Pediatric Dentistry in NJ: Kids' Dental Care at 25 NÜVA Smile Offices
NÜVA Smile provides pediatric dentistry for children from the first tooth through the teen years: checkups, cleanings, fluoride, sealants, fillings, and same-day emergency care. Book your child’s first visit by their first birthday at any of our 25 New Jersey offices. We accept NJ FamilyCare and most dental plans.
What children's dental services does NÜVA Smile offer?
Our general dentists cover the everyday dental care children need, from a baby’s first exam to a teenager’s sports injury. Most services are covered by NJ FamilyCare and private dental plans, and we check your child’s benefits before the visit, so you know what is covered before you arrive.
Checkups and cleanings
Exams and cleanings every six months, with X-rays taken only when your child needs them.
Fluoride treatments
Fluoride varnish painted on at checkups to strengthen enamel, important in New Jersey, where most tap water has no added fluoride.
Dental sealants
Thin protective coatings on back teeth that the CDC says prevent 80% of cavities there for two years.
Fillings
Repairs for cavities in baby and permanent teeth, with findings and costs explained before treatment is booked.
Children's dental emergencies
Same-day slots for toothaches, chipped teeth, and knocked-out teeth, reserved every day.
Sports mouthguard advice
Guidance on the right mouthguard for your child's sport and fast care if a game ends in a dental injury.
Orthodontic checks and braces
Bite and spacing checks and braces for children and teens when they are needed.
Children with special needs
Patients of all abilities are welcome, and our offices are wheelchair accessible. Call ahead to plan accommodations.
When should my child first see a dentist?
Your child should see a dentist when the first tooth appears, and no later than their first birthday. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association both recommend this timing, because an early visit catches decay in baby teeth and sets up home-care habits before problems start.
Kids’ dental milestones
- First tooth, or by age 1: first exam and home-care coaching (AAPD, ADA).
- Every six months after: exam and cleaning; some children need visits more often.
- Around age 6: first permanent molars arrive, the best time for sealants (CDC).
- By age 7: first orthodontic check (American Association of Orthodontists).
- Around age 12: second permanent molars arrive; seal them too (CDC).
- First contact sport: a properly fitted mouthguard (NFHS).
What happens when you bring your child to NÜVA Smile?
A visit follows six steps. We check your child’s benefits when you book, you bring a few documents, and the dentist reviews your child’s health history and examines their teeth and gums. You hear the findings and any costs before treatment is scheduled, and most children return every six months.
Book and check benefits.
Call your nearest office or request an appointment online. Give us the plan name, member ID and your child’s date of birth, and we check benefits with the insurer free of charge.
Prepare your child.
Talk about the visit positively and say the dentist will “count and clean” their teeth. Avoid words like “pain,” “needle,” “shot,” or “drill.” Pick a time when your child is usually rested.
Bring the essentials.
A photo ID for the parent or guardian, your child’s dental and medical insurance cards (or NJ FamilyCare member ID), a list of medications, and any earlier dental records.
A gentle exam.
The dentist reviews health history and examines teeth and gums. Depending on age and comfort, they may clean the teeth, apply fluoride, or take X-rays, explaining each step in simple language.
Clear answers and costs.
You hear what the dentist found, practical advice on brushing, diet, thumb-sucking and pacifiers, and the expected cost before any treatment is scheduled.
Book the next checkup.
Most children come back every six months; the dentist may suggest sooner if your child needs it.
What should I do if my child has a dental emergency?
Call your nearest NÜVA Smile office; we reserve same-day emergency dental care slots every day and treat children and adults. Never put a knocked-out baby tooth back in. For a knocked-out permanent tooth, hold it by the crown, keep it in milk, and get to us within 30 to 60 minutes.
Do not reinsert it. Control bleeding with gauze and call us.
Hold it by the crown, not the root, keep it moist in milk, and come in within 30 to 60 minutes.
Save every fragment and bring it with you.
Rinse with warm water and call for a same-day slot. Never put aspirin on the gums.
Press firmly with gauze. Go to the ER if bleeding continues after 15 to 20 minutes.
Go to the emergency room first if your child has facial swelling with a fever, trouble breathing or swallowing, a suspected jaw fracture, or a head injury alongside the dental injury. Walk-ins are welcome at our offices, but calling ahead, even from the car, cuts your wait.
Want the full checklist? Read our step-by-step dental emergency guide.
How do you help nervous or anxious children?
Our team explains each step in simple, age-appropriate language and adjusts the visit to your child’s comfort level. Tell us about any earlier bad experience before the appointment. Children with special needs are welcome, and our offices are wheelchair accessible; call ahead so we can plan accommodations.
Parents can help too: keep the conversation upbeat beforehand, avoid sharing your own dental worries, and praise your child after the visit. If the dentist recommends more than routine care, they explain why and what your options are before anything is scheduled.
Does NJ FamilyCare cover my child's dental care?
