Carmel, IN Pediatric Dentist, Dr. Carol G. McKown

Carol G. McKown, M.S., D.D.S.

Dr. Carol McKown has had over 20 years of experience in the field of pediatric dentistry. She lives in the Geist area of Indianapolis with her husband of 26 years, George, and her three children Katie, David and Annie. Katie, 24, is a second year law student at DePaul Law School in Chicago, IL. David, 21, is a junior at Miami University in Oxford, OH. Annie, 17, is a senior at Park Tudor School in Indianapolis. Dr. McKown graduated from Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1984. She received her certificate in pediatric dentistry from the Indiana University Postdoctoral Training Program in Pediatric Dentistry in 1986 at the James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children. She then did a 2 year United Cerebral Palsy Fellowship at Riley Hospital in which she worked with patients with cerebral palsy and taught the pediatric dentistry residents. She loved teaching so much that she stayed on at Riley Hospital as part-time faculty with the title of Assistant Professor of Pediatric Dentistry. It was at that time that she began developing her private practice. In 1990, she accepted a full-time faculty position in the graduate pediatric dentistry department of Riley Hospital. Dr. McKown had previously obtained her MS degree in Microbiology and Immunology from Indiana University School of Medicine. This gave her a keen interest in patients with hematologic disorders requiring bone marrow transplantation. She became the Chief of Dental Hematology Services during her tenure as full-time faculty from 1990-1994.

By 1994, Dr. McKown had three young children of her own and decided to teach part-time and develop her private practice to allow her more time to raise her children. She enjoyed all the years of room mothering, carnivals, parent associations, religious school, booster clubs, swimming and diving lessons, little league baseball, cheerleading and gymnastics as all mothers do. Many of her patients with medical disorders followed her to private practice. She still continues and loves treating patients with leukemia, hemophilia, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, cardiac disease, autism and other medical, physical and mental disabilities. Over the past 13 years in private practice she has continued to teach the pediatric dentistry residents on a part-time basis and give lectures on dental management of children with hematologic disorders. Dr. McKown is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. She has hospital privileges and is on staff at James Whitcomb Riley for Children, Clarian North Hospital, and St. Vincent Hospital. Her new private practice setting in Carmel is on the same block as Clarian North Hospital. When she has children with dental decay who are either too young or too apprehensive to perform dental treatment in her office, she will take the child to the hospital to perform comprehensive dental restorative treatment under general anesthetic. She also uses mild sedation in her office including nitrous oxide analgesia(“laughing gas”) for those children who are mildly apprehensive. Dr. McKown has also joined the St. Vincent Craniofacial Anomalies team and works with patients with cleft lip and palate. She joins Dr. Ron Hathaway, an orthodontist, and Dr. Michael Sadove, a plastic surgeon, on this team of specialists. This team meets with patients and their families from all over the state of Indiana to manage their care in a comprehensive manner.

Dr. McKown has been very active over the years in dental societies. She is past president of the Indiana Society of Pediatric Dentistry and the Indiana University Pediatric Dentistry Alumni Association. She has been the dental liaison to the Indiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics for the past 16 years. She has attended their quarterly board meetings and in doing so has kept up with the major topics and changes in Pediatrics. She is a past member of the Advisory Council of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and continues to work as a Consultant for the Board. She is also a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the Indianapolis District Dental Society. She recently accepted a board position on the Indianapolis District Dental Society Foundation. Dr. McKown has been very active in community service for National Children’s Dental Health Month. She has given her “Bucky Beaver and the Good Food Forest” talk emphasizing good oral hygiene, prevention and good nutrition to numerous pre-schools, day cares, co-ops, mothers’ groups, churches, and elementary schools in Indianapolis and Carmel over the past 20 years. She has also lectured to parent groups including the Indiana Down Syndrome Chapter. She welcomes the opportunity to speak to new groups.

