Dr. Mitchell Loeb’s career path was largely influenced by watching his parents care for their patients in healthcare roles. Now, following in their footsteps, he reflects, “I was in the seventh grade when I decided I wanted to be a dentist, and I never deviated from that.”
In 2023, Dr. Loeb accomplished his goal of having his own practice when he took over Kid Grins Pediatric Dentistry in Edina. “I care deeply about creating positive experiences for children and doing everything I can to ensure they enjoy going to the dentist. Becoming the owner of Kid Grins has allowed me to do that.”
Following dental school, Dr. Loeb completed two specialty residencies in Prosthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry. He is dual-boarded certified by the American Board of Prosthodontics and the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. As one of only three in the country with this specific dual specialty, he strives to apply his unique expertise to provide exceptional care for his patients.
The Kid Grins’ approach centers around meeting each patient where they are. “There are a lot of children who are anxious about visiting a dentist, and my team and I work to put them at ease as best as possible,” Dr. Loeb says. “Part of that is spending time really getting to know our patients, not just simply jumping straight into their mouths to take a look.”
He first saw the impact of this philosophy in high school when he worked at a camp for children aged five to eight. “I enjoyed the interactions, and by being intentional about getting to know the kids, some of them transformed from being very shy to confident, engaged and outgoing. It was pretty amazing.”
Today, when patients walk in the door of Kid Grins, they are greeted with a bright office that includes colorful collages on the wall and a sign welcoming them for their first visit. The most popular is the tree house with a slide in the waiting room that draws kids in. The main open bay, with its four dental chairs centered around a tree, carries the theme throughout.
“Every day is quite fun,” he says. “There was an 11-year-old who came into the office for the first time, and her eyes completely lit up when she walked in.”
Beyond the physical office, Dr. Loeb and his team strive to make it a friendly and comfortable place for all ages. The aim is for kids to be excited to visit the dentist and build a strong foundation of healthy dental habits, starting from their very first appointment.
“Part of the reason I chose the giraffe as our logo is because I want our patients to walk tall with healthy teeth. As kids continue to walk and grow taller into their teenage years and adult years, I want their associations with the dentist to be as positive as possible.”
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children have their first dental appointment at age one or when the first tooth erupts. Dr. Loeb generally sees patients up to the age of 25, but will also see older patients who have special healthcare needs.
“There's a ton of gratification in getting to know children and families from when they are super young and as they grow older,” he says. “On the opposite end of the spectrum, specifically connecting to my other specialty of Prosthodontics, there are patients who have had decreased function or have had missing teeth over time. Restoring their smile is also very satisfactory for me.”
Dr. Loeb is deeply grateful for the immediate support he has received from Kid Grins’ patients and their families, both old and new, over the past two years. This support is exemplified by comments left from families, such as “Dr. Loeb and the whole team at Kid Grins is fantastic! They are warm, patient, and energetic. My two kids LOVE going to the dentist!”
“To work so hard to fulfill your dream, and to see it come to fruition with an office full of smiling kids…it’s hard to put into words how meaningful that is to me,” Dr. Loeb says.
Extending beyond the office, Dr. Loeb and Kid Grins are proud to invest in local organizations that serve children, including recent sponsorships for Kids Run for Justice, Cornelia Elementary STEAM Program, and International Spanish Language Academy.
Originally from Kansas, Dr. Loeb has established deep roots in Minnesota with his wife, Dr. Rosemary Lelich who owns Family Orthodontics in St. Louis Park, and their 18-month-old daughter. “I'm incredibly biased, but I think my daughter has the most beautiful, happy smile I've ever seen.”
She, of course, loves visiting her dad’s office, sitting in the chairs, and going down the slide in the waiting room. “Her next dental visit is coming up in August, and we are all excited to see her in the office.”
To learn more and book an appointment for your child, visit KidGrins.com.