Yes. NJ FamilyCare covers children under 21 through EPSDT, which guarantees all medically necessary dental care with no lifetime limit. That includes two exams and cleanings a year, X-rays, fluoride, sealants, fillings, and braces when medically necessary, typically with no copay. NÜVA Smile accepts all five NJ FamilyCare plans.
| Your child’s coverage | Plans we accept | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| NJ FamilyCare / Medicaid | Horizon NJ Health, Aetna Better Health of New Jersey, Fidelis Care, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, Wellpoint, fee-for-service Medicaid | EPSDT benefits for under-21s; no referral needed; we handle prior authorization |
| Employer or private dental plan | Delta Dental, Aetna, Cigna, MetLife, Guardian, United Concordia, Horizon BCBSNJ | Free benefits check before the visit; we file claims for you |
| No dental insurance | NÜVA Solutions Membership Club, Child Complete plan | A low annual fee covers two exams, two cleanings, fluoride, routine X-rays and an emergency exam for 12 months, plus discounts on other treatment |
Coverage can vary by office, so confirm your child’s plan with your nearest office when you book.
Why do NJ families choose NÜVA Smile for their children's dental care?
Families choose us because care is close, affordable and easy to understand. NÜVA Smile has served New Jersey families for more than 25 years, with 25 offices, NJ FamilyCare and most private plans accepted, same-day emergency slots, and a team that explains your child’s care in your language.
- Close to home: 25 offices across North, Central and South Jersey.
- The whole family, one office: our general dentists treat children, parents and grandparents, so one call books everyone.
- Coverage handled: NJ FamilyCare and most private plans accepted, a free benefits check before every visit, and claims filed for you. We also bill medical insurance when treatment qualifies.
- Help when it hurts: same-day emergency slots reserved daily, plus a 24/7 phone line.
- Care in your language: Spanish, Arabic, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian and more.
- No surprises: you hear the expected cost before any treatment is scheduled, in newly renovated, wheelchair-accessible offices.
Where can I find a kids' dentist near me in New Jersey?
NÜVA Smile has 25 offices across North, Central and South Jersey, so most NJ families are a short drive from one. Many open at 8:00 AM and offer Saturday hours, and our staff speak Spanish, Arabic, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian and other languages. Call the office nearest you to book.
Bergen & Passaic counties
12 offices
Hudson, Essex & Union counties
5 officesMiddlesex, Monmouth & Mercer counties
6 offices¿Prefiere atención en español? Nuestro personal le explica el tratamiento de su hijo en español, sin necesidad de traductor.
Pediatric dentistry FAQs
How often should my child see the dentist?
Most children should have an exam and cleaning every six months. Some need more frequent visits because of cavities, gum concerns or orthodontic treatment. Your child’s NÜVA Smile dentist sets the schedule after the first exam, and NJ FamilyCare covers two exams and cleanings a year.
Are dental X-rays safe for children?
Dental X-rays use low levels of radiation and are taken only when needed to diagnose a problem or check development. Protective measures are used during imaging. The dentist weighs your child’s age, dental history, symptoms and exam findings before deciding whether X-rays are necessary at all.
Do cavities in baby teeth need to be treated?
Yes, in most cases. Baby teeth hold space for adult teeth and help children chew and speak. The CDC notes untreated cavities can cause pain, infection, and problems eating, speaking and learning. Your child’s dentist will explain the options, from monitoring and fluoride to a filling.
When should my child have an orthodontic check?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic check by age 7, when early problems are easier to spot. NÜVA Smile offers braces for children and teens. NJ FamilyCare covers braces for members under 21 when they are medically necessary.
What should I do if my child's tooth is knocked out during a game?
Never put a baby tooth back. If it is a permanent tooth, pick it up by the crown, keep it moist in milk and get to a NÜVA Smile office within 30 to 60 minutes. Go to the ER first if there is a head injury.
Is there a dental plan for children without insurance?
Yes. The NÜVA Solutions Membership Club offers a Child Complete plan for a low annual fee. It covers two exams, two cleanings, fluoride treatment, routine X-rays and an emergency exam for 12 months, plus discounts on other treatment. Ask about it at any office.
Can my child be seen in Spanish?
Yes. Our staff speak Spanish at our New Jersey offices, so you can hear your child’s diagnosis, treatment options and costs in Spanish without bringing a translator. Team members also speak Arabic, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian and other languages, depending on the office.
Can parents and children book at the same office?
Yes. NÜVA Smile’s general dentists treat patients of every age, so parents, children, and grandparents can book at the same office. That also means one call covers the whole family in an emergency, which saves busy households a second trip.
Who provides this care, and where does this information come from?
Children’s dental care is provided by NÜVA Smile. This page gives general information drawn from national dental and public health guidance. It does not replace an exam: only a dentist who has examined your child can diagnose a problem or recommend treatment.
Call the office nearest you or request an appointment online. We check your child’s benefits before the visit, and if you have no insurance, we’ll explain the Child Complete membership first.
