Happy keiki,
healthy smiles
Gentle, conservative dental care for children through age 12 β including keiki with special needs. Two residency-trained pediatric dentists, a prevention-first philosophy, and a standing promise: parents are welcome chairside, always.
Prevent. Learn. Smile.
Conservative care
Cleanings, BPA-free sealants, and gentle options like SDF β the smallest treatment that truly works, and never an unnecessary X-ray.
See our services βThe Parent Library
Every question we hear at the chair, answered straight on its own page β first visits, sealants, juice, emergencies.
Enter the Library βGentle first visits
Knee-to-knee exams, kid-sized words, and you beside your child the whole time. First visits by age one β calm by design.
Plan the first visit βOur keiki, our Κ»ohana.
Families tell us the same things: their kids actually look forward to visits, nobody rushes them, and every option gets explained before anything happens. That's the practice we set out to build β and the Halloween Candy Buy Back is just the fun part.
Our services
Everything a growing smile needs through age 12 β chosen conservatively, explained honestly, done gently.
The philosophy comes first, because it decides everything else: prevention over repair, and the smallest treatment that truly works. Most of what we do is keeping healthy mouths healthy β and when treatment is needed, you'll hear every option, trade-offs included, before anything happens.
Exams & cleanings
Twice-a-year checkups that keep visits boring β the good kind of boring. Growth tracked, soft spots caught while they're still reversible.
Every 6 monthsLearn βInfant & baby exams
Knee-to-knee lap exams from the first tooth or first birthday β short, gentle, and mostly a conversation with you.
From age 1Learn βBPA-free sealants
A thin shield for the grooves where most childhood cavities start. Minutes to place, no drilling β and BPA-free here.
No drillingLearn βDigital X-rays, only when needed
Tiny digital doses, and a standing policy: every image must answer a clinical question. No question, no X-ray.
ConservativeLearn βFluoride & SDF
Varnish that strengthens enamel, and SDF β a liquid that can stop a cavity without a drill, honest trade-offs explained first.
Drill-free optionLearn βTooth-colored fillings & crowns
When treatment is truly needed: invisible fillings for small cavities, protective crowns when a big filling would just fail twice.
Smallest fix that lastsLearn βSpecial needs dentistry
Dr. Hanks' residency focus. Extra time, extra patience, and visits shaped around each child β not the other way around.
All keiki welcomeLearn βDental emergencies
Chips, knocks, and worse afternoons. Read the guide before you need it β and call us when you do.
(808) 868-5757Learn βWondering about costs? We accept most insurance plans and private pay β and we verify your plan before your visit.
Your keiki's first visit
Short, gentle, and designed so the second visit is easy. Here's the plan β and you're part of it, chairside, the whole time.
When to come: by the first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth β here's why so early. Already past one? Then now; no judgment, just a start.
What happens: for babies and toddlers, a knee-to-knee exam on your lap β counting teeth, checking growth, a gentle brush if it's welcome β and then real time answering your questions. Older keiki get the full tour: the chair that moves, the tooth counter, the sticker economy.
Who's with them: you. Always, including treatment β it's our standing promise, not an exception.
Our goal for visit one is simple: your child leaves thinking the dentist is a friendly place. Everything else builds on that.
What to bring
Your insurance card (or nothing β private pay is welcome), a comfort item for your keiki, and every question you have. If your child has special health care needs, tell us when you book β we'll shape the visit around them.
Book: (808) 868-5757 Β· Kihei, Tue & Thu 8amβ5pm.
Where: Azeka Shopping Center (Makai), 1280 S Kihei Rd, Suite 206.
Bring: insurance card, comfort item, your questions.
Our dentists
Two pediatric dentists, four extra years of children's training between them, and one shared philosophy: gentle, honest, conservative.
%22%20fill%3D%22none%22%20stroke%3D%22%239ca3af%22%20stroke-width%3D%222.5%22%20stroke-linecap%3D%22round%22%20stroke-linejoin%3D%22round%22%3E%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M2%2033H4a3%203%200%200%201-3-3V4a3%203%200%200%201%203-3h28a3%203%200%200%201%203%203v18l-5-5a3%203%200%200%200-4%200L4%2033%22%2F%3E%3Ccircle%20cx%3D%2211%22%20cy%3D%2211%22%20r%3D%223%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fg%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Dr. Hanks
Pediatric Dentist Β· Practice Owner
A University of Texas dental graduate recognized with a clinical dentistry award, Dr. Hanks completed his two-year pediatric residency at the Medical University of South Carolina and its Children's Hospital, with a focus on children up to age 12 and keiki with special needs.
