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Reviews

Thumbs up for great visits. We appreciate our patients

and their families each and everyday!

Dr. Claire, Dr. Michele, Dr. Tiana and their team are dedicated to providing the best care for your child.

 

We treat each child as if they are our own!

 

An atmosphere that ensures a fun and relaxing visit for patients and parents including prizes at the end of the appointment!

 

Provide a dental home for your child and instill good oral health habits in your child.

 

Dietary Counseling.

 

On-Call availability for after-hours emergencies.

Discover the MapleTree Difference1

Claire Mielke, DDS

“I am a mommy of two boys and two girls and I embrace the nurturing aspect of providing dental treatment
to children.

I treat every child like they are my own.”

read more about

Dr. Claire

Meet Our Doctors

Michele Olson, DDS

“Every child regardless of ability or disability, deserves kind and compassionate care.  The experiences they have now will impact and shape their future, therefore,
I strive to provide the best experiences to set them up for a lifetime of optimal health and well-being.”

read more about

Dr. Michele

Click below to read about

Our founder, Dr. Peter Mielke

Tiana Barsness, DDS

I am passionate about prevention, education and positive dental experiences. I want to be an advocate for all patients and strive to continually provide the highest level of care for your child in a safe, comfortable and compassionate environment.”

read more about

Dr. Tiana

Keep in touch

with us on

facebook and google!

Our Office

Our Hours

Our Policies

Our office is available Monday - Thursday 7:30 am until 4:00 pm.

 

Fridays 7:30 am until Noon.

 

Our after hours emergencies number is 651.300.4115

Our Team

Our primary asset is our talented and friendly staff.

 

Many of our staff members have been a part of MapleTree Pediatric Dentistry for decades.  Our team members take pride in showing children that going to the dentist is fun.

 

We cultivate a relationship with each of our pediatric patients.  We build trust and give them confidence, so they do not have to worry about going to the dentist.

 

Our staff members enjoy a long-term relationship with both the patient and their parents.  We enjoy watching a child mature and grow into a young adult.  Many of our current patients’ parents were also seen at our office as a child.

Dr. Claire, Dr. Michele and Dr. Tiana will develop a treatment plan that is specifically designed for your child.  Before any dental treatment is completed, our team will explain costs and benefits of any recommended treatment.  We ask that any amount due be paid the day of service.

 

We accept most insurance plans and our office is happy to file insurance for you. We will make every effort to ensure that your insurance benefits are utilized properly.  Please bring your insurance information to each appointment so we can better assist you. For our families without insurance, we offer a 5% discount if paid by cash or check at the time of service.

 

MapleTree Pediatric Dentistry is committed to having fees that are among the most competitive in the area, and has helpful financing options available if needed.

 

Please do not hesitate to ask us questions about your child’s treatment plan or our financial policy as we want you to be well informed and comfortable with these matters.

Click here for our complete financial policy.

Make a payment

Your Child’s First Visit

Your first visit with us will be easier than you think. Getting to know Dr. Claire,  Dr. Michele, Dr. Tiana and their team will be a fun and enjoyable experience for you, your child, and us. We will review your child’s dental and medical history, and make sure you are comfortable with our procedures and staff. Below are several questions that you may have before your first visit. Click on a question!

We love working with kids!

Pediatric Dentistry

What is a Pediatric Dentist?

 

Dr. Claire, Dr. Michele and Dr. Tiana are pediatric dentists, they specialize in the treatment and prevention of dental disease, as well as the overall oral health of children. Through extra years of schooling, training, experience, and certification, a pediatric dentist is uniquely qualified to treat the dental needs of infants, children, adolescents and those with special healthcare needs.

 

Why Choose a Pediatric Dentist?

 

Your child not only has a different dentition than an adult, but he/she may also have specific dental and behavioral needs that are unique to a child.  These needs may include early orthodontic intervention, dental sealants, fluoride applications, crowns and nerve treatments, or just simply education on oral hygiene.  In addition to treating existing dental problems, our office focuses on prevention through patient and parent education.

