Conversations with Grant Gleason & Stephanie Cruz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Grant Gleason & Stephanie Cruz.

Hi Grant & Stephanie , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Dr. Stephanie Cruz:
Dr. Stephanie Cruz was born and raised in Southern California and began her academic journey at UCLA before earning her dental degree from UCSF. She completed a General Practice Residency at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell, followed by pediatric specialty training at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, where she met Dr. Grant Gleason. Beyond becoming trusted colleagues, Dr. Cruz and Dr. Gleason formed a close friendship that continues outside the office. Passionate about preventive care and early education, Dr. Cruz is dedicated to helping families establish healthy habits that support lifelong smiles. With extensive training and hands-on experience, she returned to Los Angeles to give back to her community by co-founding Griffith Pediatric Dentistry. Alongside Dr. Gleason and a growing team, she is building a practice rooted in empathy, education, and empowerment. Dr. Cruz is a board certified diplomate and has served on the board of the Greater LA Hispanic Dental Association, participated in a dental mission trip to Kenya with Tomorrow Smiles Today, and is an active member of the ADA, AAPD, CDA, and ABPD.

Dr. Grant Gleason:
Born and raised in Canada, Dr. Grant Gleason developed an early passion for helping others—earning the childhood nickname “Dr. Grant” long before entering dentistry. Inspired by two uncles in the profession, he earned his dental degree from Boston University and completed a General Practice Residency at St. Barnabas Hospital in New York, where he discovered his love for working with children. He went on to complete his pediatric dentistry residency at Mount Sinai Hospital and achieved board certification, reflecting his commitment to excellence in care. During his training at Mount Sinai, he met Dr. Stephanie Cruz, and the two quickly became close friends, bonding over their shared values and love for pediatric dentistry. Dr. Gleason focuses on prevention, gentle guidance, and whole-child wellness, believing dental visits should be positive and empowering experiences. Now based in Los Angeles, he co-founded Griffith Pediatric Dentistry with Dr. Cruz, bringing both their professional partnership and genuine friendship into a practice designed to be welcoming and anxiety-free for families. He is an active member of the ADA and a Board-Certified Diplomate of Pediatric Dentistry.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The journey to opening our practice was not without its challenges. Building a new business takes time, patience, and flexibility, and we encountered the typical hurdles that come with finding the right space and preparing everything needed to open our doors. As with many new ventures, there were unexpected delays and obstacles, especially as we approached opening day.
Adding to the intensity of that time, Dr. Cruz also welcomed a new baby just weeks before the practice opened, making it an especially memorable and meaningful period for our team.
Ultimately, those challenges strengthened our resolve and reinforced why we started this journey—to build a practice rooted in teamwork, resilience, and a genuine commitment to serving families in our community.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Griffith Pediatric Dentistry is a pediatric dental practice co-founded by two board-certified pediatric dentists who are passionate about redefining the dental experience for children and families. With advanced pediatric training and behavior-based techniques, we specialize in dentistry designed specifically for kids—starting from their very first visit. Our welcoming, tech-forward environment helps create positive, stress-free experiences, allowing children to feel comfortable, confident, and even excited about coming to the dentist.

At Griffith Pediatric Dentistry, we believe exceptional pediatric dental care begins with trust, comfort, and genuine connection. Located in the heart of Los Feliz, our practice is led by two board-certified pediatric dentists and is designed to support children of all needs—from routine preventive care to advanced behavioral guidance and sedation dentistry.
What truly sets us apart is our deeply personalized approach. Every visit is tailored to the individual child, beginning the moment they walk through the door. From seeing their name personally written on our welcome board, to choosing from an extensive selection of toothpaste flavors and picking their favorite movie to watch during treatment, we create an experience that helps children feel seen, relaxed, and in control.

We’re especially proud of our ability to combine advanced clinical expertise with empathy, modern technology, and a fun, welcoming environment. Our goal is not only to provide outstanding dental care, but to build positive, trust-based relationships that grow with each child—empowering both kids and parents to feel confident about healthy smiles that last a lifetime.

Our top priority is to ensure every child receives the preventive care and treatment they need, while both children and their parents leave each visit feeling seen, heard, safe, and genuinely cared for.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes us happiest is building a practice alongside a friend and colleague, where authenticity guides how we interact with our team and our patients. We love coming to work each day knowing we are making a meaningful difference in children’s lives and in the community. There’s particular pride in catching dental disease early, which not only helps prevent immediate problems but also sets the foundation for a lifetime of oral health. Knowing that our care can positively impact a child’s health and confidence from an early age is both deeply rewarding and motivating.

Pricing:

• We accept Medi-Cal, as well as most PPO and HMO insurance plans.
• For patients without insurance, we offer an in-house membership plan for $345/year, which helps make preventive care affordable.
• Disneyland Giveaway: All new patients seen within the first 3 months will be entered to win a trip for a family of four.
• Referral Reward: Refer a new patient to our office and be entered to win an iPad.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.griffithpediatricdentistry.com
• Instagram: @griffithpediatricdentistry
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/griffith-pediatric-dentistry-los-angeles

Image Credits
Portraits by Alessandra Lopez and Office shots by Michael AD at shootin