My boys have been seeing Dr. Shah for many years and I highly recommend Growing Smiles for pediatric dentistry. The staff are professionals who make patients and parents feel very comfortable and who take the time to explain everything. Beyond general check ups, one son had a tooth pulled (abscessed tooth) and who had to go in today for a cracked tooth; the other son was referred to an orthodontist for braces because of an under bite (which is now fixed). read more

Today was the second visit for my 2.5 year old who now officially loves going to the dentist. Her hygienist Priscilla was fast and thorough, and Dr. Reena was great. Highly recommend Growing Smiles! read more

My 2 year old son had a dental emergency after he had fallen pretty hard. Growing Smiles took him in asap that day, evaluated the situation and was great with my son. I felt comfortable and in great hands with Dr Michael and staff. We will continue to use Growing Smiles and I sincerely appreciate their professionalism and kindness during a tough day. My son loved the toys and they put 'Cars' on for him to look at during the visit. We couldn't have found a better fit for our growing little family! read more

The best pediatric dentist office in Chicago! The administrative staff along with Dr. Kristin Elliot and Dr Reena Shaw are exceptionally warm and welcoming. Their affection towards children is commendable! My daughter feels safe and secure because Dr. Kristin Elliot explains everything that she's going to do before she does it. It's wonderful and reassuring to know that your child feels safe and unafraid in the dentist chair! read more

Dr Reena and Tyler are both awesome. We come in from Park Ridge because they are worth it. Dr Reena did an extensive amount of dental work on my son, almost 5 years ago, and everything is still great. Tyler has a great demeanor with my son.and it is always a stress free visit. read more

Dr Kristin and Page were amazing! I took my 3 and 7 year old, first time here, after we moved from another location, and they did GREAT! I have never seen them do so well. Page was so patient, explained everything, took her time, was so gentle, professional, competent, and just super awesome with kids. People like that don't come around, hope Growing Smiles never lets her leave :) Dr Kristin was just as great. Took the time to explain everything and to get the kids involved. I am sure having 3 little ones herself helps :) I am so thankful that they made this, what used to be a terrible experience (even for Dad), into one that is not a big deal anymore. Thank you and keep it up! read more

We love Dr. Kristin and Growing Smiles. The entire staff is friendly and patient. The environment is inviting and fun. The TVs on the ceiling are great to distract/entertain the kids while examining. And the treatments are thorough. My kids enjoy going to the dentist! The only critique I have is that the desirable times fill up fast and you have to book way in advance, but that's what you get with such great service. I just plan ahead. read more

Amazing experience! My daughter is 21 months old and can't sit still for anything. I was shocked that Dr.Kristin's (and her staff) bedside manner was so incredible that my daughter just sat there for 10+ minutes while they cleaned her teeth. The office is very clean and ALL of the staff are very friendly. read more

My kids are 5 and 3. We have been patients of Dr Shah for 3 years. My kids can't decide if the love the idea of going to the dentist in general, or are terrified, but they do love Dr Shah. She has an ability to ease their fears or concerns. She is amazing with them. We are so lucky to have found a pediatric dentist that will make such a positive impact on their dental care and outlook at dental visits. The office is very well run. The front desk staff are super friendly, helpful, and understanding of customers' needs. Their is a fun play area, and the Drs have lots of rewards at the end of the visit to make kids really feel like they hit the jackpot. read more

We had an outstanding experience at Growing Smile with Dr. Michael and his Assistant, Wendy. Our 4 year old told us afterward that she had an awesome time! Dr.Michael explained everything very thoroughly and we value his approach to setting the stage to healthy dental hygiene. read more

Dr. Michael is the BEST! He takes his time with my kids and explains to them everything that he is doing. They are very comfortable with him. He makes visiting the dentist a great experience. read more

We have taken our three daughters to see Dr. Shah since before they had teeth:) She has built a wonderful practice through nurturing her patient and family relationships...not to mention she is a super credentialed pediatric dentist. There's no where else we will ever go. Your staff was also great during our last visit....and always. read more

The doctors and assistants were good. But the staff at the front desk was incompetent. They didn't know how to file insurance correctly, then they didn't bother to call the insurance company to figure it out. They didn't bother to contact the customer about unsuccessful filing. Then 6 months from the visit, they want $200 from the customer. When asked why they didn't contact the customer, they claimed that they didn't have the customer's contact info, which was apparently a lie, because they sent email and text to the customer and reported the correct mailing address upon checkin. I've interacted with at least 7 dental offices across 4 different states, and never seen something like this. read more

Dentist Kristin Elliott's advice & care for our 8 year old son was terrific. Can't say enough good things about her & Growing smiles. read more

Best possible experience at my 2 yr olds first dentist's appointment. Tyler was her hygienist and was not too pushy which kept my daughter relaxed and cooperative. They have TVs on the ceiling and played her favorite show (sing). He showed her all the tools ahead of time and had kid friendly names for each. (Mr. Thirsty, Elephant for the water etc) He let her hold the mirror and would pause for exploration if she started to get nervous. Dr. Kristin was great as well. She was full of complements and spoke kid language about sugar bugs and brushing. She also was proactive in talking to me about thumb sucking even though so far her teeth are spaced and aligned well. She also told me what to watch for as she is soon to be teething her last set of molars. Fun relaxed waiting room with a toy nook tucked neatly in the corner. All the staff were super friendly which says a lot when you have a waiting room filled with nervous toddlers and parents. Keep up the good work Growing Smiles! read more

