Dr. Maya Okafor, DDS
Founding pediatric dentist
Scene 1 of 6 The path
It starts with a path through the thistles.
Thistlewood sits at the end of a meadow path. Families usually arrive a few minutes early, and that is perfect: there is a window to look out of and nothing to rush.
Scene 2 of 6 Hello
Wes says hello and asks one question.
Wes, our child guide, meets you at the door and asks what your child likes. Dinosaurs, trains, soccer? The visit will borrow from the answer. You stay with your child the whole time.
Scene 3 of 6 The little chair
Bramble the bear goes first.
Dr. Okafor shows the mirror, the light and the tickly toothbrush on a bear, says what each one does, then asks your child: ready when you are? Show, tell, then do.
Scene 4 of 6 Count and polish
Counting teeth, polishing, and a tiny straw.
Hana counts teeth out loud, polishes them with a flavoured paste and rinses with a little straw. Parents sit right beside the chair for all of it.
Scene 5 of 6 The treasure chest
A sticker, a toothbrush and a two-minute plan.
Every visit ends at the treasure chest. Parents leave knowing exactly what to do at home, and children leave with a story to tell at dinner.
Scene 6 of 6 The walk home
Back down the path at dusk.
Brushing tonight, a book, and the next visit already on the calendar. Most families tell us the hardest part was choosing which sticker to pick.
Pediatric dentistry, Madison, Wisconsin
A pediatric dentist in Madison where the first visit feels like a story.
Two pediatric dentists, a child guide and a cottage at the end of a meadow path. Scroll to watch what a first visit looks like, scene by scene.
How we think about it
A child should walk out of the dentist proud, not relieved. So we never surprise anyone. We show every tool, tell what it does, and only then do it, with a parent right there and a bear who always goes first.
Now showing
Seven ways we look after growing smiles.
2015the year Dr. Okafor opened the cottage
2pediatric dentists, the same two every visit
14people on the Thistlewood team
1parent in the room, every single visit
Behind the scenes
The grown-ups who make it gentle.
Two pediatric dentists and a hygienist, plus Wes, our child guide, who says hello at the door and shows every tool before it is used. Fourteen people in a small cottage-style clinic on Bramble Lane.
Dr. Theo Lindgren, DDS
Pediatric dentist
Hana Ito, RDH
Dental hygienist
When should my child have a first dental visit?
By the first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth coming in. A first visit this early is mostly a conversation: we look, we show you how to clean tiny teeth, and we answer your questions.
Can I stay with my child during the visit?
Yes, always. You sit beside the chair, or hold your toddler on your lap for the exam. Parents are part of every visit, and we explain what we are doing to you as well as to your child.
What if my child is scared or will not open their mouth?
That is normal, and we plan for it. We go slowly, show every tool first, let the child touch it, and stop when they need a break. For some children a short practice visit with no treatment is the best first step.
Do you see children with sensory needs or special health needs?
Yes. Tell us what helps your child, such as quiet rooms, sunglasses, a visual schedule or a weighted blanket, and we build the visit around it. Your child leads the pace.
What happens if my child has a toothache or hurts a tooth?
Call us. When you call by 3:00 pm on a weekday we hold time for urgent cases. Messages after hours are answered when we open. For severe bleeding, a swollen face or throat, trouble breathing or a head injury, call 911.
How much does a visit cost, and do you take insurance?
We do not list prices on this site. You get a written estimate before any treatment. We work with most major PPO plans and offer third-party financing for larger treatment.
Madison, Wisconsin
Ready for a calm first hello?
Tell us a little about your child. We reply within one business day, explain exactly what the visit will look like, and you stay in the room the whole time.
| Monday to Thursday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Friday | 8:00 am to 2:00 pm |
| First Saturday of the month | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, family Saturday |
| Other weekends | Closed |