Dr. Nelson has been practicing pediatric dentistry in Northern Virginia since July 1, 1990, after finishing his Intern-Residency in Pediatric Dentistry at the Children's Hospital, Medical University of South Carolina. He holds a B.S. in Chemistry from The Citadel and his D.M.D. from the Medical University of South Carolina.
Born in Newport Rhode Island, Dr. Nelson was the son of a marine and spent his childhood all over the country growing up on different military instillations. Dr. Nelson knew he wanted to be a dentist since he was eleven years old when he would go to his favorite pediatric dentist on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Since then, he has lived a life dedicated to achieving these dreams: after going to the Citadel on a swimming scholarship and completing dental school and residency, he has provided excellent oral healthcare to thousands of children throughout the Northern Virginia region for thirty years. He believes in taking the necessary time with each child to provide a relaxing, fun experience instead of a scary and rushed procedure. He is one of approximately 4,000 Board Certified Pediatric Dentists in the country and provides care to a large population of special needs children in the area. Dr. Nelson is also on staff at the Virginia Hospital Center and frequently uses the hospital for outpatient surgeries as well as on-call trauma cases.
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his partner, Julia, and their four dogs, real estate, flying private aircrafts, and traveling. He has completed the Marine Core Marathon seven times so far, and plans to complete his eighth in October 2019.
Edward J Nelson DMD
Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
Dr. Rose Marie Gonzales, DDS
RoseMarie Gonzales has been the Restorative and Trauma Dentist in Dr. Nelson’s practice since August 22, 2005, after graduating from the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, University of Maryland Dental School. She was a Certified Dental Assistant for ten years prior to Dental School. She earned her BA from Northern Arizona University while living in Arizona where her husband was stationed; raising a 2-year-old, working full-time in a Periodontal practice and attending class at night.
Dr. Gonzales was born and raised in Northern New Mexico, where her parents still live. She has been married to John, a Retired Officer of United States Marine Corps, for over 30 years. They have three daughters: Felicia Rose, 26; Alicia Marie, 22; and Clara Patrice, 16. Their Yorkipoo of 13 years completes their family.
Dr. G’s philosophy is simple: Treat each patient as if they are the most important patient, because, while they are in her chair, they are. It really is that simple. Being a dentist has proven to be her dream come true. She always wanted to care for others and raise a family—working in Dr. Nelson’s practice has allowed her to be present for her husband and her daughters as well as her patients. It has afforded her the balance that she’d always hoped for.
Free time is all about their daughters and spending time together! Visiting DisneyWorld allows John and RoseMarie to spend time with all three girls while seeing Felicia Rose, who trains cast members at Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios while she finishes her degree. They have also enjoyed traveling to support Alicia Marie and Clara Patrice, who have played basketball since they were very young.
Hello
Welcome to the office of Dr. Edward J. Nelson, DMD, and Dr. Rose Marie Gonzales, DDS. Our office is here to serve you and your dental needs.
Once you are here
There are Several things that will make your first visit with us go smoothly. Plan to be with us at least 45 minutes to an hour. We will do our best to see you at your appointed time, however please keep in mind that we are a pediatric dental/orthodontic practice and emergencies do arise.
Please bring the following with you to your first appointment:
A list of any medications that the child is taking or needs to take before a dental appointment.
Insurance Card.
Any x-rays or reports from previous dentists.
Fill out and bring with you your child’s health history form. For you convenience click HERE for a fill able PDF. Please fill out and print it to bring to the first visit.
Who we work with
The two insurance companies that we are in network with are Delta Dental and United Concordia. As a provider we have NO information about your insurance policy, and what they will and will not cover. As a subscriber it is your responsibility to ask questions and to check with your insurance company concerning coverage. If you are with another insurance company besides the fore mentioned, payment is required at the time of service and we will supply paperwork for you to submit.
If we can answer any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. We will assist you in any way we can.
Contact Us
Our office is located in the north end of Arlington. Nestled between North Glebe Road and Old Dominion Drive in the Old Dominion neighborhood. Please keep in mind that the only entrance into our parking lot is by way of Old Dominion Drive and there is no direct access from North Glebe Road.
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to reach out to our office at (703) 525-8200 or email us at dr.edwardnelson@yahoo.com.
Our Office
2501 North Glebe Road, Suite 100
Arlington, VA 22207
How’s The Weather
In the event of INCLEMENT weather
In the event of inclement weather and your child’s school has either a delay or has been canceled, someone from our office will reach out to to you directly to inform you of our office status. Please be sure your phone is on and can accept calls to get an update. If you have any question please feel free to reach out to us at 703-525-8200 or email us at dr.edwardnelson@yahoo.com.