Home

Welcome to Prime Pediatric Dentistry

Why a pediatric dentist?

T he vast majority of general dentists are capable of and
comfortable with treating children. Knowing this, you might be wondering why you should then consider
working with a pediatric dentist instead of just taking your children to the dentist you use. Allow us
to explain.A pediatric dentist is a dentist who is trained specifically to work with children and early
adolescents and exclusively treats them at their practice. Their training covers everything needed to
make children comfortable at the dentist and empowered in their oral health care, including strategies
for working with children with special needs, behavioral concerns, and an intense fear of the dentist.
In order to be a true pediatric dentist, the dentist must be a Diplomate of the American Board of
Pediatric Dentistry with verified credentials and a demonstration of knowledge and skill.
All of this matters because children are not just miniature versions of adults. They have unique
perspectives and needs that need to be addressed in a way that is tailored to them. This goes beyond
things like a brightly colored environment and screens to watch; it is about delivering the best care in
a manner that makes children feel safe and involved in the process. Dr. Conner makes certain all
patients enjoy their visits and leave knowing more about how to care for their teeth.

services

Services

    • Cavities in both children and adults are less common now than they were several decades ago.
      This can be contributed to many factors, including an increased focus on oral hygiene and water
      fluoridation. However, fewer and fewer people drink tap water now, which means that childhood
      fluoride treatments are more important than ever. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
      has noted this increase in childhood cavities, finding that about one-third of children will
      have a cavity by age five. To keep your child’s teeth healthy, we provide regular fluoride
      treatments at our standard checkups and encourage a healthy diet and good habits at home.

    • The primary teeth are already partly formed in the gums at the time of birth. However, they
      usually will not erupt until the child is between the ages of six and twelve months. By the time
      the child is three, they will have twenty primary teeth. These teeth play important roles in
      your child’s health and development, facilitating clear speech, healthy eating, and serving as
      placeholders for the permanent teeth that will eventually take their place. As such, the primary
      teeth need to be well cared for. Tooth decay can occur in primary teeth just as easily as it can
      in permanent teeth due to exposure to sugars in formula and drinks. To keep the teeth in the
      best shape possible, avoid sugary drinks and foods, never give anything but water before bed,
      and visit us for infant dental exams.

    • For children, personal space is important. While adults enjoy having their bubble of space as
      well, children are often unable to understand why that bubble needs to be breeched on occasion
      for things like dental care. To help our patients feel comfortable with treatment, we seek out
      less invasive methods of traditional forms of treatment, such as digital x-rays. Our x-rays are
      used to diagnose problems, look at teeth prior to eruption, assess injuries, and more. In
      addition to being less invasive, digital x-rays also show greater detail, allowing us to detect
      issues at very early stages of development.

    • Some teeth are more likely to develop cavities than others. One factor that can contribute to
      making a tooth more susceptible to developing cavities is significant grooves or pits in the
      teeth. When these are unable to be reached when brushing, plaque can build up and the tooth can
      begin to decay. When needed, we offer dental sealants: clear coatings that fill in the uneven
      spots of the teeth to make the surface smoother and easier to clean.

    • Kids are curious, adventurous, and often dealing with motor skills due to their age, growth, and
      other factors. This makes them at risk of injuries of all kinds, including dental injuries. If
      your child experiences trauma to a tooth or teeth, call us as soon as possible. We will help you
      evaluate the situation to determine if they should see us, head to the ER, or if the problem can
      be cared for at home.

    • Restorative dentistry is focused on bringing damaged teeth back to their original look and
      function. When cavities are caught early on, we can take care of them without needing
      restorative care. However, cavities that have progressed often need restorative procedures once
      the decayed parts of the teeth are removed. Some restorative dentistry services we offer
      include: • Fillings: Resin is placed into the tooth to plug the cavity and
      prevent bacteria and infection from getting further inside the tooth. We offer tooth-colored
      fillings in addition to other materials.
      • Crowns: Caps are placed over the teeth to both hide the damaged tooth and to
      restore the strength of it.
      • Bridges: Gaps in the teeth are filled with a false tooth that is help in
      place with a bridge that is anchored by crowns on healthy teeth.

