Checkups, cleanings, sealants and small fillings for kids of every age, handled gently by Dr. Ben Areheart and our hygiene team here in Rock Hill. He's a dad of three, so wiggly patients don't rattle him. And you'll know exactly what a visit involves, and what it costs, before we do anything.
Prefer to talk? Call (803) 328-3886.
Children don't need a separate building with cartoon wallpaper. They need an unhurried team that lets them set the pace. Here's what their visits look like.
A gentle cleaning with one of our hygienists every six months, plus an exam where Dr. Areheart watches how the adult teeth are coming in.
About cleanings →A quick fluoride varnish strengthens young enamel. Sealants coat the grooves of the back molars, the spot where most childhood cavities start.
When a cavity does show up, we fix it with a small tooth-colored filling and keep the appointment short. Most kids are surprised how fast it goes.
Low-radiation digital images, taken only when there's a reason, so we can spot decay between teeth and check what's happening under the gums.
A custom-fitted guard protects front teeth through football, basketball and cheer seasons far better than a boil-and-bite from the store.
Chipped tooth at the playground, toothache the night before a test. Call us first. If you have a dental emergency, we can often treat you the same day depending on the complexity of the problem.
Emergency care →Lots of our families book kids and parents back to back, one trip across town instead of three. Same team, same front desk, one set of records.
Dr. Areheart earned his dental degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in 2011, served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force with an advanced general dentistry residency, and has treated Rock Hill families at Piedmont Dental since 2014.
He also has three children at home, which shapes how he practices more than any certificate on the wall. He talks to kids before he touches anything, shows them each tool, and stops the moment a small hand goes up.
The rest of the team has the same long tenure. Our assistants and hygienists have cared for Rock Hill families for more than twenty years, including a two-time South Carolina Dental Hygienist of the Year. Your kid will see the same faces at sixteen that they met at six.
Earlier than most parents guess. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a first visit by the first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth breaking through. That first appointment is short and low-key: we count teeth, check the gums, and spend most of the time answering your questions about bottles, thumbs and toothpaste.
Why so early? Habits set fast, and small problems caught at age two are simple. The same problems found at age seven usually aren't.
We've met plenty. There's no restraint and no rushing at this office. A first visit for an anxious child might just be a ride in the chair and a sticker, and that's a win. Parents stay in the room the entire time. By the second or third visit, most kids walk back on their own.
It depends on what the visit involves. A routine checkup with a cleaning and fluoride is on the modest end. Sealants, X-rays or a filling add to it, and a custom mouthguard is its own item.
What stays constant: Dr. Areheart examines your child first, then you get the treatment plan and the numbers before anything happens. No surprise line items at checkout, ever.
Most dental plans cover children's preventive care well, and we file almost all insurances if your plan allows out of network providers. Our front desk will help with your specific situation before you book.
It's basically never too early once teeth arrive. We follow the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry guideline: first visit by the first birthday or within six months of the first tooth. That visit is short, gentle and mostly conversation with you.
Yes, and we prefer it, especially for the first few visits. You're welcome in the room the whole time, and we'll walk you through what we're seeing as we go.
Slowly and on their terms. We show every instrument before it's used, keep first visits short, and never push a frightened child through treatment. Some kids need a practice visit that's nothing but sitting in the chair. That's fine with us.
Yes. Kids don't age out of this office. Through the teen years we keep an eye on crowding and on incoming wisdom teeth, so nothing sneaks up during senior year. If a teen needs braces or aligners, we coordinate a referral to a local orthodontist we trust rather than dabbling in it ourselves.
Call us at (803) 328-3886 right away. If you have a dental emergency, we can often treat you the same day depending on the complexity of the problem. For a knocked-out permanent tooth, keep it moist in milk and head our way.
Call the office and tell the front desk how old your child is and what you need. They'll find a time that works around school and naps.
Call (803) 328-3886