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NEW We’re now welcoming new patients.

Magnolia Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics

#1 Chicago Pediatric Dentist | Dr. Melissa Connell , DMD

Drs. Melissa Connell and Megan Davenport – work together to ensure your child has a pleasant, happy experience at each visit!

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The First Visit

New parents have plenty to worry about: making sure their baby is healthy and happy, re-arranging their lives around hectic schedules and lost sleep, and figuring out what to do in all sorts of novel situations. We want their first dental visit to be fun!

Mother and baby

When Should The First Visit Be?

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, your child’s first dental checkup should occur by age one. Even though there may only be a few baby teeth visible at that age, there are plenty of things we can evaluate — including the development of healthy habits that will make future visits to the dentist far more pleasurable.

At Magnolia Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we are here to help guide you with your child’s oral development from before birth all the way to adulthood. It all begins at our beautiful office in Wicker Park when you bring your little Chicagoan in for their first visit to the dentist. Unfortunately, some kids develop tooth decay at an early age. During your child’s first visit, we will not only be looking for cavities, but also for important developmental milestones in the overall oral health and hygiene of the mouth, jaw, and areas of the body.

We understand that you want the best for your child and our team at Magnolia Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics will make sure to have your experience be a pleasant one.

Mother and child

Preparing For the Visit

It’s uncanny the way kids seem to pick up on parents’ feelings sometimes, so if you’re nervous about going to the dentist yourself, try not to let it show. During your visit to Magnolia Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we will generally be talking to you and your child, looking in their mouth, and making a holistic oral assessment. It’s best to set expectations beforehand, without making a big fuss about it. You could even build some excitement by helping them get ready for “the big day”.

When you visit us, it’s a smart idea to bring a comforting toy, a snack and an extra diaper or two, just in case! If possible, leave other children at home so we can concentrate on the new patient, and if possible, bring another adult along. It may allow for your attention to be focused on your child’s oral assessment. Additionally, it’s always a good idea to fill out forms in advance in order to save time on the day of the visit.

The Checkup

Once you arrive and are comfortably checked in, we’ll spend a little time getting to know each other and explaining what we’ll be doing during the visit. Next, we will perform a gentle oral examination where we’ll be looking for any early signs of tooth decay, and assessing the risk that your child may develop the disease in the future. Oftentimes, this oral assessment can help us prevent, or even reverse, the early stages of tooth decay without any drilling.

Did you know tooth decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood? During the checkup, we will make recommendations on how to keep your child’s oral health in top condition, including preventing tooth decay. For example, we may discuss how diet, eating habits, and good oral hygiene practices can help prevent problems from occurring. If any treatments (such as fluoride) are needed we will explain what they are and why we recommend them. We will also review tips on proper tooth brushing technique. If any follow-up appointments are needed, we will schedule these as well.

Mother and child
Mother and child

Office Designed for Kids

Our brand new state-of-the-art office in Wicker Park is designed with kids in mind. While adults may prefer neutral tones and a minimalist appearance to relax and have a calm environment, kids like bright colors and interaction to keep their minds off doing what they don’t want to do. We understand this and have designed Magnolia Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics to appeal to the youth we serve. Welcome to a brand new experience!

Music & Movies

We offer headsets with music, shows or movies to help keep your child relaxed and occupied during their treatment. Who doesn’t like to watch a tv show while having dental work done? Keeping the child’s mind relaxed will ensure both kids and parents have a great visit at Magnolia Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics.

Rewards & Prizes

What kids dentist would be complete without a prize bin? At Magnolia Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics we offer rewards to kids who do a great job during their visit. It’s our small way of saying “thank you” to parents and rewarding kids with good behavior during their visit. We find this small reward makes things run much smoother around here, and since kids can’t wait to return, this also helps parents too!

Melissa Connell, DDS
Megan Davenport, DDS
Anna Harvey, DMD
Nicole Oparaeke, DMD
Zesheng Chen, DMD, MS

Contact Us

1611 N. Wolcott Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
Click for Map & Directions
Welcoming New Patients
(312) 957-8131
Existing Patients
(312) 281-4860

Office Hours

Monday: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

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Decay Prevention
Glossary of Terms
Treatment Early Dental Care
Pediatric Dentistry
Teething
Thumb Sucking
Fluoride Treatment
Pregnancy and Child’s Teeth
Nitrous Oxide
Treatment Space Maintainers
Sleep Apnea in Children
Orthodontics Starting Age 7

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Following her graduation from dental school, Dr. Karras moved to Milwaukee, WI to complete a 26-month specialty training program at Marquette University, where she earned a certificate and Master of Science in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. Her research, which focused on the efficacy of the Invisalign system and its attachment types, was accepted for publication in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (AJO-DO), the world’s leading orthodontic journal. Dr. Karras feels fortunate to be a part of a profession where she can transform people’s smiles but also their self-confidence.

Outside of the office, Dr. Karras enjoys traveling, amateur photography, skiing, exploring Chicago’s food scene, and spending time with her “big fat Greek family.” She is fluent in English and Greek and speaks some Spanish as well.

Dr. Anna will be providing pediatric dental care at Magnolia on Friday afternoons and Saturdays and working side by side with Dr. Z, our awesome orthodontist to offer more opportunities for pediatric and orthodontic collaborative visits. Like all of us at MPDO, Dr. Anna enjoys providing a high level of comprehensive care to our patients. She can’t wait to meet you soon and help take care of your smile!

Dr. Davenport is a Diplomat of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. She was awarded the Richard C. Pugh Achievement Award for scoring in the top 3% across the nation on her written board examination. Dr. Davenport is on staff at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and maintains active memberships in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Illinois Society of Pediatric Dentists, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Diplomates of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, Illinois State Dental Society, and Chicago Dental Society.

When she’s not at work, Dr. Davenport stays busy chasing around her two young kids with her husband, Kevin. She enjoys baking, college football (Go Irish!), hand lettering, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends. She looks forward to meeting you and your family at your next visit!

When she’s not providing excellent care to her patients and their parents, Dr. Connell loves spending time with her husband, Bob Burger, a Keller Williams real estate broker, and their three kids. As a family, they frequently embark on adventures both local and abroad, and they especially like the Pacific side of Costa Rica.