    • Primary teeth are designed for more than facilitating speech and eating; they are also there to
      serve as placeholders for permanent teeth. However, sometimes a primary tooth is lost too early.
      When this happens, the other teeth can shift to close the gap. This is problematic as that space
      is needed for the permanent teeth that will later erupt. To maintain the needed space, we use a
      space maintainer, or spacer, to ensure the permanent tooth will have the space it needs.

    • For some children, the dentist’s office is a scary place no matter how friendly and
      knowledgeable the staff are. The fear they feel can be overwhelming. To help them get the care
      they need despite their fears, we offer laughing gas and sedation. Laughing gas is an option
      that is both safe and highly temporary as we can eliminate the gas still in your child’s system
      before they leave the office. For children who need more powerful sedation to get through their
      procedures, we offer oral sedation and general anesthesia options.

    • If your child plays any type of contact sport, even if the contact is minimal, a mouthguard is
      needed. While you can purchase these in stores, the best results will come from the best fit. We
      make custom-fit mouthguards that perfectly fit your child and protect against 75% of dental
      injuries and reduce the impact of injuries to the brain. Keep your child protecting while
      keeping them active.

About Us

Dr. Charlton Conner

Dr. Charlton Conner

Dr. Conner is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist
who offers compassionate and gentle dental care to infants, children, adolescents, and patients with
special needs.
Unknowingly, Dr. Conner found his passion for working with children by serving adults in his General
Practice Residency in New York City. After many conversations with his adult patients who had severe
dental needs, it became clear that most of the adults with issues suffered a traumatic dental experience
as a child. These patients vowed never to go back to the dentist as an adult. Many of these adults were
suffering from significant dental health problems and required incredibly involved dental treatments to
be restored to good dental health due to years of neglect. In the midst of these treatments, Dr. Conner
had an epiphany that working with children to provide positive and fun experiences would help establish
good dental health and create a solid foundation for a lifetime of beautiful smiles. Dr. Conner knew
that if good dental health was taught and appreciated early in childhood, it would set children up for a
positive outlook on oral health. Most importantly, Dr. Conner knew it would change a child’s life for
the better.

Dr. Conner pursued the specialty of Pediatric Dentistry while in his General Practice Residency, with a
keen eye on the problem he wanted to solve. He took on more hours shadowing in various pediatric dental
clinics, volunteering tirelessly at pediatric dental offices in New York City. During his residency, Dr.
Conner was handpicked by professors and the program director to continue to specialize in Pediatric
Dentistry due to his easy-going personality and the incredible connections he was able to achieve with
his pediatric patients.

Dr. Conner went on to complete his specialization in pediatric dentistry at Harlem Hospital Center
through Columbia University in New York, NY in 2015. Dr. Conner received his Bachelor of Science in
Biology with honors from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA in 2008 and his Doctor of Dental Surgery
degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN in 2012. Dr. Conner completed his general practice
residency program at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center through the Albert Einstein School of Medicine in
2013. Dr. Conner is a diplomate of the Board of Pediatric Dentistry, making him a board certified
Pediatric Dentist.

Dr. Conner is a native of Florence, South Carolina. He attended Montessori School of Florence, All
Saints’ Episcopal Day School, and Trinity Collegiate School [now Trinity-Byrnes]. He enjoys classic
cars, tennis, ping-pong, bicycling, traveling, and cooking in his free time.

Meet The Team

Kathy

Sarah

Lilli

Stephanie

Shadirah

Lisa

Joseph

Jenifer

Devyn

Testimonials

Here’s what our patients have to say about us!

Nora L.

I was genuinely nervous about brining my 2 yr old active boy to his first dentist appointment. I was so impressed how Dr. Conners talked to him like a child, not down to him. He explained each tool and let my son try the tools out on his magic rocks. I was even skeptical that he would respond to him well because my son doesn’t speak many words, although he understands them. My baby boy does not like strangers and is very head strong, yet Dr. Conners won him over. He really took the time to get him comfortable and explain everything. I really loved that, and was really impressed.
Prime Pediatric Dentistry
5
2017-12-08T22:27:36+00:00
I was genuinely nervous about brining my 2 yr old active boy to his first dentist appointment. I was so impressed how Dr. Conners talked to him like a child, not down to him. He explained each tool and let my son try the tools out on his magic rocks. I was even skeptical that he would respond to him well because my son doesn’t speak many words, although he understands them. My baby boy does not like strangers and is very head strong, yet Dr. Conners won him over. He really took the time to get him comfortable and explain everything. I really loved that, and was really impressed.

