 70, and 77.
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How is the Children's Dental Center unique?
There are several ways that the Children’s Dental Center is different from traditional dental offices, starting with its fun, kid-friendly look and feel. The lobby features interactive computer games, a play area for toddlers, and a movie theater. Three dental assistants work with each dentist in order to maximize patient flow and services. Specialized dental computer hardware and software, including a sophisticated scheduling system, adds to the efficiency of the operation and supports the comprehensive high quality dental care offered to children.  Take a virtual tour to see the full effect!
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What ages are accepted?
It is recommended that children visit a dentist by the time they are one year old.  Most patients at the Children's Dental Center are under the age of 14. Once children become teenagers, their teeth begin to resemble those of adults, and it is advisable they see a regular dentist for the remainder of their lives. 
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What services are offered? Are anesthetics used?
Services include: examination of teeth and gums, X-rays to reveal decay, cleaning, sealants, topical fluoride, fillings, extractions and treatment of infections. An examination of the mouth can detect early signs of diabetes, bone and joint disease and cancer. Oral exams can also detect signs of abuse and neglect, poor nutrition and hygiene, growth and development problems. Visits to the Children’s Dental Center incorporate oral health education so that the patient, siblings and parents learn more about how to clean and care for their teeth.

Children’s Dental Center will not provide oral surgery, root canals, or orthodontics. Treatment coordinators will refer families to appropriate dental professionals and specialists for procedures not available at Children’s Dental Center.

Dentists will administer local anesthetics (Lidocaine) to numb the treatment area and eliminate any pain that may accompany dental treatment. Oral conscious sedation is an option for children who are apprehensive. Nitrous oxide is also available and can be used independently or in conjunction with the oral conscious sedation. The use of oral conscious sedation techniques will be discussed with the parents/guardians of the patient before treatment.

For information regarding which services are covered under certain insurance programs, contact your insurance agency or see What insurances are accepted?
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Does the Children's Dental Center take emergency cases?
No child in pain is turned away. Emergency dental care, such as the accidental loss of a tooth or pain from infection, is provided immediately at Children’s Dental Center. Once the immediate crisis is over, the treatment coordinator will work with the parents to complete insurance forms if the child is covered, explore enrollment options if the child is not covered, or explain payment plans if insurance is not available or preferred.
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Do I need an appointment?
Families are encouraged to call ahead, but walk-in patients will be accommodated if possible. Emergencies are always handled immediately – no child in pain will be turned away.
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What insurances are accepted? What if a family does not have insurance?
Children’s Dental Center accepts Denti-Cal, Healthy Kids, Healthy Families and most major private insurance plans. Treatment coordinators at Children’s Dental Center will ask a few questions to determine if it is likely that the child will qualify for any type of insurance program. If yes, then insurance enrollment specialists from The Health Trust will be contacted to help the family complete insurance forms.

If the child does not qualify for any insurance program, a sliding scale will be used for fee-for-service. Treatment coordinators will explain cash payment plans including the use of credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover) or a monthly installment plan.

The Health Trust offers oral health “scholarships” for children who do not qualify for insurance coverage and whose families cannot afford to pay reduced sliding scale fees. The scholarships are only available for Santa Clara County residents.

The only paperwork required for proof of insurance is the insurance code and photo ID for the parent. If the child is in foster care or if the adult is a legal guardian, not the parent, then documentation authorizing the adult will be needed. If the insurance coverage is an HMO assigned to other dental practices, then the staff of Children’s Dental Center will help the family be redirected to the appropriate office.

Denti-Cal, Healthy Kids, and Healthy Families all cover one office visit every six months. This visit includes preventative care, teeth cleanings, topical fluoride, fillings, sealants, and diagnostic services (X-Rays). Any follow up care is handled on a case-by-case basis. In general, if additional care is considered “medically necessary”, it is covered by the patients’ insurance. If it is a cosmetic measure (false teeth, braces, etc.) it is usually not covered.
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What type of identification is accepted?
Any type of identification that has a parent’s name and photo is accepted including a driver’s license, State Identification Card, passport (U.S. or foreign), “green” card, consulate identification card, a bank card with photo, a club membership with photo (such as Costco), a credit card with photo, school-issued photo ID, work badge, temporary residence card, etc. It is not necessary for the parents to have government-issued identification, but it is required that some form of ID be provided.
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Do you offer dental screenings in the community?
The Children's Dental screenings offers dental screenings on the weekends, however, 3-4 weeks notice is needed to hold screenings. Up to 200 children may be screened daily. Email dpalencia@cdgdental.com for more information or to schedule a screening. 

What are the hours of operation?
Children’s Dental Center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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How do I contact or refer families to the Children's Dental Center?
The Children's Dental Center can be reached at (408) 240-0250 or by stopping in at:

Children's Dental Center
Tropicana Shopping Center
1153 S. King Rd. (at Story Rd.)
San Jose, CA 95122

Children’s Dental Center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Children’s Dental Center has a full time Community Relations representative that will work with organizations and community residents to build relationships with the Children’s Dental Center and manage outreach activities.  We are happy to provide printed information about the Children’s Dental Center in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
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