Pediatric Dentist In Superior, CO
Creating joyful dental experiences for children throughout Superior and surrounding communities
Mini Miners Pediatric Dentistry is a pediatric dental office in the Erie Commons shopping area in nearby Erie, led by board-certified pediatric dentist Dr. Alison Grover.
Why Mini Miners Is Worth the Drive From Superior
If you're weighing a pediatric dentist in Superior, CO against the drive to Erie, the case for Mini Miners is specialist training and 3 levels of sedation for a scared child. At Mini Miners Pediatric Dentistry, we bring specialized training to every appointment. Dr. Alison completed her Pediatric Dental Residency at UCLA, holds a Pediatric Dental Diplomate certification, and earned her undergraduate degree at Wellesley College.
What sets us apart is individualizing each child's experience. We offer over 70 movies to choose from, a choice of toothpaste and fluoride flavors, and kid-sized instruments and sensors. Every room is plumbed for nitrous oxide, and we offer all levels of sedation. Parents can accompany their children during treatments.
Our playful waiting rooms feature game machines, a slide, books, and coloring stations. We take X-rays with a camera-like unit right in the treatment room, so kids keep watching their movie. We even have baby beds for examining the youngest patients. Dr. Grover is also a parent, which gives her real-world experience with what families need from a kids' dentist.
Our Pediatric Dental Services, Infancy Through the Teen Years
We provide complete dental care from infancy through adolescence, including care for kids with dental anxiety. The first visit comes at age 1 or 6 months after the first tooth erupts, whichever is earlier. We also see newborns for tongue tie evaluations and use a soft tissue laser for releases when needed.
Preventive care means a cleaning and checkup every 6 months. During each appointment, we examine teeth, check bite alignment, and look for potential issues with gums, jaw, and oral tissues. Our fluoride treatments let children eat and drink normally right after the varnish goes on. Kids pick the fluoride flavor from a menu, and there's a flavorless option too.
For restorative care, we offer white fillings, metal-free white crowns made of ceramic or zirconia for front teeth and back molars, and stainless steel Hall crowns placed with no drilling and no numbing shots. We explain and show children what we're doing before each step. Our sedation options come in 3 levels: nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and general anesthesia given in our office by an anesthesiologist from Mile High Anesthesia or Rocky Mountain Dental Anesthesia. We carefully evaluate each child to determine the most appropriate approach based on age, temperament, and procedure complexity.
For special needs children, we schedule extra time so the visit can follow the child's pace. Dr. Alison has extensive personal experience and approaches each appointment with patience and understanding. Our chairs adjust for children who feel uneasy lying all the way back. Happy visits let a child see the office and meet the team with no treatment at all. Our TVs, flavor choices, and oral hygiene play items make appointments fun and educational.
Superior's Tap Water and Your Child's Fluoride
Superior's tap water averaged 0.43 ppm fluoride in 2025, across 12 samples ranging from 0.12 to 0.68 ppm, according to the Town of Superior's 2026 water quality report. That's below the 0.7 ppm level the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services set in 2015.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's fluoride guidance, last revised in 2023, calls for a professional fluoride treatment at least every 6 months for children at risk of decay. It also says fluoride supplements should be considered cautiously, and only for children at risk who drink water below the recommended level.
The Superior fluoride check
Our fluoride page asks families on well water or bottled water to check whether their child needs supplements or treatments. With Superior's tap water below 0.7 ppm, bring these 4 questions to your child's next checkup:
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Which water does your child drink most: Superior tap, filtered or bottled?
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What's your child's cavity risk?
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How old is your child?
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How much fluoride toothpaste goes on the brush?
On October 31, 2025, the FDA announced action against unapproved swallowed fluoride products labeled for children under 3 or for older children at low or moderate risk of decay.
Another Superior detail: Superior Elementary and Eldorado PK-8 aren't on Clinica's current list of schools in its Boulder Valley school dental program, which offers screenings, cleanings and sealants. If your child attends either school, plan on sealants at a dental visit.
Our Process for Calm Visits
Visits here follow 1 rule: we explain and show before we treat.
What to expect at your child's first visit
Your child's first visit begins with a warm welcome from our friendly team. We keep paperwork simple, and you can fill out our new patient forms before the appointment. Billing is transparent: the office verifies your benefits, explains your coverage and gives you a cost estimate. The space is bright and colorful. The initial examination assesses oral health, checks for early tooth decay, and allows us to discuss brushing techniques and answer questions about teething or thumb sucking.
