Once Upon A Smile Pediatric Dentistry began with a simple but powerful vision: to transform dental care for children into a positive and memorable experience. Dr. Sharon Varghese, who is also a mom of 3 young children, understood that traditional dental offices often left young patients feeling anxious and uncertain. So, she created a practice where storybook-themed treatment rooms, cloud-covered ceilings, and moonlit murals greet families the moment they walk through our doors.
Since opening in 2021, we’ve proudly grown alongside the Hoffman Estates and South Barrington communities, continually refining our approach to ensure every visit feels like the beginning of a new adventure—one that ends with bright, confident smiles.
Our mission is to provide gentle, expert pediatric dental care in an environment where children and their parents feel safe, supported, and heard. Every decision we make is guided by five core values:
Our team is highly specialized in pediatric dentistry. Every dentist on staff has completed an additional two-year residency after dental school, equipping us to provide the very best care for children.
We listen first and provide gentle, personalized treatment—treating every child with patience, kindness, and understanding.
In a world where dental practices can feel like a revolving door, we take pride in a stable, familiar team. Your child will grow comfortable with our smiles, just as we cherish seeing theirs.
As parents ourselves, we understand the importance of building healthy habits at home and celebrating every milestone along the way.
We invest in modern technology and comfort-focused solutions to ensure care is efficient, effective, and stress-free.
From the moment you step into our reception area, children start their storybook appointment by being greeted with peaceful and colorful decor such as clouds hanging from the ceiling and moonlit murals. They can enjoy reading nooks, iPads for the toddlers and Xbox/Nintendo Switch for the older kids, all designed to help children begin to relax. And for the parents our space is just as comfortable, featuring a tech & coffee bar in the reception area for parents’ work and personal responsibilities.
Delivering superior care means using the best tools available. Our office features digital X‑rays for lower radiation exposure and instant image review, intraoral cameras that let children see exactly what we see, and nitrous‑oxide sedation for those who need extra reassurance. By combining these modern technologies with gentle behavior‑management techniques, we make even complex treatments—like fillings or stainless‑steel crowns—feel quick, comfortable, and kid‑friendly.
Once Upon A Smile isn’t just a dental office; we’re proud community partners. You’ll find us speaking at school health fairs, and being out in the community whenever we can, because healthy smiles begin with knowledge, and strong communities begin with collaboration.
Once Upon a Smile is proud to be members of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, Illinois State Dental Society and the Chicago Dental Society!
“Dr. Sharon Varghese and her staff are great overall!
The office is amazing, professional and very child-friendly.”
Ready to see the difference that caring, child‑focused dentistry can make? Meet our doctors and team members, explore our new patient resources, or schedule your child’s first appointment today. Click the button below to begin your child’s journey toward a lifetime of happy and healthy smiles.
