10 Best Kids Orthodontists and Pediatric Dentists in Lincoln, CA for Children's Dental Care

TL;DR: Best Pediatric Dentists and Kids Orthodontists in Lincoln, CA

• Children’s Choice Dental Care Lincoln — Best for all-round children’s dental health, including Medi-Cal, sedation and special-needs care
• Crawford Orthodontics — Best for kids’ and teens’ braces and Invisalign
• Caring Tree Children’s Dentistry — Best for anxious kids and board-certified pediatric care

Quick Comparison Table

Ratings are shown as platform (review count). Sources and dates ar in each profile below.

#	Business	Contact No.	Location	Services	Rating	Hours
1	Children’s Choice Dental Care Lincoln	(916) 407-3518	2295 Fieldstone Drive Suite 110, Lincoln, CA 95648	Pediatric dentistry, sedation, special needs, Medi-Cal	Birdeye 4.1 (371); Yelp 3.3 (73)	Mon–Fri 9–6; some Saturdays 8–5
2	Crawford Orthodontics	(916) 408-8688	2295 Fieldstone Dr #260, Lincoln, CA 95648	Braces, Invisalign, ClearCorrect	Birdeye 5.0 (1,058); Yelp 4.7 (65)	Mon 8–5, Tue 9–6, Wed–Thu 8–5, Fri 7:30–4
3	Caring Tree Children’s Dentistry	(916) 251-0170	150 Gateway Dr #110, Lincoln, CA 95648	Pediatric dentistry, sedation, oral surgery, hospital dentistry	Yelp 4.7 (23)	Mon–Fri 8–5; Sat 8–3 (per Yelp)
4	Placer Smiles Pediatric Dentistry	(916) 253-6002	620 Twelve Bridges Dr #120, Lincoln, CA 95648	Pediatric dentistry, sedation, special needs	Yelp 4.9 (12)	Mon, Wed, Thu 8–5; Fri 8–3:30; Tue by appointment
5	Larson Orthodontics	(916) 587-5240	427 A St #700, Lincoln, CA 95648	Braces, Invisalign, Invisalign Teen	Limited recent data	Not published; call
6	Hoybjerg Orthodontics	(916) 960-9931	170 Gateway Dr, Lincoln, CA 95648	Braces, two-phase treatment, Invisalign	Healthgrades 4.9 (412); Yelp 4.5 (6)	One Friday a month (9–4)
7	Bella Vista Smiles	(916)-543-4400	825 Twelve Bridges Dr #55, Lincoln, CA 95648	Family and pediatric dentistry	Yelp 4.6 (36); RankMyDentist 4.9 (52)	Mon–Fri 8:30–5
8	Make A Smile Dental – Lincoln	(916) 644-0833	731 Sterling Pkwy #100A, Lincoln, CA 95648	Pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, sedation, Medi-Cal	Yelp 3.4 (30)	Mon–Fri 9–6
9	Rocklin Pediatric Dentistry (nearby)	(916) 435-9100	2221 Sunset Blvd #101, Rocklin, CA 95765	Pediatric dentistry, nitrous oxide, IV sedation	Yelp 4.3 (62)	Mon–Tue 7–5, Wed 9–5, Thu 7–5, Fri 7–3
10	Rocklin Kids Dentist (nearby)	(916) 435-5230	5420 Park Dr, Rocklin, CA 95765	Pediatric dentistry, sedation, general anesthesia	Birdeye 4.8 (136); Yelp 4.7 (26)	Mon–Wed 8–5, Thu 7–4, Fri 7:30–4:30

Introduction

Finding the best pediatric dentist in Lincoln, CA is easier when you know which kind of specialist your child needs. A pediatric dentist handles cleanings, cavities, extractions and sedation. An orthodontist handles braces, expanders and bite correction. This guide covers both, so parents comparing kids’ dental care in Lincoln can see them side by side.

The stakes are real. According to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (FastStats, data from 2017 to March 2020), 46% of U.S. children ages 2 to 19 had untreated or restored cavities in at least one tooth. A CDC fact page on cavities adds that children ages 6 to 9 from lower-income households were more than twice as likely to have untreated cavities (25%) as those from higher-income households (10%). The CDC also reports that about 86.9% of children ages 2 to 17 had a dental visit in the past year (2019 data).