 

As your local experts in pediatric dentistry, Dr. Claire and  Dr. Michele will be monitoring your child’s dental facial growth and development and his or her unique smile and bite.  At every appointment, the doctors will keep you informed about any future and/or immediate orthodontic work recommended for your child.

 

One of our objectives is to provide all education tools and clinical applications for your child to enjoy a cavity-free future.  We also pride ourselves in building a trust with your child, so that he or she will love to go to the dentist as a child and as an adult.

What is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist?

 

When a Pediatric Dentist is Board Certified it means that the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry or ABPD certifies that the dental care being provided is based on standards of excellence that lead to high quality oral health care for infants, children, adolescents and patients with special health care needs. Certification by the ABPD provides assurance to the public that a Pediatric Dentist like our doctors have successfully completed accredited training and a voluntary examination process designed to continually validate the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to the delivery of quality patient care.

Establishing Your Child’s Dental Home

 

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry encourages parents and other care providers to help every child establish a dental home by 12 months of age. Establishing a dental home provides some key components to dental care for your child including...

 

  • Comprehensive oral health care including acute care and preventive services.

  • Individualized preventive dental health program based upon a caries-risk assessment.

  • Anticipatory guidance regarding growth and development.

  • Plan for acute dental trauma (emergencies).

  • Dietary counseling.

  • Referrals to dental specialists when care cannot directly be provided within the dental home.

  • Referral at an age determined by patient, parent, and pediatric dentist.

Learn more about Pediatric Dentistry:

Look no further for your child's dental home.  Schedule an appointment today!

Orthodontics

Growth and Development & Braces

 

Dr. Claire, Dr. Michele and Dr. Tiana are not orthodontists, but orthodontics is in the scope of pediatric dentistry because it includes growth and development of the dental arches.  All our doctors attend biyearly (g)nathos a continuing education course taught by dual trained Pediatric Dentist/Orthodontist, Dr. Gerald Samson.  Dr. Samson provides continuing orthodontic education to dentists who are seeking an increased level of sophistication in the delivery of orthodontic care for their patients giving specific attention to the “growing” patient.

 

An early growth and development evaluation may provide your child with a more positive experience should they need early-orthodontic treatment from our doctors.

 

Depending on your child’s unique smile, our doctors may recommend types of treatments including orthodontic appliances like traditional silver colored braces, headgear and retention devices.

Types of Braces

 

Our practice has several techniques for delivering your child’s perfect smile.

 

Early treatment may include the use of a space maintainer to keep all the teeth in place in the event that a tooth is pulled at an early age.

 

Space Maintainers may be used to preserve the leeway space before the baby molars fall out in a child who has crowded teeth.  The space gained in the back can be used in the front to unravel crowding.

 

The most traditional method is the silver braces you remember from childhood. Using silver braces can be the most cost effective and time effective method of treatment.

 

When orthodontic care is complete, your child will be instructed to wear retainers 24/7 for the first year; and thereafter, retainers should be worn at night.

Click for Orthodontic Emergencies Information

Schedule a Visit!

  • When should I first bring my child to the dentist?

    Years ago it was recommended to bring your child to the dentist when they turned three years old.  This was because at age 3, most children try to cooperate. Our office, as well as the The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) all recommend establishing a “Dental Home” for your child by one year of age. Children who have a dental home are more likely to receive appropriate preventive and routine oral health care.  The Dental Home is intended to provide a place other than the Emergency Room for parents.

  • How should I prepare my child for his or her dental appointment?

    You can help make the first visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive. If old enough, your child should be informed of the visit and told that the dentist and their staff will explain all procedures and answer any questions. The less to-do concerning the visit, the better.

     

    It is best if you refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear, such as “needle”,  “shot”,  “pull”,  “drill” or “hurt.”  The office makes a practice of using the “tell-show-do” method.  We will always first TELL your child about a procedure, then SHOW your child how it works, feels and sounds, then, when they are comfortable, we will DO the procedure.

     

    Most children under the age of 30 months will not feel comfortable sitting in the dental chair. This is quite normal.  Dr. Claire, Dr. Michele or Dr. Tiana will perform a knee to knee exam so that your child feels comfortable.

  • What should I bring on my first visit?

    On your first visit to our office, please bring your insurance card and our Welcome Packet already completed.

