“From the moment you step through the door at Arkansas Family Dental, you know you’re not in a typical dental office; you’re greeted by a colorful and comfortable reception area that feels more like your den than a dental office waiting room.”

Tina Nichols, DDS (Left)
Samaria Mascagni, DDS (Right)
Arkansas Family Dental is a family-friendly dental practice that provides general dentistry along with specialties such as endodontics, cosmetic dentistry, and orthodontics. Our mission statement is to provide the highest level of patient care and give each patient a world class experience while treating each patient like family.
What is your philosophy on “getting work done?”
We’re general dentists, so we basically do it all – cleanings, x-rays, fillings, crowns, root canals, and some Invisalign and traditional orthodonture, as well as cosmetic procedures such as bleaching and veneers. The clinic is equipped to address about 95 percent of patients’ needs on-site, with an in-house lab for manufacturing crowns and veneers. We also have 8 hygienists on staff that is perfect for families who would prefer to all get their cleanings done on the same day. Also, for patient convenience, we’re open for appointments Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Fridays until 4 p.m. You can schedule an appointment by giving a call or visiting our website.
How often should people go to the dentist?
Every patient’s needs are different. However, to prevent cavities, the average person should go to the dentist at least every six months to receive a professional cleaning and keep up their oral hygiene. Some patients are in need of a deeper cleaning, which requires them to be seen every three months to maintain their hygiene. The doctor and hygienists have the ability to let you know once you come in for your first visit what type of cleaning you’ll need after an examination.
How is your company different from your competition?
From the moment you step through the door at Arkansas Family Dental, you know you’re not in a typical dental office; you’re greeted by a colorful and comfortable reception area that feels more like your den than a dental office waiting room. The core philosophy at Arkansas Family Dental is to treat everyone like family. We know a lot of people don’t particularly like going to the dentist, so we have a patient-oriented staff – we do all we can to make their visit as comfortable as possible.
How was the practice founded?
Dr. Tina Nichols graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1999 and moved to Little Rock to work as an associate in an established dental practice. She opened a solo practice in 2002. In 2006, Dr. Samaria Mascagni purchased half ownership in the practice, and the partners renamed it as Arkansas Family Dental. Three years later, in 2009, the clinic moved to its current location on David O. Dodd, next to J.A. Fair High School, just south of Colonel Glenn and conveniently close to I-430.
How does your organization make a difference?
Arkansas Family Dental’s patients aren’t the only ones the staff helps; Dr. Nichols makes an annual trip to Guatemala for volunteer dental work and volunteers at Harmony Health Clinic and Arkansas Mission of Mercy. Many of the other staff members partner with the State Dental Association to volunteer for low and no-cost dental clinics. We’re proud to be able to give back to the community. In addition to our volunteer service, we’ve established a scholarship program to sponsor one UALR student per year who plans to enter a health profession, created an education partnership with J.A. Fair High School and recently held our annual Dentistry from the Heart event.
13600 David O. Dodd Road, Little Rock
501.683.8886
arkansasfamilydental.com
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