Meet Your Pediatric Dentists in Sandy and West Valley City, UT

Dr. Erik Rooklidge loves working with children and watching them grow up. His priority is giving your little ones a pleasant experience so they’ll form a positive association with the dentist for years to come!

Dr. Rooklidge received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Utah and then went on to receive his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the University of Iowa in 2001. Additionally, he completed two years of specialty training in pediatric dentistry at the Eastman Dental Center/Strong Memorial Hospital at the University of Rochester
Dr. Rooklidge is a board-certified pediatric dentist who can care for all children, including those with special needs. He dedicates himself to providing the best dental care possible for his patients, ensuring they have a comfortable and fun experience while learning to care for their own oral health.
To keep up with the latest innovations in dental care, Dr. Rooklidge is a member of the following professional organizations:

• The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• The American Dental Association
• The Utah Dental Association

In addition to keeping your kids’ smiles healthy and beautiful at Dentistry for Children, Dr. Rooklidge is also on staff at:

• Primary Children’s Hospital
• The Family Surgical Suite

Dr. Rooklidge is a native of Utah and grew up in Bountiful. He and his lovely wife have four children together. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, running, biking and golfing.

Dr. Jami Ballantine grew up mostly in Utah before starting a countrywide trek for her education. She completed her undergraduate education at the University of Washington where she double-majored in cellular-molecular biology and zoology. She then moved to Ann Arbor, MI, where she attended one of the top dental schools in the country at the University of Michigan. She knew early on that pediatric dentistry was the right fit for her, and went on to complete her pediatric dental residency program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During her training, she also earned her Master of Science degree that focused on the genetics of cavities in young children. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry selected her research as one of eight projects nationwide for the prestigious Graduate Student Research Award.

Dr. Jami is a board certified pediatric dentist by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. She has extensive clinical training and experience in caring for infants, children, teenagers, as well as those with special needs whether they are behavioral, medical or developmental. One of things she loves best about pediatric dentistry is working with kids and meeting them at their level to deliver the best possible care that is individually tailored to meet their specific needs. When working with children and their parents or caregivers, she enjoys exploring a range of treatment options that include minimally invasive or conservative measures. She constantly strives to create a positive and nurturing environment where her patients can build healthy relationships to a dental setting that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Since moving back to Utah, Dr. Jami has become a faculty member at Primary Children’s Hospital in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry. While reviewing syndromes with the residents, she discovered that there are very few dental treatment centers for children with ectodermal dysplasia in the western states where Utah families are driving out of state for their dental care. She then moved forward and co-founded the first multi-disciplinary dental treatment center for ectodermal dysplasia children at Primary Children’s Hospital to better serve Utah’s community as well as those from our surrounding states. Dr. Jami is married and a busy mom of 3 energetic boys whom she shuttles around to ski team training at Snowbird, soccer practice or piano lessons. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her kids, reading, hiking, skiing, playing the piano and is beginning to learn how to play the violin.

Dr. Mark Ward has been a proud member of the team at Dentistry for Children since 2012 but has a long-standing connection to Utah. He was born and raised in Layton and South Ogden, Utah, and graduated from Bonneville High School with academic honors in 1991.

After attending Brigham Young University—Hawaii and the University of Iowa for his undergraduate degree, Dr. Ward then went on to earn his Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, where he graduated with honors in 2001.

To further enhance his skills, Dr. Ward completed a postgraduate internship in pediatric dentistry with special needs children and youth at the University of Indiana’s Indianapolis campus.

Then, returning to his home state of Utah, Dr. Ward spent two years as an associate dentist prior to establishing his own practice, Heritage Park Dental, in Layton City, Utah, in the spring of 2005. To ensure he remains ahead of the curve in his field, he completes continuing education courses each year, participates in dental seminars and keeps up with the latest dental journals.

In his family life, Dr. Ward loves to boat, water ski and travel as often as he can to locations where the sun shines. His favorite activities are spending time with his wife, Courtney, and their three children: Connor, Jenna and Brooke. He is always ready for a family adventure.

Check back soon to meet Dr. Harrison!