The part of dentistry I enjoy the most is helping anxious children get over their dental fears and working with children that have special health care needs.We designed our office to be comfortable for both parents and kids while still providing the same fun and comfortable environment that children love. Parents will always be welcome and encouraged to accompany their children during their dental experience. ~ Dr. Hicks
Dr. Hicks father used a pocket translator and his army ingenuity to win over his unsuspecting sweetmother in a Japanese coffee shop while he was serving in the United States Army. A few years later Dr. Hicks was born at Yokosuka United States Naval Base in Japanin 1981. As a child, he was blessed to travel the world with his multi-cultural military family, and was even more blessed to be exposed to other cultures and traditions at ayoung age.When his father retired from the army the family happily settled in Lake City, Georgia where they knew they had found a home. His childhood was filled with karate classes, basketball, fishing, and of course homework (ugh!).
Soon after graduating from Georgia State University in 2003 with a Bachelors of Science degree, Dr. Hicks discovered his passion for dentistry during a mission trip to Haiti in 2004. He was blessed with the opportunity throughout Dental school to continue to serve as a dental provider on mission trips all over the world, which only increased his passion for treating and providing dental services to children. He graduated from the Medical College of Georgia, School of Dentistry in 2009 with a Doctorate of Dental Medicine degree. Following dental school, he completed a two year residency at the University of Kentucky, simultaneously earning a specialty certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and a Masters of Science Degree in 2011.
Dr. Hicks biggest accomplishment came when he got up the courage to ask a pretty girl out for a movie date in dental school. He knew her from college but it took years for him to ask her out. Little did he know how happy she would make him. During the years that followed, they married and became the proudest parents of two cute energetic boys. They are also his toughest patients.
In Dr. Hicks free time he enjoys playing with his boys, exercising, fishing, traveling, watching movies, and trying sometimes unsuccessfully to improve his golf game. He is a big fan when it comes to his beloved hometown Falcons, Braves, and Hawks. But he always has a special place in his heart for his Kentucky Wildcats.
Dr. Hicks has participated in several dental mission trips in his career to places like Haiti, Mexico, Bulgaria, Trinidad, Ecuador, and Senegal. He thoroughly enjoyed those experiences and would encourage others to do the same. It was one of the most fulfilling times of my life. I cant wait to go again!
It all started when the lives of a mechanical engineer and a law student changed as they fled their home country during the Vietnam War to seek refuge in the United States. One came by plane and the other by boat. Though they did not know each other in Vietnam, fate would have them meet in America where they fell in love and worked hard to build a new life in their new home country. They soon started a family and it was in Charleston, South Carolina where they became parents to Dr. Vu. Her dad eventually received a great job offer to work as head mechanic for Levi Strauss in Texas so he packed his family up to move to the lone star state. While driving along I-20W to get to Texas, her parents made a pit stop in Atlanta, Georgia. They ended up loving the city so much they never made it to Texas and instead found a home and settled in Norcross, Georgia. So at 3 months old, Dr. Vu became a Georgia peach.
Dr. Vu knew at an early age that she wanted to be a dentist so she worked hard to achieve her goal. After completing high school, Dr. Vu graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelors in Science. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and was Valedictorian of her class. She went on to receive her Doctorate of Dental Medicine degree from the Medical College of Georgia, now referred to as Augusta State University. As if high school, college, and dental school were not enough, Dr. Vu made her way up to Lexington, Kentucky after dental school to complete orthodontic specialty training at the University of Kentucky. While there, she was very active in research and earned a Master of Science degree in Craniofacial Biology. Her academic journey finally saw an end when she completed her 3 year orthodontic residency in 2012- the same year the Cats defeated the Kansas Jayhawks to win their eighth NCAA Championship title after a thirteen season drought. Go Cats!
After leaving Big Blue Country, Dr. Vu returned home to Georgia where she worked as an associate orthodontist for several years until she was fortunate enough to join practice with her husband, Dr. James Hicks, a pediatric dentist who is well known in the community for his calming, gentle nature. Dr. Hicks and Dr. Vu went to the same college, dental school (they were dental classmates), and dental residency so its not a surprise that their treatment philosophies are the same- conservative, honest, and gentle dentistry with patient care at the top of their priority. Dr. Vu recognizes that every child has different needs and she delivers treatment tailored to each individual child. She is board certified by the American Board of Orthodontics and is committed to helping every child achieve the smile they deserve- a healthy, beautiful one!
Hands down, the greatest joys in Dr. Vus life are her boys, Hudson and Colson (and Dr. Hicks, too, of course!). They are the sweetest, cutest, most rambunctious little boys and she cant imagine life without them. When not practicing orthodontics, Dr. Vu enjoys photography, organizing, crafting, and spending time with friends and family. Her latest hobby consists of trying to find 5 minutes of quiet time between work and being a mom. Part-time orthodontist, full-time mommy!
At Pediatric Dentistry of Johns Creek, we believe that by teaching your children good dental habits at an early age we can positively affect their health, wellness and confidence for the rest of their lives. That is why Dr. James Hicks and his Johns Creek childrens dental team have created an environment where parents can be as involved in the treatment of their children as they would like to be.
Our warm, caring and attentive dental team provides a wide range of childrens dental treatments to ensure that your child will develop and maintain beautiful, healthy teeth. With proper and consistent dental treatment, we can not only help to prevent cavities in the future, but also teach your child good habits that will last them a lifetime!
We designed our brand new office with you and your childs comfort in mind. We have games for the kids, and quiet, relaxing areas for the adults. If your child is afraid or nervous about visiting the Dentist, ask us about our happy visits. This is where we introduce them to our office without dental work being done, so that they become more comfortable. Some of our amenities include:
Our pediatric dentist is specialty-trained in treating children with special needs and medically compromised patients. We give these wonderful children the extra attention and understanding that they may need. We deliver care safely, compassionately and with the most fun possible. Our pediatric dental team members are trained to to meet your childs special needs and ensure that they grow up with healthy and beautiful smiles.
Insurance is welcomed and accepted at our practice. We are in-network with several Dental PPO plans. We accept all major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and offer Patient Financing.