If your child has ever refused to get out of the car at the dentist's office, you know that finding the right pediatric dentist matters more than most people realize. Training and qualifications are crucial, of course, but it’s more than that. It is about finding a team that understands what a scared child actually needs and a practice built around that understanding.
At Palos Pediatric Dentistry in Palos Heights, IL, that is exactly what Dr. Richard Facko, Dr. Brittany Bauer, and Dr. Elizabeth Asdell have done.
The Philosophy Comes First
Here you’ll find three dentists with three different training paths but one consistent approach.
Our specialists understand that every child moves at their own pace. We will never, ever push a child further than they are ready to go.
We invite parents to stay in the room and in the conversation. Whenever possible, we complete treatment without sedation, but not because it isn’t appropriate or effective. It is because a child who gets through an appointment on their own terms is developing an attitude about dental care that’s not defined by fear.
That is our goal at every appointment, for every child, regardless of how long it takes to get there.
The Training Behind the Approach
Feeling good about an approach to your child’s care is one thing. Knowing that the team has the credentials to back it up is another.
Advanced Education and Diplomate Status
Dr. Facko and Dr. Bauer are both Diplomates of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD). This is the highest level of certification available in the specialty. Earning Diplomate status requires completing dental school, doing a full pediatric residency, and passing a rigorous examination process that assesses clinical knowledge and its real-world application. Only a fraction of practicing pediatric dentists hold this status.
Dr. Facko earned his DDS and MS from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he also completed his Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry. He is additionally a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Bauer completed her dental training at UIC and her residency at Indiana University and Riley Hospital for Children. Dr. Asdell trained at Indiana University and completed her residency at Riley Hospital for Children as well, one of the most respected pediatric dental training programs in the country.
Three Voices, One Direction
What makes Palos Pediatric Dentistry feel different from a larger group practice is that each dentist brings genuine personality to the same shared approach.
Dr. Richard Facko
Dr. Facko grew up in Palos Heights. He went to Palos 128 and Marist, left for school, and came back to build his practice and raise his family. When he sees patients, they’re often his neighbors, his kids' classmates, or people he runs into at the grocery store. It is the reason he practices the way he does.
Dr. Brittany Bauer
Dr. Bauer uses age-appropriate language, moves slowly, and celebrates the small wins. She is known for doing a Stitch impression for nervous patients, and it usually works. Her other hobby is fishing, including walleye on Lake Erie and deep-sea fishing in the Florida Keys. The sport requires, as she puts it, a lot of patience. That patience carries over to her practice.
Dr. Elizabeth Asdell
Dr. Asdell came to pediatric dentistry because she believes the experiences children have early on shape their relationship to dental care for the rest of their lives. Her goal at every appointment is for children to feel genuinely comfortable and cared for. In that environment, the clinical part of the visit, in her experience, takes care of itself.
A Personal Perspective on Treating Children with Special Needs
Dr. Facko's youngest daughter, Annie, was born with Down syndrome. That experience changed the way he sees his practice.
He understands what it means to deal with systems that were not designed with every child in mind. The planning, additional communication, and appointments all need to look different. The team at Palos Pediatric Dentistry has worked diligently to set up the practice for families of children with special needs.
What a Visit at Palos Pediatric Dentistry Actually Looks Like
It looks slower than you might expect. There is no rushing a child through a procedure because the schedule says so. There is no pushing past a child's comfort level to get something done in a single visit.
If it takes three appointments to complete something comfortably, then it takes three appointments because a child who leaves feeling okay about what just happened is more likely to come back without a struggle next time.
Call Us with Questions or to Schedule an Appointment
Choosing a pediatric dentist for your child is an important decision. At Palos Pediatric Dentistry, we would welcome the opportunity to show you how our approach can benefit even the most resistant children.
Call our Palos Heights, IL, pediatric dental office at (708) 263-6708 to book your child's first appointment.
