VISIONARY PRACTICE

For more than a decade, Brush Pediatric Dentistry has been offering families a different kind of dental experience for their children.

When you walk into either of Brush Pediatric Dentistry’s west suburban offices, you’ll immediately notice something extraordinary. Instead of asking children to adapt to the dental experience, the dental experience is being adapted to them.

Founded in Hinsdale in 2011 by Dr. “Mira” Albert (DDS, MBA, MS, FAAPD), it’s no wonder that Brush Pediatric Dentistry has grown into one of the Chicago area’s leading pediatric specialty practices—now with locations in Hinsdale and a Downers Grove location lead by Dr. Maggie Rizzo.

What started as one pediatric dentist’s vision has evolved into a thriving practice led by a team of board-certified pediatric specialists united by a simple belief—expertise matters, anxiety matters, and the way children feel about health care matters.

“We spend a lot of time thinking about what a visit feels like through a child’s eyes,” says Albert. “The dentistry is important, but so is the experience. For many children, the memory of how they were treated lasts longer than the treatment itself.”

That philosophy influences everything from the physical design of the offices to technology. Ceiling-mounted televisions aren’t meant for screen time; they help children relax think about something other than dental treatment. Digital communication makes scheduling and follow-up easier and for young Brush patients, advanced digital imaging and scanning improves efficiency and comfort.

Albert says one of the technologies generating the most excitement is SleeperOne, an electronic anesthesia delivery system designed to provide more precise and comfortable numbing experiences for children. It’s this balance of innovation and humanity has become a hallmark of the Brush experience and the work Albert does on a national scale.

In addition to leading Brush, Albert serves as a National Spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, an Examiner for the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), and a Trustee of the AAPD Foundation. She is also on staff at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

Despite the spotlight she receives from these high-profile positions, Albert remains focused on the everyday concerns of local families—a perspective that comes from being a parent herself.

“Our doctors are specialists, but many of us are also moms,” she says. “We understand childhood through both lenses.”

One of Brush’s most widely viewed social media posts featured a young toddler at her first dental visit. The child cried loudly during the exam, only to recover almost instantly once she was sitting comfortably in her mother’s lap. For Albert, the lesson wasn’t about dentistry at all.

“Parents are under tremendous pressure today to protect their children from uncomfortable emotions,” she says. “But nervousness around a new experience is normal and more importantly appropriate. In fact, if a 2-year-old meets a stranger and lets that stranger look in their mouth without any reaction, that would be unusual.”

The post resonated with parents across the country because it normalized something many families experience but rarely discuss openly. The message was simple—a few tears do not mean a bad experience.

Families from around the country regularly engage with the practice’s educational content, seeking trusted information on everything from first dental visits to sports injuries and adolescent oral health. For Albert, that reach is gratifying, but the mission remains unchanged.

“Our goal has always been bigger than fixing teeth,” she says. “We want children to grow up feeling confident about their oral health, comfortable in health care settings, and empowered to take care of themselves.’

Fifteen years after opening its doors, Brush continues to prove that exceptional pediatric dentistry is about more than clinical skill. It’s about combining expertise, innovation, empathy, and trust into an experience that helps children thrive.

For more information, visit brushforkids.com.