How to Choose a Location for a Pediatric Dental Practice
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How to choose a location for a pediatric dental practice
A pediatric dental practice serves one age group, so the right location depends on where children live, how their families pay for care, and how many pediatric dentists already serve them. Total population and the number of general dentists matter less than they would for a general practice.
How many pediatric dental practices are there?
Dentagraphics' research team has verified 7,116 active pediatric dental practices in the US. That works out to about 10,400 residents under 18 per pediatric practice nationally.
By state, among states with at least 10 pediatric practices, that figure ranges from about 6,600 children per pediatric practice in Colorado to about 21,400 in Minnesota. North Dakota, South Dakota and Vermont, with fewer than 10 pediatric practices each, are higher still. In other words, some states have three times as many children for each pediatric office as others. See every state in dental specialists per capita by state.
Source: Dentagraphics verified practice counts, October 2026; population by age from Census ACS.
What to measure around a location
1. Children by age group
Look at the number of residents aged 0 to 5, 6 to 11 and 12 to 17 within a realistic drive of the site. Young children bring years of recall visits. Nationally about 21% of residents are under 18. An area well above that share, especially in the youngest group, points to steady demand.
2. Growth and new families
Population growth and new housing in an area often mean young families. A growing suburb can support a pediatric practice that would struggle in an older, stable neighborhood with the same total population.
3. Pediatric dentists nearby
Count the pediatric practices within a short drive and divide the number of children by that count. Compare the result with the county, the metro and the national figure of about 10,400. Use a list a person has checked, since online maps include closed offices and duplicate listings.
4. How families pay for care
Children's dental care is often covered by Medicaid or a state children's health program, so the payer mix around a site shapes your practice model. The number of Medicaid enrollees and the median household income in the area tell you whether a Medicaid-focused, mixed or fee-for-service model fits. Neither is better; they need different locations, staffing and scheduling.
5. General dentists who see children
Many general dentists see children for routine care and refer more complex cases or very young and anxious patients to a pediatric dentist. A strong base of general practices nearby is usually a source of referrals rather than a threat.
6. Schools and access
Proximity to schools and family shopping areas, easy parking and after-school appointment hours all matter more for a pediatric office than for most dental practices.
A real example
Dr. Phil Chung used this kind of analysis to choose the location for his pediatric practice. Read how he chose his site.
Frequently asked questions
How many children does a pediatric dental practice need? There is no fixed number. Nationally there are about 10,400 children per pediatric practice. Compare the area around your site with that figure and with its county, and weigh growth and payer mix alongside it.
Should a pediatric practice locate near a children's hospital? It can help for referrals and specialty care, but most pediatric patients come from the neighborhoods around the office. Measure where the children live first.
Where can I see the market around a specific address? A Dentagraphics membership shows demographics, household income and verified pediatric and general practices around any address or drawn area.
How Dentagraphics helps
- Free plan: state and county demographics and competition, including Medicaid enrollees.
- Start/Buy membership ($149 per month): unlimited address and area searches, with verified pediatric and general practices around each site.
- Single-Site Study ($695) or Area Analysis ($745): a demographer studies the market for your pediatric practice and writes the analysis.
Our competition data covers 118,330 US dental practices verified by hand. We do not broker practices and hold no stake in any location.
Looking at sites for a pediatric practice? See a free sample report, or create a free account to see demographics and competition in any county today.