A father of five, he spends his off days the Maui way β beach, surf, and hiking trails. He built this practice around a single idea: care conservative enough that parents trust it, and gentle enough that kids come back smiling.
Dr. Steven McDaniel
Pediatric Dentist
Dr. McDaniel earned his DMD at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and stayed to complete his two-year pediatric residency there β serving as chief resident. Before joining the practice he cared for Maui families at Hui No Ke Ola Pono and Maui Memorial Medical Center.
Off the clock he's a cook, a gamer, and an unapologetic Star Wars and Disney enthusiast β fluent, in other words, in the native languages of his patients.
Curious what pediatric residency training actually changes? The honest comparison.
Our keiki, our Κ»ohana
The practice runs on an "Our Keiki" philosophy: treat every child like one of our own, and every parent like a partner.
What families tell us, again and again, comes down to three things: they stayed with their child and saw everything; their keiki genuinely don't dread coming back; and nothing was ever pushed β options explained, decisions made together. Those aren't marketing lines; they're the three promises this office is built to keep, visit after visit.
The Halloween Candy Buy Back
Every fall, keiki bring in their extra Halloween candy and trade it for prizes β the sugar leaves the island's bedtime routines, the kids feel like winners, and everyone's dentist sleeps better. Watch Instagram for each year's dates.
Referring providers
Pediatricians and general dentists: we gladly see your youngest, most anxious, and highest-needs patients. Referral details to info@mauipediatricdentistry.com and we'll take great care of them β and report back.
What we believe
A pediatric dental home in Kihei, built on prevention, honesty, and the radical idea that parents belong in the room.
Prevention first. The best dentistry is the kind your child barely notices: six-month rhythms, sealants before cavities, habits before treatments. When we do treat, we reach for the gentlest tool that truly works β and we don't take X-rays without a clinical reason.
Honesty always. Every option comes with its trade-offs attached β the black stain SDF leaves, the real difference between a filling and a crown, what insurance will and won't do. You decide with the whole picture, never after the fact.
Parents in the room. Chairside, start to finish, including treatment. Trust is easier to keep when nothing happens out of view.
"Our keiki" isn't a slogan on a wall. It's the standard: would this be good enough for our own kids? Then and only then is it good enough for yours.
The full story lives across the Parent Library β every policy on this page has its own honest answer there.
Straight answers
How do I book an appointment?
Call (808) 868-5757 β a human answers, and we'll find a time that fits. We see keiki in Kihei on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8amβ5pm.
What ages do you see?
Infants through about age 12 β including children with special health care needs. First visits should happen by age one.
Can I stay with my child?
Yes β always, including treatment. It's our standing promise, not an exception.
Do you take my insurance?
We accept most plans plus private pay, and we verify your specific plan before your visit β call with your card handy.
Will my child need X-rays?
Only if there's a clinical question an X-ray answers. Our no-unnecessary-X-rays policy, in full.
What if my child has a dental emergency?
Call us at (808) 868-5757. For the meanwhile: the step-by-step emergency guide β and remember, knocked-out permanent teeth are a race; baby teeth are not replanted.
Where are you located?
Azeka Shopping Center (Makai building), 1280 S Kihei Rd, Suite 206, Kihei β directions β. Our dentists also see keiki in Lahaina early in the week; call for current days.
Come say aloha
One phone call books everything. The rest of this page is here so you never have to hunt for a number.
Phone: (808) 868-5757 Β· Fax: (808) 442-1303
Email: mauikeikismiles@gmail.com Β· Referrals: info@mauipediatricdentistry.com
Kihei office: Azeka Shopping Center (Makai), 1280 S Kihei Rd, Suite 206, Kihei, HI 96753 β directions β
Hours: Kihei β Tue & Thu, 8amβ5pm Β· Mon & Wed our team sees keiki in Lahaina Β· closed Fri. Call to confirm current days.
New patients
Start with the first-visit guide, then call. Bring your insurance card β we'll verify your plan before you're ever billed a surprise.
Emergencies
Call the office first. After hours, the voicemail includes instructions β and the emergency guide covers the critical first minutes.