Trained in a residency in pediatric dentistry. She examines every child herself and explains what she sees to you and to them.
Pediatric dentistry · Baton Rouge
Dentistry for children, with Medicaid and CHIP explained first
Pelican Pediatric Dentistry is one dentist's office in Baton Rouge. Look at your child's plan below, then ask for a first visit. We tell you what to expect before you come.
Your child's plan
Your child's plan, and where we stand
Most of the families we see have Medicaid or CHIP. Here is how each is handled, in the order you will meet it.
- Enrolled
Louisiana Medicaid
We are enrolled for children's visits. Call with the plan name on your child's card and we check what it covers before you come.
Checked before the visit
Covered visits are billed to the plan
- Enrolled
LaCHIP
Louisiana's children's health insurance program. The steps are the same: bring the card, and we confirm what it covers before the visit.
Checked before the visit
The plan decides what it pays
- Ask us
Another plan, or none
A plan through a job, or no coverage at all: call, and we put the fee for each step in writing before any treatment.
How fees workA written estimate on request
No treatment before you say yes
The practice sets its own status for each plan and replaces these tags.
A parent's guide
Your child's first visit, step by step
What happens, what the plan does and what you may owe, in the order you will meet it.
- 01
Step 1: You call or send a request
Silvia Dorantes at the front desk asks which plan your child has and finds a time that works around school.
- 02
Step 2: We check the plan, you bring a few things
Before the visit we look up what the plan covers for a child's checkup and tell you, including any limit on visits in a year. You bring your child's plan card, a photo ID and a list of any medicines. Health history goes on our private portal, not in an email or a form.
- 03
Step 3: The visit
About 45 minutes. Jenny Seng cleans and counts the teeth, Dr. Harrell examines them, and you stay with your child the whole time.
- 04
Step 4: You leave with it in writing
What we found, what the plan paid and what, if anything, you owe. Any treatment beyond a checkup comes with a written estimate first.
In the waiting room
You stay with your child, from the chair to the front desk
Children do better with a parent beside them, so you are in the room for the whole visit.
Dr. Harrell talks to your child first and to you second, and she asks you to say if something is making them nervous. If a visit is hard, we stop, take a break and try again at the next one.
How we handle the visit
A parent is welcome in the room
Each tool is shown before it is used
We stop when your child or you ask
Visits we offer
Checkups to emergencies, for children from the first tooth
Who you will meet
One dentist, a hygienist and a front desk
Jenny Seng
Dental hygienist
- Dental hygienist license (RDH) · LA License no. 000000
Cleans teeth, counts them and shows children each tool before using it.
Silvia Dorantes
Front desk and billing
Checks your child's plan before the visit and answers questions about fees. Speaks Spanish.
Questions parents ask first
Do you take my child's insurance?
Call with the plan name and we tell you before you book. Louisiana Medicaid and LaCHIP are listed on this page and on the fees page.
What if my child has no coverage?
You pay for the visit, and we give you a written estimate of every step before any treatment.
Can I stay in the room?
Yes. Most children are calmer with a parent beside them, and you are welcome for the whole visit.
What if my child is scared?
Tell us when you book. We go slowly, show each tool and stop when you or your child ask.
Ask for a first visit
Silvia Dorantes will call or text with a time and tell you what your child's plan covers. Please leave out health details; for anything urgent, call us.