About Safari Children’s Dentistry & Bracesin San Antonio, TX
If you have been searching for a pediatric dental office in San Antonio that can meet all of your child’s needs, you’ve come to the right place!
Safari Children’s Dentistry & Braces was specifically created with children in mind. Everything from our brightly colored office to our kid-friendly services is intended to help your family have pleasant, enjoyable experiences in our office. We look forward to working with you soon!
High-Quality Pediatric Dental Care in Your Neighborhood
Safari Children’s Dentistry & Braces is proud to serve the North San Antonio community. Our practice is conveniently located in Uptown, and we see patients from Bracken, Selma, Schertz, and Cibolo as well. Our office is close to Northern Hills Elementary, El Dorado Elementary, Wetmore Elementary, and Stahl Elementary, as well as James Madison High School, which helps makes school-day appointments a breeze! Keeping our care convenient for our patients is important to us, which is why we also open our doors at eight in the morning, five days per week!
Dr. Victoria Ramirez
Board Certified Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Victoria Ramirez was born and raised in San Antonio, TX. She attended Texas A&M International University, where she played volleyball and served as the president of the Pre-Dental Society. Dr. Ramirez earned her dental degree from The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston.
Dr. Ramirez’s passion for children, learning, and providing the best care for her patients propelled her to attend a pediatric dental residency. She completed her pediatric dentistry specialty training at NYU Langone Health in Nashville, TN. She was also the chief resident and received extensive training in pediatric sedation dentistry. Dr. Ramirez then practiced for five years as a general dentist in a pediatric dental practice before joining our team.
Due to Dr. Ramirez’s own upbringing and her close ties to the community she serves, she has a strong belief in creating a family-friendly, educational environment where parents play an active role in their child’s dental health. Outside of the office, Dr. Ramirez loves to travel, cook international foods, stay active, and cheer for the San Antonio Spurs.
Dr. Amelia Albright
Board Certified Pediatric Dentist
As part of a military family, Dr. Amy grew up in and out of the states; her favorite place to live was Texas! Most of her life was spent in the northeast, where she began her journey in pediatric dentistry working as a dental assistant and receptionist in high school and through college. She attended Stony Brook University, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology. Following that, she completed her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and Pediatric Dentistry advanced specialty training at New York University College of Dentistry. It’s been a long time coming, and she is excited to finally return to Texas and establish her roots!
Dr. Amy’s interest in pediatric dentistry originated from her own childhood fears of the dentist, so she aims to provide you and your family care with comfort and understanding. She looks forward to working with your family to create positive experiences and improved overall health for your children.
When Dr. Amy isn’t working to create happy and healthy smiles, she enjoys photography, traveling, exploring new restaurants, and doing anything to keep active!
Dr. Bianca Frederick
Orthodontist
Dr. Bianca Frederick received her bachelor’s in biological sciences from The University of Southern Mississippi, Master’s in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Meharry Medical College, where she was a National Health Service Corps Scholar. She went on to complete a 2-year General Practice Residency at Bronx Care in New York, where she was a chief resident and involved in organized dentistry. Dr. Frederick practiced in New York for 4 years before going back to residency to specialize in orthodontics, completing her training at Howard University in Washington, DC. In addition, Dr. Frederick served as co-chief resident of her graduating class and received an award for her research.
Dr. Frederick’s love for dentistry came from her personal experience of being a patient and her fascination with her smile after receiving orthodontic treatment. She enjoys the interpersonal relationships with patients and instilling confidence through their smile.
In Dr. Frederick’s spare time, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, family and friends, exercising and traveling.
Dr. Mai Luk
Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Luk is from Austin, Texas. She obtained her Bachelors of Arts degree in biology from the University of Texas at Austin. She graduated with honors from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio where she earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. Shortly thereafter, she completed their Pediatric Residency Program. Her training includes extensive experience in sedation, dental trauma, and treating children.
Dr. Luk is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the Texas Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. In her spare time, Dr. Luk enjoys spending time with her family, the outdoors, playing tennis, photography, running, knitting, and crocheting.
Dr. Hunter Acord
Board Eligible Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Acord was raised in San Antonio as one of seven children. Growing up, he volunteered at many summer camps as a counselor where he realized his passion for working with children. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, graduating Magna Cum Laude.
Dr. Acord then earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from Texas A&M College of Dentistry, graduating with honors and inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society.
After earning his DDS, Dr. Acord completed a two-year pediatric specialty residency at the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry and at the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio. During his residency, Dr. Acord gained extensive hands-on experience in all aspects of pediatric dentistry including sedation, dental trauma, and treating medically compromised and special needs patients.
Dr. Acord is passionate about providing the best possible pediatric dental care and experience in an energetic, fun, and kid-friendly atmosphere. When he is not in the office helping patients, Dr. Acord likes to spend time with his wife and dog, grilling, fishing, and making trips to the beach!
Our Safe and Effective Dental Sedation
While it’s perfectly normal for children to experience dental anxiety, we always want our patients to feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible in our office. Whether your child has a big treatment coming up or they just need a little help sitting still in the dental chair, our team can go over our safe and effective sedation options with you before their next appointment.
Nitrous Oxide
Laughing gas is a clear, sweet-smelling gas that is administered through a comfortable mask that is placed over the nose. It stimulates feelings of relaxation, begins working very quickly, and wears off once the mask is removed and the patient breathes normal air for a little while.
Oral Sedation
Medication is taken orally prior to the dental visit, and the patient will begin to feel content and sleepy. Even if they fall asleep during their appointment, it should be easy to wake them up, and they can respond to questions. Our team will take your child’s medical history and overall health status into consideration when determining the best medication to prescribe.
General Anesthesia
Patients are put into a controlled state of unconsciousness. General anesthesia eliminates the patients’ awareness of their surroundings, the formation of memories, and their ability to move. This safe, effective sedation option is reserved for treatments that are performed at a nearby hospital on an outpatient basis.
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Emergency Dental Care for Kids
When your child complains of a toothache or knocks out a baby tooth that wasn’t quite ready to come out yet, it can be difficult to know exactly what to do. Fortunately, Safari Children’s Dentistry & Braces offers same-day emergency dental appointments for children. Simply give our office a call, and our experienced pediatric dental team will be happy to assess the situation over the phone and advise. Once an emergency visit is scheduled, we’ll begin preparing a treatment room so we can be ready to go upon your arrival.
Common pediatric dental emergencies include:
- Throbbing Toothache
- Broken or Cracked Teeth
- Dislodged Tooth
- Excessive Bleeding or Swelling
- Foreign Object Stuck Between Teeth
