With a colorful, playful sign out front touting its “little teeth big smiles” motto, Children’s Dentistry of Forest Park has been an eye-catching attraction along Harlem Avenue for years.
But the practice’s founder, Dr. Jerry Udelson, isn’t one to rest on any laurels.
As a result, the popular pediatric practice (and Inside Edge PR client since January) has added a 6-foot, 200-pound display of giant chattering teeth that figure to inspire even bigger smiles.
A few weekends ago, the fiberglass structure was installed above the office’s entrance and wrapped around three sides of a decorative brick wall. Each tooth is 13 inches tall and overall the 32 teeth are seven feet across.
Attached to the giant teeth is a pair of green high-top sneakers, laced to the top and roughly 2 feet in length.
Looming more than 20 feet off the ground, it now greets not only patients but passers-by along the busy stretch of Harlem just north of Roosevelt Avenue on Forest Park’s eastern border.
Udelson came up with the idea through conversations he had with a friend, artist Lance Friedman, owner of Shattered Glass Group in Chicago. The teeth were manufactured by Mark Cline of Enchanted Castle Studios in Natural Bridge, Va.
At the Heart of It All: Fun
“Fun is at the heart of our approach to pediatric dentistry,” said Udelson, who founded the practice in 2004. “In addition to providing top service, we pull out all the stops to make a trip to the dentist an enjoyable experience.”
Last year, Children’s Dentistry of Forest Park gained acclaim from national website Red Tricycle as a “Most Awesome” selection in the “Happiest Dentist Offices” category. To receive the honor, the practice outdistanced nine other finalists throughout the Chicago area.
The tongue-in-cheek humor serves a greater purpose, establishing an environment for young patients to become diligent and proactive in their dental care as they enter their adult years.
“The more we can reinforce that dental care isn’t some kind of ordeal, the better it will be not only for us, but all dental practitioners in the area,” said Udelson.
To learn more about Children’s Dentistry of Forest Park, call 708-FUN-KIDS (386-5437) or visit www.little-teeth-big-smiles.com.
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