     

    Your insurance determines your deductible. Any amount not covered by your insurance will be due that day.

  • Do you accept insurance?

    We accept most insurance programs. We will do our best to let you know the amount of your co-pay ahead of time.

     

    For anyone who doesn’t have insurance, we offer a 5% discount if paid by cash or check at the time of service.

  • What can I expect to pay for my child’s visit?

    We would be happy to discuss fees and insurance with parents prior to the first visit in our office.  Our receptionists will discuss this with you, and answer any questions you may have prior to making your first appointment.

     

    Your insurance may cover only a portion of our services.  We accept all major credit cards. Your payment portion is expected on the day your child is seen.

  • My child has special healthcare needs.

    Can you help us?

    The extra years of training that pediatric dentists complete includes training in the care of children with special healthcare needs. All of our doctors have privileges at Children’s Hospital St. Paul and Gillette Children’s St. Paul in the event that your child needs general anesthesia for their dental treatment.

  • We have several children, and scheduling is important to us. Can you see all my children at once?

    Seeing several children in one family at the same time is never a problem for our team.  We know that our parents have busy schedules, and we do our best to stay on schedule at all times.

  • How can I schedule a visit with our doctors?

After hours emergencies 651.300.4115

1420 Lake St S., Suite 150

Forest Lake, MN 55025 map

Claire Mielke, DDS

Michele Olson, DDS

Tiana Barsness, DDS

1420 Lake St S., Suite 150 Forest Lake, MN 55025 map

After hours emergencies 651.300.4115

Forest Lake, MN map

After hours emergencies 651.300.4115

Forest Lake map

  • When should I first bring my child to the dentist?

    Years ago it was recommended to bring your child to the dentist when they turned three years old.  This was because at age 3, most children try to cooperate. Our office, as well as the The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) all recommend establishing a “Dental Home” for your child by one year of age. Children who have a dental home are more likely to receive appropriate preventive and routine oral health care.  The Dental Home is intended to provide a place other than the Emergency Room for parents.

  • How should I prepare my child for his or her dental appointment?

    You can help make the first visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive. If old enough, your child should be informed of the visit and told that the dentist and their staff will explain all procedures and answer any questions. The less to-do concerning the visit, the better.

     

    It is best if you refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear, such as “needle”,  “shot”,  “pull”,  “drill” or “hurt.”  The office makes a practice of using the “tell-show-do” method.  We will always first TELL your child about a procedure, then SHOW your child how it works, feels and sounds, then, when they are comfortable, we will DO the procedure.

     

    Most children under the age of 30 months will not feel comfortable sitting in the dental chair. This is quite normal.  Dr. Claire, Dr. Michele or Dr. Tiana perform a knee to knee exam so that your child feels comfortable.

  • What should I bring on my first visit?

    On your first visit to our office, please bring your insurance card and our Welcome Packet already completed.

     

    Your insurance determines your deductible. Any amount not covered by your insurance will be due that day.

  • Do you accept insurance?

    We accept most insurance programs. We will do our best to let you know the amount of your co-pay ahead of time.

     

    For anyone who doesn’t have insurance, we offer a 5% discount if paid by cash or check at the time of service.

  • What can I expect to pay for my child’s visit?

    We would be happy to discuss fees and insurance with parents prior to the first visit in our office.  Our receptionists will discuss this with you, and answer any questions you may have prior to making your first appointment.

     

    Your insurance may cover only a portion of our services.  We accept all major credit cards. Your payment portion is expected on the day your child is seen.

  • My child has special healthcare needs.

    Can you help us?

    The extra years of training that pediatric dentists complete includes training in the care of children with special healthcare needs. All of our doctors have privileges at Children’s Hospital St. Paul and Gillette Children’s St. Paul in the event that your child needs general anesthesia for their dental treatment.

  • We have several children, and scheduling is important to us. Can you see all my children at once?

    Seeing several children in one family at the same time is never a problem for our team.  We know that our parents have busy schedules, and we do our best to stay on schedule at all times.

  • How can I schedule a visit with Dr. Claire or Dr. Michele?

Schedule a Visit!