Crocodile Smiles Children's Dentistry in Oklahoma City: Pediatric Focus with Sedation Options

Crocodile Smiles Children's Dentistry, led by Dr. Liz Kellner, is a pediatric dental practice serving Oklahoma City children from infancy through adolescence, with a stated focus on clinical care adapted to young patients, including sedation availability for anxious or special-needs children.

What Crocodile Smiles actually is

This is a single-location pediatric dental office in Oklahoma City that limits its patient base to children and does not treat adults. The practice operates on the assumption that children's dental needs, behavior, and anxiety levels differ from those of adult patients and require separate expertise and environmental design. Dr. Kellner holds a DDS degree and has chosen pediatric dentistry as a specialty within general dentistry, a clinical path that requires additional training beyond dental school in child development, behavior guidance, and age-appropriate treatment planning.

The office serves infants through teens. Unlike a general dentist who may treat the whole family, a pediatric dentist here sees only children, meaning the waiting room, clinical protocol, communication style, and treatment approach are calibrated to that population. This matters operationally: a pediatric practice can schedule appointments at shorter intervals if needed, stock smaller instruments, and staff with people trained to work with nervous or developmental delays in children.

Services, sedation, and first-visit age

Crocodile Smiles provides routine preventive care (exams, cleanings, fluoride) and restorative treatment (fillings, pulpotomies, extractions). The practice offers sedation options, which can include nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for mild anxiety, oral sedation for moderate anxiety, or deeper sedation depending on the child's age, health, and behavioral needs. Sedation allows treatment of children too young or too anxious to cooperate with traditional awake care, though it adds cost and requires preoperative clearance and fasting.

First visits typically begin at age one or when the first tooth erupts, though the practice also accepts children presenting later. A first appointment usually involves a clinical exam, radiographs if needed, and parent discussion about home care, diet, and any identified treatment needs. The appointment establishes baseline oral health and lets the child acclimate to the dental setting.

Specific pricing and sedation fee tiers were not publicly confirmed; families should call to request a fee schedule and to ask whether the office offers a discount for uninsured patients or whether they participate in Oklahoma Medicaid (state Medicaid acceptance varies among practices and affects affordability for many families).

How it compares to Oklahoma City pediatric dentistry options

Oklahoma City has several pediatric dentists. Crocodile Smiles stands out for sedation availability on-site, which is valuable for parents of children with dental anxiety or sensory sensitivities. Some other Oklahoma City pediatric practices, such as those affiliated with university dental schools or hospital systems, may refer complex cases or deep sedation to an oral surgeon's facility rather than offering it directly.

A parent choosing between Crocodile Smiles and another pediatric dentist should ask: Does the office accept your insurance or Medicaid? What is the wait time for a new-patient appointment (a current wait may be weeks)? Is sedation offered at that location, or will the child need referral elsewhere if anxiety becomes an issue? Some practices emphasize behavior-guidance techniques (tell-show-do, distraction, positive reinforcement) to avoid sedation; others lean on sedation earlier. Neither approach is universally "better," but the fit depends on the child's temperament and the family's preferences. Crocodile Smiles' willingness to offer sedation in-office signals readiness to treat higher-anxiety children without referral.

Who it suits and who it does not

Crocodile Smiles is a strong fit for families with young children (infants through age twelve) who want specialized pediatric care, parents of children with dental anxiety who want sedation available, and families seeking a practice that does not rush appointments or limit treatment scope because of time constraints tied to mixed-age patient schedules.

It is not a fit for families needing adult dentistry, for patients seeking orthodontics (braces or aligners, typically begun ages eight and up, are often handled by orthodontists rather than pediatric dentists), or for families seeking very low-cost emergency extraction with minimal follow-up (pediatric care emphasizes restoration and prevention, not tooth removal as first choice).

First appointment and what to bring

The first visit typically lasts 30 to 45 minutes and includes a clinical exam, discussion of the child's medical and dental history, and parent education. Bring insurance cards, any dental records from prior providers, and a list of current medications or allergies. The dentist will ask about the child's diet, oral hygiene habits, and any fears or prior negative experiences with dentistry. If sedation is expected, the office will provide fasting instructions and preoperative guidelines in advance.

Hours, location, and parking

Confirm current hours by phone, as pediatric practices often adjust schedules seasonally or with staffing changes. Call to verify the office address in Oklahoma City, parking availability, and whether the practice accepts new patients or maintains a waiting list. Ask whether evening or Saturday appointments are available, as working parents often need flexibility outside standard business hours.

Crocodile Smiles fills a gap in Oklahoma City pediatric dentistry for families needing sedation-capable care under one roof, reducing the need to navigate referrals and multiple appointments when a child's anxiety or developmental needs require more support than behavior guidance alone.