At North Point Pediatric Dentistry, we provide comprehensive dental care for infants, toddlers, children and teens. Our South Bend office is conveniently and centrally located in the surrounding community. Our Elkhart location was added to provide a convenient location for our patient families located closer to Elkhart County.
Always feel comfortable contacting our office with any questions regarding your child’s treatment.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a child’s first visit to the dentist should be within six months of the eruption of their first teeth. If this is your first child, this can be very helpful. In most cases, a dental cleaning is not necessary, however, the information we can pass on to you about the prevention of tooth decay, growth and development, anticipatory guidance and trauma can be very helpful information to know. It is essential that parents take an active role in their child’s dental health.
Most decay seen in this age group is closely related to poor oral hygiene and sugar-laden diets (especially soft drinks). Our hygienists really emphasize the importance of proper brushing and flossing. We will take radiographs to evaluate for decay between the permanent teeth. Kids identified as high risk may benefit from more frequent cavity-detecting x-rays. We enjoy teenagers in our practice. Many we have known since they were infants and toddlers! We graduate kids from our practice when they graduate high school.
Children with Special Health Care Needs (SHCN) are, by definition, children “who have or are at increased risk for chronic physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional conditions and who also require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by individuals in general.” (cite: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau)
In our practice, we routinely see children with Cerebral Palsy, Down’s Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and numerous other conditions that fall under the definition of SHCN. All four of our doctors are well-trained and well-experienced in treating patients with SHCN.
At North Point Pediatric Dentistry our focus is making children feel comfortable in the dental setting, to assist in prevention of dental problems, as well as manage and maintain primary and permanent teeth.
3434 Douglas Road
South Bend, IN 46635
(574) 273-8393
810 Waterbury Park Dr.
Elkhart, IN 46517
(574) 314-9567
Dr. David Fishbaugh is a native of Alma, Michigan. He graduated with honors from Central Michigan University in 1984, and from the University of Detroit School of Dentistry in 1998.
Immediately following dental school graduation, he was commissioned as a captain in the United States Air Force. He spent his first year in service continuing his dental education in a post-doctoral general practice residency program at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
After proudly serving four years in the USAF, Dr. Fishbaugh pursued specialty training in pediatric dentistry at Columbus Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
He is a long-standing member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and is s board-certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.
Dr. Fishbaugh established North Point Pediatric Dentistry in January 2002. His vision was an office that was welcoming to parents and children from all walks of life and to provide compassionate and comfort conscious care for his patients. He is extremely grateful to the Michiana community for their support of North Point Pediatric Dentistry over the last 20+ years.
Dr. Cara Kilgore joined North Point Pediatric Dentistry in July 2016, but her dental career started way back when she was still in high school working as an assistant for both her father (now a retired pediatric dentist) and Dr. Fishbaugh. Dr. Kilgore was born and raised in South Bend where she graduated from Riley High School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Indiana University Bloomington and speaks fluent Spanish. After graduating from the Indiana University School of Dentistry in 2010, she joined the Indian Health Services and worked as a general dentist for the Penobscot Nation in Maine. Dr. Cara then went on to complete her pediatric training at the Temple University Hospital Pediatric Dental Residency program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Cara is a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. She is also a member of several dental organizations including the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the Mishawaka Dental Society, the North Central Dental Society, the Indiana Dental Association, and the American Dental Association. She retains hospital privileges with St. Joseph Regional Medical Center where she has served as Chair of the Dental Department. When not at work with her NPPD family, she enjoys spending time with her family and traveling with her husband, Craig.
Dr. Carter McCrea joined North Point Pediatric Dentistry in July 2013. Dr. McCrea was born and raised in South Bend and graduated from St. Joseph High School. He went on to attend Miami University in Oxford Ohio, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree. He is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Dentistry and he received his Certificate of Training in Pediatric Dentistry from James Whitcomb Riley Children’s Hospital. He also has a Master of Science degree in pediatric dentistry from Indiana University where he completed and published research in restorative pediatric dental materials.
Dr. McCrea retains membership in the Mishawaka Dental Society, St. Joseph District Dental Society, Indiana State Dental Association, American Dental Association and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. He is a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric
Dentistry. Dr. McCrea has hospital privileges at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. In his spare time, Dr. McCrea enjoys spending time with his wife, Emily, and three children, Fionnula, Sam and Beau.
Dr. Spiritoso is a native of South Bend and graduate of Penn High School. After graduating with highest honors from Purdue University, Dr. Spiritoso attended dental school at The Ohio State University, graduating magna cum laude with his Doctor of Dental Surgery in 2015. Dr. Spiritoso continued his post-doctoral specialty training in pediatric dentistry at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. While in residency, he received a Master of Science degree in Pediatric Dentistry from The Ohio State University. Dr. Spiritoso’s research focused on Pediatric Dental Education and the microbiology of tooth decay. He is published in the Journal of Dental Education.
Dr. Spiritoso is a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, Indiana Society of Pediatric Dentistry, Indiana Dental Association, North Central Dental Society, and the Mishawaka Dental Society. He has hospital privileges at St. Joseph Medical Center in Mishawaka.
He, his wife and four children are very excited to be back in their hometown. Dr. Spiritoso feels extremely privileged and honored to be able to take care of the families in the community in which he grew up.