This is a commercial-investigation guide. Yelp’s Lincoln listings for kids’ dentists include Caring Tree, Placer Smiles, Children’s Choice and Make A Smile, along with Rocklin and Roseville practices. We found no page that combined pediatric dentists and kids’ orthodontists with hours, credentials and insurance details in one place, so that is the gap this article fills. Two Rocklin practices are included and clearly labeled as nearby, because Lincoln has a limited number of pediatric specialists.

How We Selected These Options

This is an editorial assessment based on public information, not a clinical ranking. We weighted four factors:

Criteria	Weight	What we looked at	Sources checked
Expertise and specialization	30%	Board certification, specialty training, years in practice, child-focused focus	Practice websites, specialty directories, Dental Board of California guidance
Services and features	25%	Sedation, special-needs care, emergency care, orthodontic options, Medi-Cal and insurance	Official service pages, insurer directories
Customer experience	25%	Ratings, review volume, recurring review themes, consistency across platforms	Yelp, Birdeye, Healthgrades, RankMyDentist
Accessibility	20%	Lincoln location, weekday and Saturday hours, ease of booking	Practice websites, Yelp, Apple Maps

Ratings differ between platforms, so we report each with its source. Check current reviews before booking.

What Parents Should Consider When Choosing a Kids’ Dentist or Orthodontist

Specialty. The AAPD notes that a pediatric dentist completes two to three years of specialty training after dental school and treats only children. The same source says the first dental visit should happen by a child’s first birthday. For orthodontics, the AAO advises that children have a first check-up with an orthodontist by age 7.

Credentials. You can verify any dentist’s license for free through the Dental Board of California at dbc.ca.gov. Board certification through the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry or an orthodontic board is a further sign of specialty training.

Insurance and Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal Dental covers exams, X-rays, cleanings, fluoride, fillings, crowns and extractions, and orthodontics for children who qualify. Braces coverage is limited to certain medically necessary conditions, so ask the practice whether your child qualifies. DHCS says Medi-Cal covers regular dental care for children at no cost to families. Always confirm that the specific office accepts your plan.

Sedation and special needs. If your child is anxious or has sensory needs, ask which sedation options are offered and who administers them.

Location. Lincoln practices cluster in a few areas: Fieldstone Drive (Children’s Choice, Crawford), Gateway Drive (Caring Tree, Hoybjerg), Twelve Bridges Drive (Placer Smiles, Bella Vista), Sterling Parkway (Make A Smile) and A Street (Larson).

Children’s Choice Dental Care Lincoln

Children’s Choice Dental Care Lincoln is a pediatric dental office at 2295 Fieldstone Drive, Suite 110, Lincoln, CA 95648, serving families who need a kids’ dentist for cleanings, fillings, crowns, sedation and special-needs care. It belongs to Children’s Choice, a California network of pediatric offices that includes a nearby office in Roseville. The company describes its pediatric dentists as specialists in the oral health of infants, children and adolescents, including those with special health needs, and presents its offices as fun, kid-centered spaces run by an award-winning, bilingual team.

Parents looking for the best pediatric dentist in Lincoln usually weigh specialty, services, insurance and reviews together. Children’s Choice is a strong candidate on breadth: it states that it accepts most insurance plus Medi-Cal, highlights a no-cost exam and X-rays with Medi-Cal Dental, and lists sedation, special-needs dentistry and restorative care in one office. It also has the largest review base of any Lincoln pediatric office in this guide, which makes it one of the most-reviewed kids’ dentists in Lincoln. Its ratings are mixed across platforms, so read recent reviews as part of your decision.

Services / Features / Capabilities

The Lincoln office lists special-needs dentistry and in-clinic general sedation, which is most often used for extensive procedures or for patients with dental phobia. The company states that it accepts most insurance plus Medi-Cal, and the Lincoln page highlights a no-cost exam and X-rays with Medi-Cal Dental. A third-party directory lists a wheelchair-accessible entrance, parking and restroom, emergency services and sedation dentistry.