The hygienists and Dr. Kristen are great. They make it such an accommodating environment for kids. Both of mine had really tough first visits (lots of crying/screaming from being scared) and everyone kept their patience and made it quick. The 2nd visit was a complete 180 for both and they sat up in the chair, excited to get that coin for doing such a good job. read more

I try to make going to the Dentist a fun curious new adventure for my girls, and and Dr. Rena, Taylor and the entire staff are an absolute delight and help to make that happen. My 2 and 4 year olds loved going to the dentist today, where there are fun toys, incredibly nice staff, Netflix on the ceiling and an overall warm and comfortable environment; I laid on the chair with my 2 year old on top of me for the exam, and she was excited for her sticker and to choose her new toothbrush after a quick and easy cleaning and check up. The girls didn't want to leave at the end of our appointment. I recommend Growing Smiles to everyone with kiddos!!! We are lucky to have them in our neighborhood. read more

We called with a dental emergency on Friday afternoon, my son chipped his tooth at school. We had not been a patient before but I had heard good things about them and they were near our school. The team was amazing! They immediately gave me instructions on the care for the tooth until we got there. Squeezed us in, were so friendly and helpful. They go out of their way to make kids and families feel comfortable and calm. read more

We love Dr. Michael. My son is on the Autism Spectrum and has a difficult time with people "in his face", but Dr. Michael talks it all through with him, approaches with an up-beat attitude (which he appreciates) and then is always SO patient and kind if things go sideways... I swear, Dr. Michael is magic! We love this place, and can't imagine going anywhere else! read more

I would recommend Dr. Shah and Elliot for any child! They are some of the best pediatric dentists in the city.

They are fantastic. I brought my daughter in for her first dental exam the other day and it could not have gone any better. Dr. Reena and the staff are patient, friendly, and utterly accommodating. They are also very good at explaining, both to children (I was amazed at how easily they got my daughter to lie back in the chair and have her teeth cleaned) and to adults (I received a very thorough explanation of my daughter's mouth and how to make sure she grows up with very healthy teeth). The lobby and rooms are very bright, cheery, and full of toys and other things to set your child's mind at ease. Having Dora play on the TV above her dental chair was a nice distraction for my daughter, and Dr. Reena somehow managed to make applying a coat of fluoride ("princess sparkles") something she really enjoyed. This is a model for how such a practice should be run. I'm incredibly impressed. read more

We love growing smiles. Today I had my five year old and two year old. Two clean mouths and zero tears. I thought my youngest would freak out but they made her feel safe and have fun. Dr. Reena and nurse Wendy are the best. The whole office makes the experience really great. read more

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! Dr. Reena, Dr. Ashley and all the staff are wonderful!!! They are all professional, knowledgeable, kind & welcoming. My 5 year doesn't mind when it's time to go to the dentist. read more

I have friends visiting from England and their 21 month old daughter fell in the park and badly hit her front teeth. We called Growing Smiles at 4:50 pm - they close at 5:00 pm - and they asked us to email a picture. After seeing the image they thought it best that we bring her in. Three members of staff waited after hours until we got there. It was 5:20 pm by the time we'd power walked there. They were helpful and kind, and I can't recommend them highly enough! They reassured my friends that their little girl was okay. read more

Excellent staff and Dr. Kristin was great with our kids. They were prompt and thorough. We all look forward to our next visit.

Growing Smiles was recommended to us from good friends for our boys (at the time 2 and 3.5) for their first dentist visit. Every person at Growing Smiles from the minute we walked inthe door made it such a positive experience for the boys that they LOVE (yes..i said LOVE) going to the dentist. Dr. Reena and her staff were so calm and funny with the boys. They even hung up a picture of my "thumb sucker" when he quit to make him feel special. The boys loved the stickers, toothbrushes, and toys they got. I wish I had this experience growing up!! read more

Great hygienists and Dr. Kristin is the best with the kids.

So far we are having a great success with the office and Doctor Michael specifically! I have been taking my son there for checkups since he was 11 months old .He had 16 teeth by then so I figured it's time to start taking care of the teeth. We had cleanings and checkups done now 4 times and all went great. Dr Michael to whom my son responds very well, is actually able to clean his teeth, which was a shock for me, as when we came first time and I saw that they are using regular tools that are used to clean adult teeth, I thought my son's will get his eye pocked or face scratched at best, as he of course does not sit still with his mouth open. But it went successfully They typically make him lay on my lap with head on doctor's lap on the pillow . I have to hold his hands, and he screams of course, but considering you are messing with a teeth of a baby all goes well. My son comes down right away after procedure is complete, so it tells me it does not really hurt or even bother him that much. He also gets a little toy from the doctor as an award, which he loves. They do not take insurance which I learned being a case with most of pediatric dentist offices, so you have to pay upfront. However, they file paperwork for you and send to your insurance company, who then sends you a reimbursement check . So you do not have to file claim yourself. That works for me. read more

