Beth Bohanon, DDS in Oklahoma City: Pediatric Dentistry With Separate Waiting Areas for Anxious Children

Beth Bohanon, DDS operates a pediatric-only practice in Oklahoma City, treating children from infancy through adolescence with a clinical focus on behavior guidance and sedation options for anxious patients.

What Bohanon's Practice Actually Is

The practice limits its patient population to children, which shapes the physical setup, appointment length, and staff training in ways that differ sharply from general dentists who treat mixed ages. Bohanon maintains separate waiting areas: one for first-time patients and anxious children, kept distinct from the main reception to reduce stress before the appointment. The treatment rooms are scaled for pediatric work, and clinical protocols are built around child-specific outcomes (primary tooth timing, fluoride application, early orthodontic assessment).

Services and Sedation Policy

Bohanon offers standard preventive care: prophylactic cleaning, fluoride treatment, sealants, and early cavity detection. Restorative work includes fillings for primary teeth using materials that bond differently than those for permanent dentition. The practice administers nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for anxious children, which allows treatment without general anesthesia and requires only a short recovery period afterward. Bohanon also refers patients requiring more complex sedation (oral or IV) to a pediatric hospital or surgical center. Patients requiring orthodontic assessment are screened at routine visits; referrals go to local orthodontists with a summary of the patient's jaw and occlusion status.

Pricing is not published online; new-patient estimates are provided at the consultation. Insurance is accepted, and the practice works directly with most major plans common to Oklahoma City (Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Delta Dental). Parents are advised to verify their child's coverage before the first visit, as pediatric preventive care is often fully covered under the Affordable Care Act.

First-Visit Age and Process

Bohanon recommends the first appointment at age two or when the first molars erupt, whichever comes later. Some children are brought as early as age one if there are visible stains, trauma, or behavioral concerns. The first visit typically runs 45 minutes and includes oral health history, a gentle intraoral exam (limited to simple exploration in very anxious children), and parent education on brushing, flossing, and dietary factors. X-rays are deferred unless clinically indicated; radiographs are standard after age three.

Children are not restrained or forced. Bohanon uses a "tell-show-do" approach: the procedure is explained, the child sees the tool or sensation briefly, then the actual work proceeds. Nitrous oxide is offered preemptively to children with known anxiety; this gas is administered through a small nasal mask and children remain conscious and responsive during treatment.

How Bohanon's Approach Compares Locally

Oklahoma City pediatric dentistry includes Bohanon's practice, larger multi-specialty groups with pediatric departments, and general dentists who accept pediatric patients. Groups like those affiliated with OU College of Dentistry's postdoctoral pediatric residency often have shorter appointment slots (30 minutes for routine cleaning) and higher patient volume, suitable for low-anxiety, compliant children. General dentists with pediatric training typically charge less for preventive work but may not have separate waiting areas or dedicated nitrous oxide setups; children sometimes wait alongside adults undergoing cosmetic or restorative work.

Bohanon's practice is best for: families with anxious or behavior-challenging children, those seeking a provider with no distractions from adult care, and parents who value predictable, unhurried visits. It is less suitable for families on an extremely tight budget or those who prefer a large group where siblings can be seen on the same day by different providers (Bohanon sees one patient at a time).

Hours and Logistics

Bohanon operates Monday through Friday; typical hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with some early morning slots for school-age children. The practice is closed on weekends. Parking is available on-site (verification recommended for current lot capacity). The practice is not near a major hospital, so children requiring emergency surgical intervention would be transferred; for routine emergencies (chipped tooth, trauma), Bohanon accepts same-day call-ins during business hours.

Why This Listing Matters

Bohanon's separate-waiting-area model directly addresses a concrete problem for Oklahoma City families with anxious children. The explicit sedation policy and first-visit age guidance remove ambiguity that blocks new parents from booking. For families whose children have had difficult dental experiences, this practice offers a measurable difference in setup and process, not just a claim of gentleness.