How we communicate with children
Before any procedure, we explain what will happen using age-appropriate language. We show children the tools and let them touch instruments when appropriate. Instead of scary words, we use gentle terms like "Mr. Thirsty" for the suction tool and "tooth camera" for the dental mirror. Kids can ride the dental chair up and down and pick a movie on the ceiling-mounted screens.
Family-centered care approach
Parents are welcome to stay close during treatment. The exception is general anesthesia: parents wait in the waiting room and are brought into recovery before the child wakes up. Our doctors and staff work as a team to keep appointments positive and brief. Our play items about oral hygiene turn education into entertainment, and kids learn proper brushing and flossing techniques along the way. This family-centered approach means everyone goes home knowing how to maintain healthy teeth.
Personalized treatment plans
For children who need more than 1 appointment or complex care, we create customized treatment plans. We consider temperament, medical history, and comfort level when deciding the best approach. Some children do beautifully with shorter, separate visits, while others benefit from sedation that lets us complete all necessary work in 1 appointment. This individualized care makes pediatric dentistry different from general family dentistry.
After each visit, children receive praise and pick a prize from our toy tower. The goal is a child who leaves proud and wants to come back in 6 months.
The Team Behind Your Child's Smile
Dr. Alison earned her DDS at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, and her UCLA Pediatric Dental Residency provided rigorous training in children's oral health. Baby teeth have different anatomy than adult teeth and need their own techniques. Her Diplomate status means she passed the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry's written and oral exams. Pediatric dental training covers growth, development and child psychology, which is why we explain before we treat.
Our staff trains in pediatric dental techniques and child behavior management. Dr. Grover and her husband, Logan, built the office in 2017 and planned every detail to make it fun and friendly for kids. Since then we've cared for children from calm toddlers to anxious teenagers. This experience means we quickly assess what approach works best for your unique child. We have treated children with sensory sensitivities, developmental delays, dental phobias, and complex medical conditions.
Our entire team loves what we do. We remember children's names, ask about their interests, and celebrate their milestones. Dr. Grover grew up in Boulder and went to Fairview High School. We're at 61 Erie Pkwy in the Erie Commons shopping area in Erie, at the corner of Briggs Street and Erie Parkway, with easy parking. We serve families from Superior, Lafayette, Louisville, Broomfield, Boulder, Westminster, Thornton, Johnstown, Berthoud, Brighton, Arvada, and Longmont. Some families even fly in from out of state for our specialized care.
Book Your Child's Visit
Book a first visit, a happy visit, or a newborn tongue tie check. Call (303) 500-3202, text (720) 734-5890, or use the button below. We make it easy to get started, and we look forward to welcoming your family to Mini Miners Pediatric Dentistry.
Current patients with a dental emergency outside office hours can call (303) 500-3202 and press 2 to reach our on-call dentist. Our aim is a same-business-day emergency visit for every current patient.
FAQS
When should my child first visit a pediatric dentist in Superior, CO? The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends children visit the dentist by age one or within six months of their first tooth erupting, whichever comes first. At Mini Miners, we welcome babies as young as this for their first checkup. These early visits establish good oral health habits, allow us to catch developmental concerns early, and give parents guidance on proper care for baby teeth. We also see newborns who need tongue tie evaluations.
How often should children come in for dental checkups? ? Children should visit the dentist every six months. It takes approximately six months for a cavity to develop on a baby tooth, making regular checkups essential for catching problems early. These consistent visits also help children build comfort and familiarity with the dental office, reducing anxiety over time.
What makes a pediatric dentist different from a regular family dentist? Pediatric dentists complete two to three additional years of specialized training after dental school, focusing exclusively on children's oral health. This training covers child psychology, behavior management, growth and development, and how to treat the unique anatomy of baby teeth. We use child sized instruments, speak in age appropriate language, and create a fun, welcoming environment designed specifically for kids.
How do you handle children who are anxious or fearful? We explain everything using simple, non threatening language and show children the tools beforehand. We let children make choices about flavors and movies to give them a sense of control. Our staff is specially trained in child behavior management. For children who need extra support, we offer all levels of sedation, from mild nitrous oxide to moderate and deep sedation. We also welcome happy visits where children can tour the office without any treatment.