I can't say enough good things about this practice and about Dr. Shah in particular. When we started coming here my daughter was borderline phobic about going to the dentist. Every visit involved fear, crying, pleading and cajoling. Growing Smiles has completely turned that around for her. She no longer complains about going at all, and admits that she likes all the people at Growing Smiles, especially Dr. Shah. She still struggles with doctor visits, so it is not just a matter of maturity. Besides top notch care and a friendly environment, the striking thing about the practice is how they take time with each child. They always take time to chat with them about their life and also let them use their quiet room if they are feeling anxiety. The quiet room is a small room with a door they can close. It has easy chairs, books, and a tv. When my daughter was panicky about an extraction they let her take time out to chill and never rushed her. Dr. Michael performed the extraction and he was wonderful. Kind and patient. We have never had a less than great experience with any person associated with this practice. read more

Dr Shah and her staff are a shining example of what perfection in pediatric dentistry looks like. I have a 2 and 3 year old and the way Dr. Shah approaches and handles kids is amazing. They sense her calm, unhurried, and nurturing way and they pretty much smiled all the way through the visit. Just amazing. The office is always spotless and they have such creative ways to keep the kids entertained. read more

Terrific team at Growing Smiles. Our 3 y/o twins see Dr Shah & her staff. Second visit a couple of wks ago. Highly impressed by Dr Shah's patience, skill & gentle style. On our first visit with her, our children were nervous & scared. When she spontaneously burst into a song with a soft lullaby, their fear dissipated. Think she may be one of the best Pediatric dentists in the world....so relieved to not ever have to worry about children's dental visit experience. Dr Shah rocks! read more

Thank you so much Growing Smiles for such an amazing experience! From the initial call to set up my daughter's very first dental appointment until the time we left, I felt so at ease and well taken care of. The receptionist during the initial phone call took the time to explain the whole dental visit and what my daughter will expect and that is exactly what happened. Diana did a wonderful job of engaging my daughter throughout the cleaning and kept saying positive things to make my daughter at ease. Diana and Dr. Kristen were so patient and kind and really took the time to examine my daughter's teeth and talk to me. Thank you! read more

Dr. Reena was SO helpful in calming us down when our daughter knocked out her front tooth at a very young age. She explained the implications and all of our options for the future, and reassured us that our daughter will be perfectly fine. The staff was super helpful and made our daughter feel really comfortable in a strange space. They also squeezed us in same day when we explained the situation. We are excited to be part of such a caring practice! read more

2 year old daughter and 4 year old son had their first visit here. Amazing how great they were with both of them. TV on the ceiling with headphones kept them relaxed. They talked the kids through all the steps, letting them feel the equipment and such. Everyone seemed very knowledgeable and gave us great advice. Very friendly and happy place. They get a coin at the end to use on the bubble gum machine filled with toys. I was very impressed. read more

Had a wonderful first dental visit today (2.5 yo). The office is incredibly child friendly, including a little toilet in the bathroom which my newly potty trained daughter loved. The staff is really nice and Dr Reena really had the magic touch with my daughter. It could not have gone better and my daughter wants to go back. Highly recommended. (and conveniently located, just a few blocks from brown line) read more

New, fun children's dental office on Southport with a bright play space for kids of all ages. Two super nice dentists who are caring, cool and patient. Friendly staff too! Lots of extras like flat screen tv's and video games for the little patients and free laptop for parents and nannies to use while they are waiting will keep me going back until the kids are adults! read more

I don't normally write reviews, but felt compelled to give kudos to Growing Smiles. First impression was that the office was incredibly clean, bright, and kid friendly. My 15 month old daughter could have spent her morning playing in the reception area she was so happy with the toys. The staff was very approachable and welcoming and put us right at ease. Dr. Kristen and the dental technician were knowledgeable and my daughter had no problem letting them examine her mouth while they sang fun songs. Best of all at the end of her visit they printed out a picture they took of her playing up front and put it in a little paper frame with all of their signatures so we would remember the visit! Definitely recommend. read more

Took two toddlers to their first appointment recently and it was a great experience. One of my kids was calm and happy but the other really screamed the place down - despite that Dr Kristen and her staff stayed calm and really made the experience as good as it could be. It's a lovely bright office and my kids didn't want to leave the play area (even the one that had screamed his head off). We will definitely be making it our regular dentist. read more

They were perfect. Took my 2 yr old for her 1st exam. They did everything right. It was clean, filled with toys, and the staff and doctors were excellent with my kid. My daughter was getting her teeth cleaned before she even knew it and never cried (and she likes to cry). LOVE! read more

I've been taking both my daughters to Dr. Reena for several years. My 8 year old has had several dental issues over the years. Dr. Reena is clinically excellent, knowledgeable, empathic and kind. She puts parents and children at ease. We commute over 45 minutes to see Dr. Reena, and it's worth it! read more