Not all dental offices are created equal, especially when it comes to kids. And Dr. Ashlee Kato knows this better than anyone.
When she opened Suite Tooth Pediatrics in 2024 at 1229 Garrisonville Road in Stafford, she had a clear vision: create a dental experience that's calm, individualized, and actually enjoyable for children and their parents.
The name says it all. Suite Tooth isn't your typical busy, open-layout pediatric practice where the noise and activity can feel overwhelming. Instead, Dr. Kato designed her office to feel more like a suite, offering one-on-one attention in a space that prioritizes each child's unique needs and comfort level.
"You'll often find with pediatric practices that they are busy, open, and sometimes overstimulating for patients and parents," Dr. Kato explains. "Our approach is to offer more individualized care and focus on the patient's overall needs. We strive to provide minimal wait or scheduling times."
More Than Just Clean Teeth
Suite Tooth Pediatrics welcomes children from birth through age 18, offering everything from routine cleanings and x-rays to tooth-colored fillings, crowns, nitrous oxide sedation, and other restorative care. But what sets the practice apart isn't just the services. It's the philosophy behind them.
"Being a pediatric dentist is more than just establishing a healthy mouth," Dr. Kato says. "It is about the esteem and confidence that comes with a smile. I strive to ensure every child grows up at ease in the dental environment and is motivated to maintain their one-of-a-kind smile, for life."
That commitment extends beyond the chair. Dr. Kato and her team make patient and parent education a priority, equipping families with the knowledge and tools to maintain healthy oral habits at home.
Building Healthy Habits Early
Dr. Kato believes that healthy dental habits start young, which is why community outreach is such an important part of Suite Tooth's mission. The practice regularly visits local elementary and preschools to teach kids about proper brushing techniques and the role diet plays in oral health.
Suite Tooth has also partnered with various organizations to provide free oral screenings to children under 18 who need care, ensuring that every child in the community has access to dental health resources.
"Building healthy dental habits at a young age is key," Dr. Kato says. "Community service and outreach is extremely important to us, so we're excited to strengthen relationships with schools and businesses around us."
Growing Roots in Fredericksburg
Though Suite Tooth just opened its doors, Dr. Kato has big plans for the next five years. She's focused on growing not just in Stafford, but throughout the Fredericksburg area, creating lasting impressions that make children actually look forward to their dental appointments.
It's a lofty goal, but if the early response is any indication, Suite Tooth Pediatrics is already making its mark. Because when you combine expert care with genuine compassion and a calming environment, you get something rare: kids who smile on the way in and smile even bigger on the way out.
Suite Tooth Pediatrics
1229 Garrisonville Road, Suite 101, Stafford, VA 22556
(540) 426-0779
[email protected]