Ratings / Reviews / Trust Signals

Scores vary by platform. Birdeye shows 4.1 from 371 reviews, and a directory updated April 2026 shows 4.1 from 305 reviews. Yelp shows 3.3 from 73 reviews (updated June 2026). Positive Yelp themes include a waiting room with iPads and games, and staff who explain plans for the children’s care. Some recent Yelp photo captions note that the Xbox and PlayStation in the office have not worked in years. Because the platforms disagree, read the most recent reviews before booking.

Address and Hours

2295 Fieldstone Drive, Suite 110, Lincoln, CA 95648, (916) 407-3562 . Hours on the practice’s site are Monday to Friday 9–6, plus Saturday 8–5 on some Saturdays only. Birdeye lists Saturday as closed, so check the schedule or call.

Best For

Families using Medi-Cal, children who may need sedation, kids with special healthcare needs, and Spanish-speaking families looking for bilingual staff.

Crawford Orthodontics

Crawford Orthodontics is a Lincoln orthodontic practice at 2295 Fieldstone Drive, Suite 260, in the same complex as Children’s Choice Dental Care. It is led by Dr. Brian Crawford, who a specialty directory describes as a board-certified orthodontist with 19 years of experience. According to that profile, he trained through a U.S. Air Force scholarship and finished at the top of his residency program. The practice says it has been voted Lincoln’s best orthodontist every year since 2008, and it recently announced that Dr. Mietz has joined the team.

Crawford positions itself as a family orthodontist. Dr. Crawford treats children and adults and is an Invisalign-certified provider, and the practice serves families from Lincoln and surrounding areas including Roseville, Rocklin, Beale, Loomis and Twelve Bridges. Its office is built around kids: the site highlights a Kids Club, video games, movies and prizes, and describes a comfortable, “no rushed” atmosphere. That makes it a natural fit for parents whose main concern is straightening their child’s or teen’s teeth in a relaxed setting close to home.

Services / Features / Capabilities

The practice offers traditional braces, clear braces, Invisalign and ClearCorrect, and lists a free initial exam and consultation. An older directory listing also describes treatment ranging from Phase I and II care to comprehensive surgical cases.

Ratings / Reviews / Trust Signals

Birdeye shows a 5.0 rating across 1,058 reviews, while Yelp shows 4.7 from 65 reviews (updated January 2026). Parents on Birdeye often mention several children in braces and a friendly, welcoming staff.

Address and Hours

2295 Fieldstone Drive, Suite 260, Lincoln, CA 95648, (916) 408-8688. According to the practice’s website, hours are Monday 8–5, Tuesday 9–6, Wednesday and Thursday 8–5, and Friday 7:30–4, closed weekends.

Best For

Families who want an established Lincoln orthodontist for kids’ braces, teen Invisalign or an early evaluation. It has the largest and strongest review base of any orthodontist we found locally.

Caring Tree Children’s Dentistry

Caring Tree Children’s Dentistry is a pediatric practice with two offices: Grass Valley and Lincoln. The Lincoln office is at 150 Gateway Drive, Suite 110, and Yelp says it began serving Lincoln in January 2018 after years serving the Grass Valley community. The practice is led by Dr. Michelle Kucera (“Dr. K”), who the practice’s site says purchased Caring Tree in 2012. She holds a pediatric dental certificate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry certification, a California oral conscious sedation license, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support training.

The practice’s second dentist is Dr. Chris Lee, who completed his dental degree at UCLA and a residency at Yale and has practiced pediatric dentistry in the Sacramento area since 2014, according to the practice. Caring Tree describes its approach around gentleness, joy, education and clear communication, and its services are aimed at infants through adolescents. Its focus on turning fear into trust makes it especially relevant for families whose child is nervous about the dentist or has had a difficult first visit elsewhere.

Services / Features / Capabilities

The practice lists general dentistry with sealants, mouthguards and silver diamine fluoride, tooth-colored fillings and crowns, frenectomies, extractions and pulpotomies, sedation dentistry, hospital dentistry and emergency care. Delta Dental’s directory lists it as accepting new Delta Dental PPO patients.

Ratings / Reviews / Trust Signals

Yelp shows 4.7 from 23 reviews (updated September 2026), with parents praising gentle handling of nervous children and baby-tooth extractions. Not every review is positive: on Apple Maps, one parent complained about how an appointment no-show was handled, so ask about the cancellation policy when you book.

