Welcome to Good to Grow!

New England’s only pediatric dental practice fully dedicated to airway, jaw growth & development, and early ortho.

Our patients come to us for sleep disordered breathing, teeth grinding, early airway orthodontics, braces, Invisalign®, myofunctional therapy, dental wellness check-ups and cleanings, and cavity prevention.

Good to Grow’s mission is to help children thrive during their main developmental years. We do this by screening and treating children earlier. Why wait for your child to grow into a developing problem when instead we may be able to help them grow out of it.

It’s time for traditional dental thinking to evolve.

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740 Williams Street, Suite C
Pittsfield MA 01201
413-329-3292

The future of pediatric dentistry.

A child’s health stems from being able to breathe, sleep, and eat properly. The airway approach focuses on guiding jaw development for optimal function during critical growth stages of a child's life. 

Children who come to us often experience increased nasal air flow, improved sleep & immunity, big beautiful smiles, and so much more. If you have a young child, now is the time to learn the benefits of airway pediatric dentistry and schedule a comprehensive evaluation.

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Meet Lauren Ballinger

Advocate, Mom, Board Certified Pediatric Dentist, and pre-eminent leader in airway centric pediatric dentistry.

Dr. Lauren has been where you are right now, searching online for the best doctor and treatment to help her child.

Read why she risked everything (mid-career!) to leave a successful practice to open her own fully dedicated airway centric dental office. The reason might surprise you.

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Testimonials

  • They changed my son’s life. He’s sleeping beautifully and thriving at school. She’s so much more than oral care.

    – Barbara

  • She helped my son when no one else could. We are so lucky to have a specialist like her in the Berkshires.

    – Diana

  • Be prepared to enter a totally unique dental office. Dr. Ballinger is definitely leading the way.

    – Thom

  • She is the best pediatric dentist around. Her commitment to children is unparalleled.

    – Valerie

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 FAQs

  • Pediatric dentists demonstrate a much higher level of commitment and study to become accredited pediatric dentists, here’s why: Pediatric dentists complete an additional two years of residency training after dental school. The additional two years are focused solely on providing care to infants, toddlers, young children, pre-adolescent youths, and children with special needs. Why does this matter? Because protecting the innocence and the emotions of a small child is JOB-ONE.

    After the two additional years of residency, pediatric dentists must take a very intense 2-hour Accreditation Exam at a secret location in Texas; they are taken to the undisclosed location by a bus with blacked-out windows (no joking!). Part of the exam is oral, and the other part is written. If accreditation is earned, all pediatric dentists must complete mandated training, and re-certify every year. Plus, every 10 years, pediatric dentists must go back down to Texas to retake the Accreditation Exam at the secret location.

  • To become a Board Certified pediatric dentist, one must complete an accredited graduate program in pediatric dentistry plus an annual certification process through the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Board Certified pediatric dentists represent the absolute top percentage of dentists in the United States due to their extensive training, lengthy residency, and mandated continuing education needed to renew their certification, annually. Being Board Certified demonstrates a level of commitment, which far outweighs non-Board Certified dentists.

  • Health stems from being able to breathe, eat, and sleep properly. Earlier screenings are critical simply because if treatment is needed, it can be provided in time for the child to thrive in their physical, cognitive, and behavioral development years.

  • Not at all! In fact, airway dentistry is gaining momentum - especially within Mommy Groups - as more books and research are becoming available. See our Resources page. Parents are realizing airway dentistry can aid in their child’s overall physical, cognitive, and behavioral development.

  • Mouth breathing leads to sleep disordered breathing – where a child’s sleep pattern can never really reach “restorative sleep” function. As a result, mouth breathing and sleep disordered breathing can lead to learning delays, ADHD, behavioral issues, anxiety, chronic infections, tooth decay, bed wetting, and disruptive behavior.

  • Your child is your whole world. We know this and want nothing more than to help your child thrive in their development. Early collaboration amongst service providers regarding the care of your child is of the utmost importance to us. With your permission, we collaborate with family, pediatricians, ENTs, speech therapists, and other specialists in the child’s life to ensure the best possible treatment and outcomes.