Today we’d like to introduce you to Quinn Yost.
Hi Quinn, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I founded Milk Tooth to break a frustrating cycle I saw all too often in pediatric dentistry. Parents and children would get cavities, never fully understanding the ‘how’ or ‘why.’ They would then have to go through painful treatments, only to find themselves back in the same situation a year later.
I knew this cycle was preventable. I wanted to create a place where we didn’t just treat cavities, but where we actually educated families and helped them get healthier. My goal was to move beyond shame and judgment and instead look for the root cause of the problem, offering real solutions instead of just a temporary filling.
Milk Tooth is a holistic pediatric dental office designed to be a warm and welcoming space where children can receive a higher level of care. We have invested in advanced technology and training, specializing in laser dentistry (which means no shots or drills), bacterial testing, airway dentistry, and early orthodontics. This allows us to offer truly comprehensive and holistic dental options that get to the heart of the issue.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The path to opening Milk Tooth was anything but smooth. After working in multiple offices across Los Angeles and Washington State, I gained a deep appreciation for high-quality patient care, but I also saw how broken and flawed the existing systems were.
For years, I invested in continued education and trained under mentors, dedicating myself to mastering a higher level of care in areas like laser dentistry (no shots, no drills), tongue and lip tie care, airway dentistry, and holistic dental options.
When I finally opened Milk Tooth, it was an all-or-nothing leap of faith. My wife and I poured every last dollar we had into this dream, cashing out our savings and even our retirement plans when funds ran low. I worked multiple jobs, waking up at 5 a.m. and not stopping until midnight, six days a week. There were moments of fear, where I worried my dream was unrealistic and that dentistry just had to be “the way it always had been.” I remember weeks of uncertainty, unsure how I would pay my team members and our family’s bills.
Today, after two years, we are so thankful to see our passion shared by the community. We’re flourishing and growing because so many people want something different, something better for their child. It’s an honor that they trust us to provide that level of care.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Milk Tooth is our holistic pediatric dental practice, founded to offer a different, more comprehensive approach to children’s oral health. We started our practice to break the cycle of children and parents getting cavities, undergoing painful treatments, and then repeating the process without ever understanding the root cause.
What We Do and What We’re Known For
We’re known for our “whole-body” approach to dental care. We focus on education and preventative measures, helping families understand the connection between oral health and overall wellness. We’ve created a warm, welcoming, and supportive environment designed to make children feel comfortable and empowered rather than shamed.
What Sets Us Apart
A key differentiator for us is our focus on finding the root cause of dental issues rather than just treating the symptoms. We specialize in advanced, high-level care that includes:
Laser Dentistry: A cornerstone of our practice, this technology allows us to perform procedures with no shots, no drills, and no numbing.
Airway Dentistry & Orthodontics: We screen for sleep-related breathing disorders and address these issues with early orthodontics and palatal expansion.
Bacterial Testing: We go beyond traditional check-ups to analyze a child’s unique oral microbiome.
Holistic & Non-Metal Options: We use white, BPA-free, non-metal fillings and offer alternatives to fluoride, providing a range of choices for health-conscious families. We also use products that are free of common allergens like gluten, dairy, and dyes.
What We’re Most Proud Of
We’re most proud of the trust we’ve built within our community and our ability to flourish and grow. The journey to opening Milk Tooth involved immense personal sacrifice, including cashing out our savings and retirement plans and working long hours. The success of our practice is a testament to the fact that so many parents are looking for this higher level of care and a more compassionate approach to their children’s health.
What We Want Readers to Know
We want readers to know that Milk Tooth is a place where families can expect a higher level of care. We are a practice that goes beyond the “drill and fill” model to partner with parents and children, creating lifelong healthy habits. Our journey from a risky dream to a thriving business proves that people are ready for a different, better way of approaching pediatric dentistry.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
We’ve seen a significant shift away from harmful materials and overtreatment in dentistry. We’re learning to treat the mouth as a complete ecosystem, not just tooth by tooth. Dentistry is now beginning to understand and address root causes, and we’re moving toward a much better whole-body approach to oral care.
I also am driven to help change the foundation of dentistry. The current system is fundamentally flawed: dental practices are reimbursed based on the number of procedures they perform, meaning the more cavities a patient has, the more money a practice makes. This model places a financial penalty on keeping patients healthy and well.
Our mission is to join a movement that advocates for a new approach. We believe providers should be compensated based on their patients’ health outcomes. By focusing on prevention and helping our patients become healthier—with fewer cavities and less disease—we can earn a higher reimbursement. This is the only way to align a practice’s financial success with the patient’s overall well-being.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.milktooth.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/co.milktooth/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/comilktooth-100085486093921/
- Twitter: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@co.milktooth
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MilkToothDentalWellness
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/milk-tooth-hermosa-beach-2
- Other: https://share.google/2paNHZtM3NXO1Zlg2
Image Credits
None needed.
