Focus On: Kool Smiles

Published 6:52 pm Saturday, February 17, 2007

VALDOSTA — It is cool for kids to have great smiles, and that is why Valdosta’s newest pediatric dentist is focused on ensuring that every kid has an opportunity for a bright smile.

Kool Smiles opened its doors at the end of November 2006 to provide comprehensive general dental care for underserved children and young adults ages 1 through 20 on Medicaid and PeachCare. Services include comprehensive oral exams (cleanings), crowns, fillings and extractions.

The dental office files medical claims with Medicaid and PeachCare. It also accepts cash and credit cares form charges that equal the Medicaid reimbursement rate for service.

It is no secret that most kids are nervous about dental appointments, but Kool Smiles is very kid-friendly. The staff members love children and have been trained on how to make children feel comfortable. There is even a jungle gym in the lobby, bright colors and cartoon characters on the walls.

According to Dana Richards with Kool Smiles, there are several aspects that set this business apart from others, one of these being the kid-friendly atmosphere. She said that patients are seen within 10 minutes of their appointment time, and the staff intends to provide a wide variety of community outreach activities, such as free dental screenings, oral health education and community sponsorship/volunteer efforts.



Q: Why did you want to open one here?



A: We saw a need in the Valdosta community.



Q: What experience does your staff have?



A: All of our doctors are licensed dental professionals and have graduated from an accredited dental school. We are fortunate to have a wide variety of dental professionals who come to work at Kool Smiles with varying degrees of experience, but the common bond that ties all of us together is the fact that we are passionate about improving the oral health of children.



Q: How is business?



A: Terrific. We are growing every day.



Q: Do you like your location?



A: We love our location and are thankful for the warm welcome the Valdosta community has given us.



Q: What are your expectations for Kool Smiles in Valdosta?



A: We expect by helping the underserved community in Valdosta have access to good quality oral health, we can improve the overall health of Valdosta’s children.



Q: What should people know?



A: We are open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is no wait for an appointment and patients can be seen the same day. We are also currently providing community education in various schools, daycare centers in and around Valdosta.



Kool Smiles

Owners: Dr. Tu Tran and Dr. Thien Pham

Doctor: Dr. Heidi Knight

Manager: Roxanne Dennis

Phone: (229) 253-0818

Location: 2113 Bemiss Road, Azalea Plaza, Valdosta

Hours: 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday