Services / Family Dentistry
One office, one team, and appointment blocks built around your whole household from toddlers to grandparents.
4.9 stars
600+ patient reviews
Same day visits
Emergency care available
20+ years
Serving Elk Grove families
CareCredit
0% interest options
When a parent calls our office on E Stockton Blvd, Erin starts with the whole household. She asks about ages, schedules, and who is overdue. That is how I work as a family dentist Elk Grove families turn to for every age. I want one record, one team, and one dentist watching how each mouth changes over time.
I look at bone first, then enamel, then how the bite fits. The question in my chair is not which filling is cheapest. It is what keeps this family from bigger dentistry later. That means cleanings, sealants, fluoride, and honest timing. We see fewer patients per day so the appointment does not get rushed.
Same dentist for a four year old and a seventy year old, same day.
Family blocks so one trip covers three cleanings.
We track maximums and schedule treatment before they reset.
Sealants and fluoride priced against what a crown costs later.
The first thing I check is how a child’s jaw is growing, not just whether there are cavities. For an adult, I look at bone levels and old dentistry before any new work is planned. For a grandparent, the conversation often starts with dry mouth, root surfaces, and chewing comfort.
The benefit of a family dentist in Elk Grove is that these observations stay in one chart. A teenager’s crowding makes more sense when I saw the same mouth at seven. A parent’s gum recession makes more sense when I know their grinding pattern. I am Dr. Theodore Ionescu, and that kind of record is the only way I like to practice.
Prevention at every age follows the same rule. I would rather see a small change in enamel than plan a root canal. The office on E Stockton Blvd handles both, but the goal is always less dentistry, not more. You can see the full list of what we handle on the services page.
Erin builds the schedule around drop-offs, work shifts, and school hours. She will tell you honestly when a block does not fit. Most of our appointments run sixty minutes or longer, so nobody is rushed out of the chair.
Alyssa keeps the day moving while Leticia and Sarah prepare the rooms. We can often see a parent and a child back to back. Sometimes three generations come through on one morning.
We run a tighter schedule than most practices, but we do not rush. That means if someone needs an extra X-ray or a child needs a second sit in the chair, the day does not fall apart.
Cavities start small and quiet. A cleaning removes what brushing misses. Sealants fill the deep grooves in molars. Fluoride hardens enamel before decay turns into a filling.
Most insurance plans cover cleanings, exams, and preventive care at a higher percentage than major work. I use the exams to catch things at the millimeter level. A small filling is cheaper than a crown. No filling at all is cheaper than a small filling.
I do not use a hygiene appointment as a sales call. If a sealant is not needed, Leticia or Sarah will not push one. If fluoride is needed, I will show you the groove or the early shadow on the monitor. Our preventive care page explains how we set recall intervals.
The goal is not a perfect cleaning. The goal is a child who will come back without fear. I sit knee to knee with the parent, count teeth, and let the child touch a mirror before anything goes in the mouth.
Leticia or Sarah often stands nearby with gloves off until they are needed. If the child is not ready, we stop. I would rather wait three months than create a lifelong phobia. Our children’s dentistry page shows that same approach.
The office air is filtered and instruments are autoclaved and monitored by an outside lab. Parents sit close. I keep the overhead light off a face until the child is ready. Those small details matter more than the cleaning.
At around twelve, I start watching third molars on the X-ray. Some wisdom teeth stay quiet. Others need a referral before they damage the second molar. If I see crowding or a bite shift, I tell you early enough to plan around school breaks.
Orthodontic referrals go to specialists I trust, but I keep managing cleanings and decay during treatment. For adults, the transition is different. I look at old fillings, night grinding, and gum attachment before I recommend anything new.
I am Dr. Ionescu. I use the same standard for adults. If an old filling is holding, I leave it alone. If a crown is failing at the margin, I show you on the screen. The transition from waiting to treatment should be based on data, not a sales goal.
A calendar maximum is a deadline, not a bonus. If you have treatment left and a benefit that expires in November, Erin will map it out. She treats insurance as a reimbursement question, not a reason to overtreat.
For households without insurance, we have a dental savings membership club. It covers preventive care at a set fee and discounts other treatment. CareCredit financing is available when a larger plan has to be staged. The financial information page has the details Erin will walk you through.
Alyssa and Erin handle the paperwork so the clinical team can stay in the operatory. You will know your out-of-pocket before I touch a tooth. That is a promise I hold myself to.
When an established patient calls with swelling, I want them seen. A broken tooth on a Friday should not wait through a weekend. Erin keeps room in the schedule for same-day exams because emergencies do not book in advance.
For a child, we focus on stopping pain and saving the tooth if we can. For an adult, we stabilize first and plan the repair second. Patients of record get priority because I already know their history, their films, and their risk.
If a child falls and knocks a tooth out, put it in milk and call us. For a cracked tooth in an adult, save the piece and avoid chewing on that side. We will tell you what to do over the phone before you drive.
We match you with a time that fits school and work, not a random slot.
Exam, imaging as needed, and a written plan with costs.
Family blocks so siblings are seen back to back.
Sealants, fluoride, and a recall interval based on risk, not habit.
The same records and the same dentist across years.
Dr. Theodore Ionescu has practiced in Elk Grove for more than twenty years and works from the office on E Stockton Blvd. He plans the treatment himself, which means the person who quotes the work is the person in the room when it happens. You can read more about the office and the team or check financing and insurance before you come in.
Related reading
What age should a child first see a family dentist in Elk Grove?
Bring a child by age one or within six months of the first tooth. I check growth, habit patterns, and whether a parent is doing the right home care. Most of that visit is conversation. A knee to knee exam happens only if the child allows it. Calling Erin at our E Stockton Blvd office is the first step.
Can you see my whole family on the same day?
Yes, when the schedule allows. Erin builds appointment blocks around school and work. A cleaning and exam often run sixty minutes or longer, so we do not stack too many people. Tell her the ages and she will tell you honestly what fits in one morning.
Does insurance cover sealants and fluoride?
Most plans cover preventive care at a higher percentage than fillings or crowns. We verify benefits before we start. If coverage is thin, I will say so. Sealants and fluoride are still cheaper than treating decay later, even when you pay out of pocket.
What should I tell my child before the first visit?
Tell them the dentist counts teeth and looks in the mirror. Do not promise a prize for being brave and do not share your own bad story. In the room, I let the child hold a mirror and control the pace. The appointment stops if they are not ready.
What happens if my teenager needs wisdom teeth out or braces?
I take a panoramic image and measure the space. If third molars are at risk, I refer to a surgeon I trust. For braces, I watch the bite and refer to an orthodontist early enough to plan. I keep doing cleanings and cavity checks during treatment.
What do we do if a family member has a dental emergency?
Call the office. Established families get priority for same-day exams when pain or swelling starts. I stabilize the tooth, control infection, and plan the repair. Dr. Ionescu will tell you if a problem can wait until Monday or needs immediate attention.
Call our E Stockton Blvd office at (916) 685-4662 between 7:30am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday. Erin will check your insurance, build a schedule that fits the whole household, and tell you what to expect before the first visit.