Address and Hours

150 Gateway Drive, Suite 110, Lincoln, CA 95648, (916) 251-0170. Yelp lists Monday to Friday 8–5 and Saturday 8–3. Other directories show different hours, so confirm by phone.

Best For

Anxious or first-time patients, parents who want a board-certified pediatric dentist, and families who may need sedation or hospital dentistry.

Placer Smiles Pediatric Dentistry

Placer Smiles Pediatric Dentistry is a locally owned and operated pediatric office at 620 Twelve Bridges Drive, Suite 120, next to Leatherby’s according to a Nextdoor business post. The practice opened in Lincoln relatively recently and describes itself as a space where both children and parents can enjoy going to the dentist. It is led by Dr. Cuauhtemoc Gonzalez, a board-certified pediatric dentist, and the practice highlights that board certification through the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry requires extensive training beyond dental school.

Placer Smiles emphasizes inclusivity, personalized care and technology. Its office is deliberately minimalist and non-overstimulating, which the practice says makes it enjoyable for everyone, including children with special needs. It offers a dedicated special-needs dentistry page for kids with sensory sensitivities, autism spectrum disorder or Down syndrome. That positioning appeals to parents who want a calmer, more tailored environment and a specialist-led practice in the Twelve Bridges area.

Services / Features / Capabilities

The practice’s website lists preventive care, restorative care, urgent pediatric dental care, special-needs care, sealants and frenectomies. Directory listings add fluoride treatment, crowns, composite fillings, silver diamine fluoride, space maintainers, pulpotomy, same-day care, sedation and extractions. The practice says it accepts most PPO insurances, including Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife and Aetna.

Ratings / Reviews / Trust Signals

Yelp’s April 2026 listing shows 4.9 from 12 reviews, and another directory shows 5.0 from 13 reviews. That is a small sample, so treat the score as promising rather than conclusive. Parents describe helpful front-desk staff, a welcoming office and a dentist who explains care plans clearly.

Address and Hours

620 Twelve Bridges Drive, Suite 120, Lincoln, CA 95648, (916) 253-6002. Hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8–5, Friday 8–3:30, and Tuesday by appointment.

Best For

Parents who want a board-certified pediatric specialist, children with sensory sensitivities, and families with PPO dental insurance.

Larson Orthodontics

Larson Orthodontics is the practice of Dr. Michael D. Larson, DDS, MSD, with a main office in Yuba City and a Lincoln office at 427 A Street, #700. A specialty directory describes Dr. Larson as a board-certified orthodontist with 17 years of practice. His training path is documented across profiles: a bachelor’s degree in physiology from UC Davis, a DDS from UC San Francisco, and a certificate and master’s degree in dentistry from the Saint Louis University Center for Advanced Dental Education. The practice says he is active in professional organizations including the American Association of Orthodontists and the American Dental Association.

The Lincoln office positions early treatment as a strength: for children as early as age 7, the practice says it can address problems before they become bigger challenges, which may shorten treatment later. Its services span children’s braces, adult braces, Invisalign and Invisalign Teen, so it appeals to families who want one orthodontist for kids, teens and parents. The practice’s site shows a 2026 copyright, which suggests it is active, but its content is not recently updated, so confirm details by phone.

Services / Features / Capabilities

Services include children’s braces, adult braces, Invisalign and Invisalign Teen. A specialty directory notes the use of 3-D scanning technology.

Ratings / Reviews / Trust Signals

We found limited recent, Lincoln-specific rating data. A partner directory shows 5 stars from 25 Facebook reviews, but that listing is dated. The Yuba City Facebook page shows 100% recommendation across 74 reviews, and a chamber-of-commerce page lists 14 reviews for the Lincoln listing. Parents describe friendly staff and treatment explained in a parent-friendly way, though testimonials on a practice’s own site are not independent.

Address and Hours

427 A Street, #700, Lincoln, CA 95648, (916) 587-5240. The site does not publish office hours, so call to confirm.

Best For

Families comparing several Lincoln orthodontists for braces or clear aligners, particularly for a child near the age 7 evaluation window.

