South Walton spreads out a long way. Families along the coast, up around the bay and out toward the county line all live within reach of good pediatric dental care, but the nearest office is not always the one you would guess. Panhandle Pediatric Dentistry has four offices across Northwest Florida. Here is how they line up against the communities we see families from most.
Our Santa Rosa Beach Office
Our Santa Rosa Beach pediatric dental office sits at 870 Mack Bayou Road, Suite A, just off Highway 98 near the Mack Bayou Road intersection. It is an easy stop for families coming from the beach communities and for anyone heading down from across the bay.
At this office your child is cared for by Dr. Lisa LaPointe and Dr. Doug Fujawa. Dr. LaPointe has advanced training that helps even the most anxious little ones feel secure and supported in the chair. Dr. Fujawa is board certified and has spent his career caring for children with special healthcare needs, so families who have struggled to find the right fit elsewhere often find it here.
The office was built for kids rather than adapted for them. We keep an open office policy, which means parents and guardians are welcome to stay beside their child for the whole visit. Nobody gets sent to the lobby without an explanation.
Communities We Serve Near Santa Rosa Beach
Miramar Beach and Sandestin
Miramar Beach families have the shortest trip of anyone outside Santa Rosa Beach itself. The office is a straight run east along Highway 98, and most families from the Sandestin area and the neighborhoods around it are here in well under twenty minutes. If you already drive 98 for school pickup or work, this one barely changes your day.
Along 30A
The office sits at the west end of the 30A corridor, which works out well for families spread along it. Blue Mountain Beach and Grayton Beach are close in. WaterColor, Seaside and Seagrove Beach are a longer but straightforward drive west along 30A, and you can pick up 98 at Mack Bayou without heading inland.
Families further east toward Rosemary Beach and Inlet Beach sit closer to the middle of the county. That drive is real, so it is worth weighing against our Panama City office depending on which way you already travel.
Freeport
Freeport families come south across the bay on Highway 331, and it is a genuinely quick trip. Freeport has grown faster than almost anywhere in Florida over the last few years, and a lot of that growth is young families in Hammock Bay and the neighborhoods around it. If you are new to the area and still sorting out where everyone goes, Santa Rosa Beach is very likely your closest pediatric specialist.
DeFuniak Springs and North Walton County
DeFuniak Springs is a longer drive, roughly forty minutes down 331 depending on where in town you start. Some north Walton County families do make that trip. Others find our Niceville office works out about the same or better once you account for which roads you already use. It is worth checking both before you decide.
Destin
Destin sits west past Miramar Beach along 98. Families on the east end of Destin often find Santa Rosa Beach the easier trip, while families further west toward the bridge tend to do better at our Fort Walton Beach office. Either way, you have a specialist within a reasonable drive.
What We Offer at the Santa Rosa Beach Office
Prevention is where most of our work happens. Early oral exams, routine cleanings and fluoride treatments catch problems while they are still small and easy to handle. For children who are already showing early decay, sealants and silver diamine fluoride can stop it without drilling.
When restorative work is needed, we use tooth colored fillings and cosmetic crowns that hold up and look natural. Extractions happen only when there is no better option. For kids who play sports or grind their teeth at night, custom mouth guards are worth the appointment.
Our team is specially trained in child behavior, which matters most for children with sensory challenges, autism or other developmental differences. That training is the difference between a visit that works and one that does not.
Some children need more support than a gentle approach can provide. We offer sedation options including nitrous oxide, which keeps your child awake and calm, and IV sedation delivered with a board certified pediatric anesthesiologist monitoring throughout. For extensive treatment, we partner with hospitals and surgery centers in the area so everything can be completed safely in one visit. You can see the full range of pediatric dental services we provide across all four offices.
When to Bring Your Child In
The first visit should happen by your child’s first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth coming in, whichever comes first. After that, every six months is the standard for most kids. Some children need to be seen more often if they are at higher risk for cavities.
Do not wait for a scheduled visit if something happens. A knocked out or injured tooth, visible decay, swelling or tooth pain that keeps coming back all warrant a call right away. We handle pediatric dental emergencies and would rather see your child early than have you wait it out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Panhandle Pediatric Dentistry office is closest to me
For most of South Walton, Santa Rosa Beach is the answer. That covers Miramar Beach, Sandestin, Freeport and the west end of the 30A corridor. Families in north Walton County should compare it against Niceville. Families west of Destin should compare it against Fort Walton Beach, and families toward the east county line may find Panama City closer.
Is the Santa Rosa Beach office accepting new patients
Yes. New families are welcome, and the first visit is a good chance for your child to meet the team and see the room before any real work happens. You can find scheduling details on our Santa Rosa Beach office page.
What ages does the Santa Rosa Beach office see
We see children from infancy through age seventeen. That includes first tooth exams for babies and continues through the teen years, so your family keeps the same records and the same team the whole way through.
What should I bring to my child’s first visit
Bring your insurance card, a list of any medications your child takes and any relevant medical history, especially if your child has a diagnosis that affects their care. If your child has seen a dentist before, previous records are helpful but not required. Beyond that, bring whatever helps your child feel comfortable.
For a closer look at the drive from each community, see our guide to finding a pediatric dentist near Santa Rosa Beach and South Walton.