Touching Hearts in Eagan, MN

Pros

• The staff at Eagan Children's Dentistry are polite and accommodating, putting families at ease during exams and treatments.
• Dr. Judy and her team are caring, understanding, and compassionate, making children feel safe and well cared for.
• The clinic is friendly and efficient, with clear explanations that help families understand treatments.
• Dr. Judy's guidance has helped turn her patients' children's dental hygiene around, leading to positive results.
• Families have trusted this practice for years, often returning for their children's care.
• The dentists and hygienists are knowledgeable and professional, and they are great with kids.
• The environment is calming for nervous children, with patient staff and kid-friendly practices like cartoons on the TV.

Cons

• The clinic was described as the worst place to take a child, with parents saying they would never return.
• The dentist was described as impatient, rough, and not kid-friendly, sometimes shouting at children.
• Several reviews claim staff pinned down children or used overly forceful techniques.
• Front desk staff were criticized as rude, unhelpful, and lacking empathy, with long wait times.
• The office environment was called dirty, dingy, outdated, and not up to code.
• Families reported traumatic experiences and lasting fear of dental visits for their children.
• Billing practices were labeled a cash grab or deceptive by some reviewers.
• Some reviews accused staff of bias or discrimination against minority patients.
• Multiple posts urged readers not to bring their children there and to seek other options.

Review

This community is best suited for families who already have trust in the pediatric clinicians here and who prioritize a long-running relationship with a provider who can calm a child through dental care. If a child responds well to patient, gentle instruction and a clinician who takes time to explain the plan, this practice can deliver meaningful continuity over years of visits and occasional emergencies. It fits families who value reliability in a dedicated children's dentist and who are willing to navigate mixed experiences to keep their child in care with a familiar team.

Those who should consider alternatives are families that cannot tolerate inconsistency or rough bedside manner, or whose children have had traumatic or highly anxious past dental experiences. A significant portion of reviews describe rude front-desk interactions, rushed or impersonal chairside work, and environments that feel disorganized or uninviting for kids. If a welcoming, kid-friendly atmosphere and steady, patient communication are non-negotiable, it's prudent to look at other pediatric dentists in the Twin Cities area where the experience is consistently warm and paced to the child's needs.

The strongest pros center on individual clinicians who truly connect with children and can deliver calm, efficient care. Several families report genuine patience, clear explanations, and the ability to keep a nervous child engaged and cooperative during cleanings or minor procedures. When Dr Judy or other trusted clinicians are involved, recurring visits can feel like a partnership, with parents appreciating the predicted approach, the readiness to answer questions, and the ability to fit urgent needs quickly. Positive anecdotes also highlight moments of lighter engagement - cartoons, positive reframing, and "Ironman" moments - that turn a tense visit into a tolerable or even positive memory for some kids. In short, the pros are real and meaningful, but they hinge on which provider is at the chair.

The main cons are systemic enough to upend trust for many families: inconsistent staff behavior, reports of impatience or rough handling, and occasional impersonal or dismissive communication. Long wait times, a dated or cluttered appearance in parts of the office, and a perception of being rushed or not fully prioritized contribute to a fragile experience for anxious children. Billing concerns and variable front-desk professionalism are repeated themes that can erode confidence before a child ever sits in the chair. Taken together, these factors create a risk that a child's view of dental care becomes tied to the mood of the day or the particular clinician they're paired with.

Those pros do not automatically offset the cons. For families who do find a clinician who earns their trust and who delivers a truly patient, kid-centered session, the benefit can be substantial: fewer behavioral challenges, better cooperation, and genuine relief from fear in future visits. Yet the inconsistency across providers makes that benefit unreliable for many. If the child's early experiences skew toward frustration or fear, the likelihood of long-term comfort diminishes unless the family can secure a consistently positive, patient approach - and that consistency is not guaranteed here based on the breadth of reviews.

Practical guidance follows: seek a concrete plan before booking, and insist on continuity with a preferred clinician (ideally one with a track record of patient, calm interactions with children). Prior to the first visit, clarify expectations around wait times, exam components, and any billing items that may surprise. If a child has special sensitivities, request a slower pace, the option to skip nonessential X-rays, and a clear, written treatment plan for each visit. Consider a pre-visit to gauge the office environment and staff warmth. If the experience does not feel like a pediatric team that genuinely orients around a child's comfort, or if repeated reports of rough handling or dissenting communication surface, it is prudent to look elsewhere - Savage or other nearby pediatric practices - where a consistently gentle approach and a more inviting environment are demonstrated.

This part of Eagan, Minnesota offers a variety of amenities and conveniences that may be appealing to seniors looking for a comfortable and accessible living environment. With a range of dining options including familiar chains like McDonald's and Denny's, as well as healthcare facilities such as Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy nearby, residents can easily meet their daily needs. The proximity to parks like Lebanon Hills Regional Park provides opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Additionally, the presence of medical clinics and hospitals in the area ensures easy access to healthcare services. Transportation options such as the Mall of America LRT Station and Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport offer convenient travel options for seniors who may enjoy exploring beyond the local area. Woodcrest Church also provides a place for spiritual reflection and community involvement. Overall, this part of Eagan offers a blend of practicality, leisure, and comfort that may be well-suited for seniors considering the area for retirement living.

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.3 miles)
• Burger King (0.8 miles)
• Yankee Tavern (3.5 miles)
• Denny's (3.6 miles)
• Wendy's (3.7 miles)
• Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers (3.9 miles)
• Taco Bell (4 miles)

Theaters

• Emagine Eagan (0.7 miles)
• Jj’s Theatre & Draft House (4.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.7 miles)
• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.9 miles)
• Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute – Apple Valley (3.6 miles)
• Walgreens (3.7 miles)
• Walgreens (4 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.9 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (2.9 miles)
• Starbucks (3.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (4 miles)
• Starbucks (4.1 miles)
• Dunn Brothers Coffee (4.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.4 miles)

Physicians

• Sstar-Sports Specific Training & Rehab (0.9 miles)
• Southdale Pediatrics (3.5 miles)
• Park Nicollet Clinic and Specialty Center Burnsville (3.8 miles)
• Fairview Ridges Specialty Care Center Park Nicollet Obgyn (3.8 miles)
• Nystrom & Associates (3.8 miles)
• Fairview Ridges Specialty Care Center (3.8 miles)
• Fairview Clinics (4.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Apple Valley Medical Clinic (3.6 miles)
• Fairview Ridges Hospital (3.7 miles)

Parks

• Lebanon Hills Regional Park (3.9 miles)
• Central Park (4.3 miles)
• Keller Park (4.6 miles)
• Lac Lavon Park (5 miles)
• Greenhaven Park (5.5 miles)
• Foxborough Park (5.8 miles)
• Burr Oaks Park (6.3 miles)

Transportation

• Mall of America LRT Station (4.6 miles)
• Delta Employee Bus Stop #1 (5.6 miles)
• Terminal 2-Humphrey (6 miles)
• TSA Checkpoint 1 (6 miles)
• Concourse A (6.4 miles)
• Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) (6.5 miles)
• Concourse C (6.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Woodcrest Church (5.7 miles)