Kid-friendly HMO Dentist in Oak Park or Surrounding Areas??

My daughter is now 11 and has been going to Dr. Crawford at Orthodontic and Pediatric Specialists in Oak Park for about 5 or 6 years. I too have HMO-IL insurance. I have no complaints. The staff is very professional and appt. are always taken on time. I don't recall ever having to wait.

During our first visit, her picture was taken and a digital print out of her exam was provided. Any recommened/future treatments are outlined and cost noted for each, so there are NO surprises. There are some treatment or services that can only be performed during the week, as opposed to the weekend. They are open only a few Saturdays a month, as I recall and they call with appt. reminders. Also, they keep track of any appt. you missed and failed to call to cancel..don't let this happen to a Saturday appt. as I got the imporession that they are less inclined to give you future Saturday appt. which are coveted, as you can imagine. I recall we missed one Saturday appt. (I simply forgot) and I was reminded once that I hadn't missed an appt. since 2003. So, I know they track this information.

Some services are a little pricey, but the service is great and worth it. The contact information is:

Dr. John Crawford
Pediatric and Orthodontic Specialist
505 N. Ridgeland
Oak Park
1-###-###-####

Good luck!

My son goes to Children's Dentistry at 1129 S. Harlem in Forest Park. www.little-teeth-big-smiles.com

Dr. Jerry Udelson is GREAT and his staff is really welcoming and helpful;. They have a very child-friendly office and also specialize in kids who have special needs and health conditions (they were recommended by a friend of ours whose son had leukemia and had to have his dental treatment coordinated with all the other drugs, etc. he was receiving at the time). We have had a completely positive experience with Dr. Jerry- go there!

Hi there~
I just started taking my little ones to Dr. Crawford on Ridgeland and Chicago avenue in Oak Park.
HE IS WONDERFUL. EVERYTHING is geared towards making the child feel as comfortable and safe as possible.
The very first visit is them examining the teeth BUT they make it so fun that if there is an issue it's no big deal cause the kids want to go back (and trust me, my 5 year old is a VERY VERY sensitive kid so for him to go back and have 4 fillings (augh) without an issue was great!).
They take all kinds of ins. but certainly ask when you call just to be sure.
Good luck!!

J.,

I go to Dr. Tatiana Ostanina on North Avenue, in Elmwood Park. Although it isn't a child only practice, they do have children's books in the waiting area and a box of little toys that the kids get to pick out of after they are finished. Dr. Ostanina has seen my daughter, who is 3 and we didn't have much of a problem. I thought that the dentist was great with my daughter. Although the hygenist seemed to have a lot of experience with kids and was very friendly, I thought that she was a little impatient with my daughter. Not in a mean way at all, but when my daughter turned her head away, she seemed to give up on trying to clean her teeth, when I think if she had tried once more she would have been fine. But the dentist came over after that and checked out her teeth and said they were clean and there were no problems. They have Saturday hours, which I actually didn't know until I was making my daughter's next appointment and the receptionist asked me if I would prefer to bring her in on a Saturday.

I have Delta Dental also. The number for the office is ###-###-####. As far as I know they are taking new patients.

Good Luck,
D.