Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry welcomes Dr. Greg Mathieu!

I am excited to introduce Dr. Greg Mathieu into my practice. He is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist and currently serves as an examination committee member and consultant for the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. He was the Director of my pediatric dental residency where I completed my specialty training at the University of Connecticut. Prior to that, he served in the U.S. Army for over 20 years as a pediatric dentist and retired at the rank of Colonel. After more than 13 years of service at UConn, he has decided to join me in private practice and looks forward to many more years of treating children with Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry. I am very excited and honored to work with him again. I am sure patients will adore him as much as we do!

-- Dr. Kelly Hilgers

Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry, official sponsors of Goodyear's Heart & Sole Run/Walk!

Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry and Hilgers Orthodontics are proud to be, allowing with West Valley Hospital, sponsors of the Heart & Sole 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, February 20 in Goodyear. Heart & Sole takes place at the Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way. All participants will receive a t-shirt, ribbon, goodies and refreshments. The Ballpark will have music, vendor booths and food concessions.

Get your tickets for 1/2 off at Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry or Hilgers Orthodontics! (Checks only please!) For more information on the Heart & Sole 5K, please give us a call or visit Goodyear's official website.

Let's help fight childhood obesity and diabetes!

Ask Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry: When is thumb-sucking a cause for worry?

Lots of you have asked us about whether it’s healthy for children to suck thumbs (or, less frequently, fingers). If you’ve got a thumb-sucker in the house, you are not alone. Research tells us that between 75% and 95% of infants suck their thumbs.

So, is this anything to worry about?

In most cases, no, says Dr. Kelly. Sucking is a natural reflex for an infant, and can provide security and contentment as well as relaxation for your little one. It’s a habit that most children grow out of between the ages of 2 and 4.

However, if your child keeps sucking after he’s gotten his permanent teeth, it’s time to take a closer look. If your child sucks his thumb aggressively, putting pressure on the inside of his mouth or his teeth, it could cause problems with tooth alignment and proper mouth growth. If you’re worried, give us a call and Dr. Kelly will help assess the situation, and provide tips for how to help your child break the habit.

Choosing the Right Dentist, Part Two: Why Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry Simply Works

A complete experience...

Dr. Kelly and her staff at Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry are warm and friendly, and take pleasure in explaining to parents their child's treatment will be kid-friendly. We focus on educating patients on preventive care and are sure to develop a good relationship with the patient. If the child ever needs treatment, there is a level of trust developed that makes the experience more comfortable.

Further, Dr. Kelly's husband is an orthodontist, and together we make sure our patients' growth and development is monitored and minor issues are corrected before they become major problems.

For more reasons on why Dr. Kelly and her team are the right fit for your children's dental needs, please visit our "About Us" page or give us a call!

Choosing the Right Dentist, Part One: Why Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry?

Dr. Kelly and her team are often asked, "What sets your practice apart from the rest?" Here's our answer: Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry is a great place for parents and children to share a fun, safe and rewarding dental experience. Our warm and welcoming atmosphere provides a special experience from the moment a child walks through our doors. The initial feeling you get is that you just walked into a rain forest on a deserted island. There is a gigantic tree that stretches across a very large reception area. The front desk is a tiki-hut that connects an arcade, a shipwreck, a complimentary coffee bar, a movie theater and complementary Internet station for parents.

Each child receives a T-shirt with our crocodile logo and is rewarded at subsequent appointments with an extra prize if they wear the shirt. Every child who walks through the door is offered a balloon, whether they have an appointment or a sibling has an appointment.

Stay tuned next week, for part two of why Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry is the right choice for you. Give us a call if you have any questions! Until then, Dr. Kelly and her team wish you a Happy New Year!

What are patients saying about Dr. Kelly Hilgers?

Dr. Hilgers and her team love getting patient reviews. And lately, Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry, serving Goodyear and surrounding communities, has been getting some pretty great patient testimonials! We thought we'd share some with you today! Happy Holidays!

"I can't say enough GREAT things about Dr. Hilgers! I only wish I had a dentist like Dr. Hilgers when I was growing up!! Everyone in her practice is so friendly! My daughter is not scared to go in the back. She looks forward to seeing Dr. Hilgers!" ~ Kylee M.

"Dr. Kelly is great. She has a lot of patience with my kids. She interacts with them on a level they can understand. My kids look forward to going to the dentist which is something you don't see everyday." ~ Xavier S.

"Dr. Kelly and her staff are great with the kids. I have had bad experiences with other pediatric dentists and Dr. Kelly and her staff are by far the best." ~ Adriana L.

"I like the kid friendly atmosphere and how helpful everyone is to us as parents and to my child!" ~ Matthew G.

Meet Our Dentist

Dr. Kelly Hilgers is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist and is a recognized specialist of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Originally from Michigan, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences from Michigan State University. She completed dental school, earning a D.D.S. Summa Cum Laude at the University of Colorado. She later went on to complete residency specialty training in Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Connecticut and Hospital Dentistry at the University of Michigan.

Dr. Kelly was the Director of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Louisville, where she earned her Master’s Degree in Oral Biology. She has published numerous scientific articles in peer reviewed journals, as well as several oral medicine textbook chapters. Dr. Kelly was one of the youngest pediatric dentists ever to receive Board Certification by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and currently serves as a reviewer for several top pediatric dental journals.

Dr. Kelly moved to Arizona with her husband, Dr. Mike, in 2005. Dr. Mike is an orthodontist at Hilgers Orthodontics. Dr. Kelly and Dr. Mike enjoy raising their son, Alec, in the growing and active community of Goodyear.