Family Dentist in Gig Harbor, WA
One dental office for everyone in your household, from your child's first tooth to your parents' crowns and bridges. Dr. Eric Kvinsland and Dr. Austin Neal have cared for Gig Harbor families on Olympic Drive since 1976, and we open at 7:00 in the morning so visits fit around school and work.
A Gig Harbor Family Practice Since 1976
Dr. Jon Kvinsland opened this practice in the late 1960s and shaped it around families beginning in 1976. His son, Dr. Eric Kvinsland, leads it today alongside Dr. Austin Neal. Both earned their DDS at the University of Washington School of Dentistry, Dr. Kvinsland in 2004 and Dr. Neal in 2022.
That history is the practical reason families stay. We have watched patients grow from their first cleanings into adults bringing in their own children, and those records sit in one place. When a parent mentions that their teeth chip easily, we already know what their mother's teeth did, and we can watch for the same pattern early.
What a Family Dentist Does
A family dentist treats every age group in one office, so a toddler, a teenager, a parent and a grandparent can all be patients of the same practice. The work covers routine prevention, restorative treatment when a tooth is damaged, and cosmetic care when someone wants to change how their smile looks.
Family Dentist vs. General Dentist
The training is the same. Every family dentist is a general dentist. The difference is how the practice is set up. A general dentist may focus on adults only, while a family practice keeps hours, equipment and a team ready for small children as well.
Kvinsland Dentistry is both, which is why you will see us described as a family and general dental practice.
Family Dentist vs. Pediatric Dentist
A pediatric dentist completes two to three additional years of residency devoted to treating children, including very young children and those with complex medical or behavioral needs. A family dentist treats children alongside the rest of the household.
For most healthy kids, a family practice works well and keeps everyone on the same schedule. A pediatric specialist can be the better fit when a child needs extensive treatment very young, has anxiety that has not responded to a gentle approach, or has medical needs that call for specialized care. We will tell you plainly when we believe a specialist is the right call, the same way we coordinate with local oral surgeons for procedures such as implant placement.
Care for Every Age
What your family needs from us changes as everyone grows, and the plan changes with it.
Babies and Young Children
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association both recommend a first visit by age one, or within six months of the first tooth. Early visits are short and gentle, and they are as much about getting comfortable in the chair as about the teeth. As molars come in, sealants protect the grooves where cavities start.
Teens
The teenage years bring their own risks: sports, orthodontic hardware, more independence over brushing, and late nights that end with a skipped routine. Regular cleanings and exams catch problems early, and sealants still help on second molars that arrive around age 12.
Adults
Adult care is mostly prevention plus repair: cleanings and exams, fillings when decay appears, and crowns when a tooth needs more support. If you grind at night, a custom night guard protects your enamel and your dental work.
Fillings · Crowns · Night guards · Cosmetic
Older Adults
Older patients often need more restorative work: bridges, crowns, and treatment for gum disease, which becomes more common with age and is closely tied to overall health. We also plan and restore dental implants, coordinating surgical placement with trusted oral surgeons and handling the crown work here.
Family Dental Services at Kvinsland
Most of what your family needs happens here, in one office, with the same team.
Preventive Care
- Cleanings and exams for every age
- Dental sealants for children, teens and adults
- Children's dentistry, including first visits
- Periodontal treatment for gum health
- Night guards for grinding and clenching
Restorative Care
Cosmetic Care
When Something Goes Wrong
Chipped teeth, lost crowns and sudden pain do not wait for a convenient day. Call us as early as you can and we will work you in. Our emergency page explains what to do first, including what to do if a tooth gets knocked out.
Booking the Whole Family
Managing appointments for several people is its own job. You can schedule your family's hygiene visits on the same day rather than making separate trips, which saves time off work and fewer pickups from school. Tell our front desk who needs to be seen and we will fit the visits together as closely as the schedule allows.
We are open Monday through Thursday, 7:00 to 4:00. The early start is useful for appointments before the school bell or the workday.
Comfortable Visits for Kids and Nervous Adults
Dental anxiety is common, and it often starts in childhood. Children take their cues from their parents, so a calm first experience does a lot of work for the years that follow.
We keep wait times short, offer weighted blankets, and give each appointment enough time that no one feels rushed. We explain what is about to happen before we do it, and we go at your pace. If you have been away from the dentist for years, you will not get a lecture from us.
What Gig Harbor Families Say
Kvinsland Dentistry holds a 5.0 star rating on Google across more than 300 reviews.
"My wife and I have been going to Kvinsland Dentistry since 2005! 20 years later with 3 kids, never any thought of a new dentist. My kids are young and they are the best!"
Andrew K.
"My experience with Kvinsland Dentistry spans 25 years. In all those years of dental care I've never received anything less than excellent care, and timely response to any concerns my family had."
Mike T.
"My husband and I just moved to GH so this was our first visit. From the moment we stepped in the door we were greeted personally and welcomed to the office."
Julie S.
Your Family's First Visit
A first visit starts with a conversation. For children, it is short and unhurried, with plenty of time to look around and ask questions.
We talk first
We ask about your dental history, any medications, and what you want from your care.
We examine and take any X‑rays
We check your teeth and gums, and take only the images we need to see what is happening.
We plan together
We talk through what we found and agree on what comes next, including the cost.
What to bring
- Your insurance card
- A list of any medications
- Your child's previous dental records, if you have them
Where to find us
5122 Olympic Drive, Suite A-201, Gig Harbor, WA 98335. Open Monday through Thursday, 7:00 to 4:00.
Insurance and Financing
Dental coverage varies quite a bit from plan to plan, especially for families with several people on one policy. Call our front desk with your plan details and we will help you understand what your benefits cover before treatment starts.
If you do not have dental insurance, or if a treatment plan runs beyond what your plan covers, we offer financing through Cherry, which lets you spread payments over time.
Choosing a Family Dentist in Gig Harbor
Look for a practice that treats every age you need covered, keeps records in one place over time, answers the phone when something breaks, and is honest about when a specialist should take over. We have been that office for Gig Harbor families for decades, and we would be glad to be yours.