Hoybjerg Orthodontics

Hoybjerg Orthodontics is the private practice of Dr. Adam Hoybjerg, DDS, with a main office in Yuba City and a satellite office in Lincoln. Healthgrades describes Dr. Hoybjerg as an orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics practitioner with more than 15 years of experience. The practice provides braces for children, teens and adults, and its website is organized around patient education, with pages on two-phase treatment, types of braces, palatal expanders, TADs, surgical orthodontics, craniofacial care and retention.

The practice places particular weight on early prevention. Its “common treatments” page describes cases from crowding treated at age 11 to a case where a patient first seen at age seven had baby-tooth width reduced, allowing crowded permanent teeth to align on their own in nine months. It also runs a Kids Club and uses iTero digital impressions. That combination makes it a good match for parents who want a thorough early evaluation, with the caveat that the Lincoln office has very limited availability.

Services / Features / Capabilities

Its treatment pages cover two-phase treatment, palatal expanders, Invisalign and Invisalign Teen, surgical orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.

Ratings / Reviews / Trust Signals

Healthgrades shows 4.9 from 412 ratings for Dr. Hoybjerg, listed under Yuba City. Lincoln-specific Yelp reviews are few: 4.5 from 6 reviews, with parents mentioning a clean office and gentle staff.

Address and Hours

The practice’s site lists the Lincoln office at 170 Gateway Drive, phone (916) 960-9931, while Yelp shows 751 Sterling Pkwy, Ste 100, so confirm the address when you call. Availability is a real limitation: the site lists the Lincoln office as closed Monday through Thursday, with Friday hours of 9–4 once a month. The Yuba City office is the main location.

Best For

Families who want an early orthodontic evaluation and can plan around limited Lincoln hours or drive to Yuba City.

Bella Vista Smiles

Bella Vista Smiles is a family dental practice at 825 Twelve Bridges Drive, #55, led by Dr. Rubina Khorana, DDS. The practice says it has served Lincoln since 2018, and Dr. Khorana, a Lincoln resident, received her doctorate from the University of the Pacific in San Francisco. Her motto is to treat patients like family.

The practice has a dedicated pediatric dentistry page. It welcomes children of all ages and describes pediatric dentistry as care from birth through adolescence, with an emphasis on positive early experiences because dental fears that begin in childhood often continue into adulthood. The team says it avoids threatening words like “drill,” “needle” and “injection.” Bella Vista is a general family practice rather than a pediatric specialty office, so it suits parents who want convenient, comfortable care for the whole household.

Services / Features / Capabilities

For children, the practice lists sealants, fluoride treatments, education, growth monitoring, prevention counseling on thumb-sucking and pacifier use, and intervention such as space maintainers or nighttime mouth guards. It also offers general, cosmetic, restorative and emergency dental care.

Ratings / Reviews / Trust Signals

Yelp shows 4.6 from 36 reviews (updated April 2026), and RankMyDentist shows 4.9 from 52 verified reviews. Reviewers often mention the front-office manager, flexible scheduling and a welcoming staff.

Address and Hours

825 Twelve Bridges Drive, #55, Lincoln, CA 95648. Yelp lists Monday to Friday 8:30–5, phone (916) 543-4400. The practice’s pediatric page shows a different phone number, so use the Yelp or Facebook number and confirm.

Best For

Parents who want one dentist for the whole family and whose child has routine needs. For complex cases, sedation or a very young or anxious child, a pediatric specialist may be a better fit.

Make A Smile Dental – Lincoln

Make A Smile Dental – Lincoln is at 731 Sterling Parkway, #100A, and is part of a Northern California group with more than a dozen offices, including a Rocklin location. Yelp categorizes the Lincoln office as pediatric dentists, orthodontists and endodontists, reflecting a multi-service model: children’s dental care, orthodontics, endodontics and oral surgery are offered under one brand.

The practice says it designs its office as a fun, interactive environment for kids and wants children to have a positive first experience with the dentist. It welcomes infants, children and young adults, and states that it accepts Medi-Cal so that all children have access to care. That positioning appeals to families who want their child’s dentist, orthodontist and sedation options in one place, and to Medi-Cal families. The practice’s site also lists a Lincoln orthodontics page covering braces, Invisalign and retainers.