Anonymous

I was so pleased with the staff and Dr. Conner’s performance. My Grandson was well taken care of by everyone. Stacie did an excellent job of explaining everything. My Grandson has not been in any pain today. Thanks again for the great experience. We will be back!
Prime Pediatric Dentistry
5
2017-12-08T22:28:43+00:00
I was so pleased with the staff and Dr. Conner’s performance. My Grandson was well taken care of by everyone. Stacie did an excellent job of explaining everything. My Grandson has not been in any pain today. Thanks again for the great experience. We will be back!

Mom

Always 100% satisfied with the Dr. and the friendly staff. Very prompt and gets the job done in a timely manner.
Prime Pediatric Dentistry
5
2017-12-08T22:28:59+00:00
Always 100% satisfied with the Dr. and the friendly staff. Very prompt and gets the job done in a timely manner.

Mrs. Brown

It was my first time (at the office) and I really like their office. It’s very professional and I like how the Doctor broke down the services my kids need and the best options for them.
Prime Pediatric Dentistry
5
2017-12-08T22:29:24+00:00
It was my first time (at the office) and I really like their office. It’s very professional and I like how the Doctor broke down the services my kids need and the best options for them.

William S.

Always a great experience!!! My son does not want to go anywhere else!!!
Prime Pediatric Dentistry
5
2017-12-08T22:29:39+00:00
Always a great experience!!! My son does not want to go anywhere else!!!

Don P.

This was Don’s first time to the Dentist. He did such an awesome job. All the staff were super nice, professional and did really well with how they handle and explained everything step by step. I definitely think he will enjoy every visit. I’m happy with my decision to letting my son go here.
Prime Pediatric Dentistry
5
2017-12-08T22:29:55+00:00
This was Don’s first time to the Dentist. He did such an awesome job. All the staff were super nice, professional and did really well with how they handle and explained everything step by step. I definitely think he will enjoy every visit. I’m happy with my decision to letting my son go here.
5
6
Prime Pediatric Dentistry

Your First Visit

      • The first thing to keep in mind is to make sure your anxiety about the visit doesn’t
        transfer to your child. Because your child has never been to the dentist, they have
        no reason to anticipate anything unpleasant. As such, most kids will come for their
        first visit and not be scared at all. The younger your child is, the less likely it
        is that they will have a negative reaction, so start your dental visits early if
        possible. If your child is older, talk about what to expect using child-friendly
        language. We suggest telling them the dentist will count their teeth and tickle
        them. If your child needs an advanced procedure, such as a tooth drilled or pulled,
        call us and ask about how you can discuss it with your child.

      • No matter how old your child is, we are happy to treat them. However, we recommend
        that you schedule your child’s first visit by their first birthday or when their
        first tooth erupts, whichever is first. We work hard to maintain our schedule as
        well, never double-booking appointments so you are seen on time and only deviating
        from our schedule for emergencies. We require a 48-hour notice to reschedule your
        appointment and if you are more than 10 minutes late, your appointment will be
        cancelled. If you miss an appointment without giving 48-hours’ notice, you will need
        to put down a deposit to schedule future appointments, and if you miss two
        appointments without the proper notice, we will not be able to see you at our
        practice.

    • For many people, money is the barrier between them and quality dental care. Here at Prime
      Pediatric Dentistry, we do not want that to be the case. We work to remove the financial
      barriers that you might face so your child can have the care they need and deserve. We offer
      payment options that work for various budgets, ensuring you do not need to make tough
      decisions to give your child the right level of care. Payment is accepted at the time of
      treatment and some treatments may require an advanced deposit.

    • If you have dental insurance, we are happy to work with your provider. Our goal is to
      maximize your benefits so you pay little if anything to receive treatment. We will give you
      an estimate before your visit so you know what to expect and can pay the patient portion at
      the time of your appointment.

Contact Us