Dr. McKown is very interested in prevention of dental disease, starting good dental habits early, and good nutrition. She encourages the first dental visit by one year of age to establish a dental home. At that visit, she discusses nutrition, fluoride, starting to brush the infant’s teeth, trauma, and the parents’ own dental history. She sits lap to lap with the parent laying the infant across the parent’s lap onto her own lap and performing a cursory oral exam to rule out any existing dental problems. She sings the “ABC” song of the child’s teeth and makes it a very pleasant experience for both parent and child. With the parent and infant information and oral exam, she performs an early caries risk assessment of the child, makes suggestions to improve the child’s oral health including tooth brushing techniques, and determines how often she will need to see the child in the future.

Dr. McKown sees patients from infancy through college. Her new office in Carmel is large enough to do infant oral exams, child cleanings and restorative treatment, sedation, interceptive orthodontic treatment, adolescent and early adult cosmetic treatment including bleaching in a private manner to make every age level feel comfortable in her office. The TV screens over the dental chairs are a good distraction to make each dental visit more pleasant. She has office hours on Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri. from 8am-4pm. Dr. McKown treats every child as an individual. She doesn’t have a certain age at which she requires the child to come back to the treatment room by him or herself. She welcomes parental presence. Many times, she will have the apprehensive child sit on mom or dad’s lap to make them feel more comfortable. Her greatest joy is taking an apprehensive child and making them feel welcome and comfortable in her office. After 20 years, she still loves children and pediatric dentistry. She looks forward to seeing you in her new office!

Our Staff

Linda Freeman - Office Manager Hi! My name is Linda Freeman. I've enjoyed working as Dr. Carol's office manager since 2004. No dull moments here in our happy tooth land! I am the insurance and account specialist. Call me to assist with either one at any time. Basically, if you have any financial need, I'll be the one to call!

*Janet M. Sweeney - Administrative Assistant* Hello, my name is Janet Sweeney. I come to Dr. Carol's office with an 18-year background in general dentistry. I am thrilled to be in a fun child's environment like Dr. Carol's. I assist Dr. Carol with the business end of dentistry; events, charity work, school talks and new patients. I have three children, 22, 18 and 12 years old. We have a fat cat named "Snow".

Elizabeth Hagel - Hygiene Assistant/Front Office My name is Elizabeth Hagel. I am enjoying every minute of my time here at Dr. Carol's office. I have the privilege of greeting your child and bringing them to the hygiene area. I take their x-rays and assist with their teeth cleaning and charting. Sometimes, I still provide additional help at the front office.

*Charlene Gilley - Expanded Duties Dental Assistant* Hi! I'm Charlene Gilley. I've worked for Dr. Carol for four years as a dental assistant. I bring over thirty years of experience in all areas of dentistry. After working at Riley Hospital Pediatric Dental Clinic, I decided that pediatrics was definitely where I would like to continue my career. I am married, live in Anderson, and am active in my church. I enjoy working with your children and young adults!

Kris Miller - Dental Hygienist My name is Kris Miller and I am Dr. Carol McKown's dental hygienist. I have worked for Dr. Carol for thirteen years, starting as her dental assistant. After deciding to pursue a career in dental hygiene, that has been my focus for seven years. I enjoy educating our patients about the importance of good oral hygiene. I believe we can establish good habits that can last a lifetime.

Christina Blanding - Expanded Duties Dental Assistant My name is Christina Blanding and I am one of Dr. Carol's new dental assistants. I have 7 years of experience in Pediatric Dentistry. I have always enjoyed working with children. I currently live in Carmel with my husband, Justin Blanding. We have an English Bulldog named "Lexie".

Mari Dean - Expanded Duties Dental Assistant Hi! My name is Mari Dean. I am new to Dr. Carol's office and am very excited to be working with her and the rest of the team. I have been a dental assistant for 7 years in Pediatrics and love working with children of all ages. I live in Kokomo and am happily married to my husband and I like to be involved in church activities. We have an inactive cat and a very grateful rescue dog!

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Carmel, IN Pediatric Dentist - Dr. Carol McKown. Serving children in the surrounding cities and suburbs of Carmel and Indianapolis, Indiana

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