Services / Features / Capabilities

The children’s dental page lists dental crowns, emergency care and sedation dentistry. A family directory says the practice welcomes children who need extra behavioral support and those with special needs, and offers nitrous oxide, oral sedation, IV sedation and hospital dentistry.

Ratings / Reviews / Trust Signals

Yelp shows 3.4 from 30 reviews (updated May 2026). Scores have moved considerably: a July 2025 snapshot showed 2.6 from 17 reviews. Some parents praise individual staff members, while others report frustrating experiences, so read recent reviews.

Address and Hours

731 Sterling Parkway, #100A, Lincoln, CA 95648, (916) 644-0833. Yelp lists Monday to Friday 9–6. Use the Lincoln number rather than the group’s central line.

Best For

Families who want pediatric dentistry, orthodontics and sedation options at one address, including Medi-Cal families, and who can check recent reviews first.

Rocklin Pediatric Dentistry (Nearby, Rocklin)

Rocklin Pediatric Dentistry is a pediatric practice in neighboring Rocklin, at 2221 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 101, not a Lincoln office. According to its site, Dr. Lora Foster Rode opened the practice in 2009, and Dr. Jessica Alt joined in 2012. The practice now lists four dentists (Drs. Rode, Alt, Brett Martin and Stephanie Kim) and describes them as a team of board-certified pediatric dentists. The site says it cares for children from Rocklin and nearby communities including Roseville, Lincoln, Loomis and Granite Bay.

The practice calls its approach “a mother’s approach” to pediatric dentistry, focusing on personalization and prevention through education. Modern touches include ceiling-mounted TVs and noise-canceling headphones. It positions itself for parents who want a larger, multi-dentist pediatric team and are comfortable driving from Lincoln.

Services / Features / Capabilities

Services include infant oral exams, cleanings, digital X-rays, fluoride, sealants, silver diamine fluoride, tooth-colored fillings, extractions, pulpotomies, special-needs dentistry and care for dental anxiety. Sedation options include nitrous oxide and in-office IV sedation, the latter provided when other methods are not enough with specialists trained for the required monitoring.

Ratings / Reviews / Trust Signals

Yelp shows 4.3 from 62 reviews (updated June 2026). A WebMD-linked listing shows about 4.9 from 817 reviews, though many of its listed reviews date from 2020. A review summary describes praise for a warm, child-focused environment and handling of autism and dental fears.

Address and Hours

2221 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 101, Rocklin, CA 95765, (916) 435-9100. The practice lists Monday and Tuesday 7–5, Wednesday 9–5, Thursday 7–5 and Friday 7–3.

Best For

Families willing to drive to Rocklin for a large pediatric team with IV sedation and special-needs care.

Rocklin Kids Dentist (Nearby, Rocklin)

Rocklin Kids Dentist is a pediatric dental office at 5420 Park Drive in Rocklin, in the Stanford Ranch area. Dr. Dennis Peterson, DDS is listed in a specialty directory as a board-certified pediatric dentist, and a national directory lists the practice as accepting new patients. In its Yelp business profile, the practice describes itself as the most established pediatric dental office in Rocklin, with over 20 years in the community and over 30 years of combined experience.

The office offers comprehensive care from infancy to adolescence in what it calls a fun, caring atmosphere. It welcomes children with special and medical needs, offers a wide range of sedation options and provides 24-hour emergency coverage, which is a notable convenience for parents worried about after-hours dental accidents. It is best suited to families who want a long-established pediatric office and are comfortable with the drive from Lincoln.

Services / Features / Capabilities

The practice lists laughing gas, IV sedation and general anesthesia, along with tongue-tie and lip-tie releases mentioned by parents. A Yellow Pages listing shows Delta Dental Premier as an accepted insurance.

Ratings / Reviews / Trust Signals

Birdeye shows 4.8 from 136 reviews, and Yelp shows 4.7 from 26 reviews (updated July 2026). Parents describe anxious children being relaxed and cavities treated with just gas.

Address and Hours

5420 Park Drive, Rocklin, CA 95765, (916) 435-5230. Yelp lists Monday to Wednesday 8–5, Thursday 7–4 and Friday 7:30–4:30.

