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Children arriving at Island Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics in Tysons Corner encounter a setting designed to ease anxiety before an appointment begins. A saltwater aquarium bubbles near the entrance, iPads provide distractions, and the office avoids the antiseptic atmosphere often associated with dental care.
Dr. Gema Island created the practice around a straightforward idea: Children’s earliest experiences at the dentist can shape their oral-health habits for years. Her approach combines specialized clinical care with patience, simple explanations and an effort to make young patients feel safe.
“As a mom — and a dentist — minimizing fears and putting a smile on a child’s face brings me joy,” she has said.
Island frequently speaks with children at eye level, walks them through procedures in reassuring language and gives them time to become comfortable. Parents often point to that manner, rather than her professional credentials, when describing their experiences.
Advanced training behind a gentle approach
Island earned her dental degree from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Mexico City before completing a pediatric dentistry residency at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston.
While at Tufts, she received the Bates Award for postgraduate research and won a competitive esthetic dentistry challenge during her senior year. She later became board certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and earned recognition as a Diplomate after meeting the organization’s clinical and written standards.
Island is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and a member of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology. She has published work in peer-reviewed journals and delivered presentations in the United States and abroad on subjects ranging from infant dental care to enamel conditions affecting adolescents.
Her experiences during training, followed by becoming a mother, reinforced her belief that positive early appointments can influence a child’s long-term relationship with dental care.
She opened Island Children’s Dentistry in Tysons Corner in 2014, seeking to offer comprehensive pediatric treatment in an environment built specifically around children.
Care for children with anxiety and special needs
The practice now draws families from communities including Vienna, McLean, Oakton, Falls Church, Great Falls and Arlington. It provides pediatric dental and orthodontic services in one location.
Available care includes infant oral evaluations, preventive cleanings, sealants, restorative treatment and laser dentistry. The practice also conducts early orthodontic evaluations beginning at age 7 and offers interceptive orthodontics, Invisalign and traditional braces.
A significant part of its work involves children who are anxious, have special needs or struggle to tolerate conventional dental procedures. Island holds a Virginia permit allowing her to provide conscious oral sedation and IV sedation for patients who need additional support to receive necessary care.
The office also uses Wand anesthesia and laser technology, which can reduce reliance on traditional injections and make treatment less intimidating for young patients.
Online reviewers repeatedly describe patient staff members, short waits, clear communication and a calming environment. Some parents report that children who previously feared appointments later asked to return.
One mother recalled her 5-year-old leaving an appointment and saying, “Wow! That was a really nice dentist! We should come here again!” Another parent whose son had difficulty at other offices praised Island for explaining each stage of treatment directly to the child.
The practice has received recognition from Washingtonian as a Top Dentist, while DC Magazine has named Island a Distinctive Dentist.
Service at home and abroad
Island’s work also extends beyond her Tysons practice. Through the International Esperanza Project, she has volunteered in Guatemala, delivering dental treatment to children in underserved communities near Lake Atitlán and supporting early-childhood education efforts.
In Northern Virginia, she has contributed to improvements at the McLean Central Park playground and participated in the Vienna Business Association.
Outside the office, Island enjoys tennis, ballet and traveling with her husband and their children, Becky and Eddie. She says her experience as both a dentist and a parent helps her understand the concerns families bring to each visit.
More than a decade after the practice opened, its central goal remains unchanged: Pair pediatric dental expertise with an atmosphere that helps children replace fear with confidence.