Best For

Parents who want a long-established pediatric office with a wide range of sedation options, 24-hour emergency coverage and a board-certified pediatric dentist a short drive from Lincoln.

Why Children’s Choice Dental Care Lincoln Is a Strong Choice

Children’s Choice earns its place through access and range. Alongside Make A Smile, it is one of only two Lincoln pediatric offices we found that state Medi-Cal acceptance together with sedation and special-needs care, and it also accepts most private insurance. Of the two, Children’s Choice has by far the larger review base (371 reviews on Birdeye). Weekday hours running to 6 pm suit working parents, and its network includes a nearby Roseville office for families who need flexibility.

A few points are worth knowing. The company describes its teams as board-certified pediatric specialists, but that is a company-wide statement, so verify the individual provider’s credentials at dbc.ca.gov. Its Yelp score (3.3) is lower than its Birdeye score (4.1), so parents should read recent reviews. Families who prefer a smaller boutique practice may prefer Caring Tree or Placer Smiles.

Comparison Section

Specialist vs. general provider. A pediatric dentist has specialty training focused on children. A family dentist like Bella Vista Smiles is convenient for routine care across the household. For sedation, complex treatment or special needs, a pediatric specialist is the safer starting point.

Pediatric dentist vs. orthodontist. Cavities, cleanings and extractions belong with a dentist. Crowding, bite problems and braces belong with an orthodontist, and the AAO advises a first check-up by age 7.

Three Lincoln pediatric offices compared.

	Children’s Choice	Caring Tree	Placer Smiles
Specialty signal	Company says board-certified specialists	Dr. Kucera ABPD-certified	Dr. Gonzalez board-certified
Medi-Cal	Stated on its site	Not stated	Not stated
Insurance	Most plans plus Medi-Cal	Delta Dental PPO listed	Most PPO plans
Sedation	Yes	Yes	Yes
Special needs	Yes	Not highlighted	Yes, sensory-friendly
Review profile	Large volume, mixed	Small, strong	Very small, strong

Other options. Yelp’s kids’-dentist searches for Lincoln also surface family practices such as Denzler Family Dentistry and Fox Family Dental. We did not profile them because we could not verify their pediatric services.

FAQ

Who is the best pediatric dentist in Lincoln, CA?
It depends on your priorities. Caring Tree and Placer Smiles list board-certified pediatric dentists and have strong but smaller review bases, while Children’s Choice offers the widest insurance and Medi-Cal access alongside the largest review base.

Who is the best kids’ orthodontist in Lincoln?
Crawford Orthodontics has the strongest and largest review base among Lincoln orthodontists we found. Larson Orthodontics and Hoybjerg Orthodontics are alternatives.

When should my child first see a dentist?
The AAPD says by the first birthday, with check-ups every six months unless the dentist advises otherwise.

When should my child first see an orthodontist?
The AAO recommends a first check-up by age 7. If you notice a problem earlier, you don’t need to wait.

Which Lincoln pediatric dentists accept Medi-Cal?
Children’s Choice and Make A Smile both state they accept Medi-Cal. The other practices do not state this clearly, so call and ask before booking.

Does Medi-Cal cover braces?
Medi-Cal Dental covers orthodontics for children who qualify, and one guide says coverage applies only to certain medically necessary conditions, such as a handicapping malocclusion or cleft palate. The orthodontic office can tell you whether your child qualifies.

Which practices offer sedation?
Children’s Choice, Caring Tree, Placer Smiles and Make A Smile all list sedation in Lincoln. In Rocklin, Rocklin Pediatric Dentistry lists nitrous oxide and IV sedation, and Rocklin Kids Dentist lists laughing gas, IV sedation and general anesthesia. Ask which type is used and who administers it.

Which offices offer Saturday hours?
Caring Tree lists Saturday hours on Yelp, and Children’s Choice lists some Saturdays. Both should be confirmed by phone.

Pediatric dentist or family dentist?
A pediatric dentist has extra specialty training with children. A family dentist is convenient for routine care. Choose a pediatric specialist for anxious children, special needs or complex treatment.

How do I check a dentist’s credentials?
Use the free license lookup at the Dental Board of California (dbc.ca.gov).