KATHLEEN L. MULCAHEY, DDS

Your Highly-Skilled, Caring Valencia Orthodontist And Pediatric Dentist

Dr. Kathleen Mulcahey is both an orthodontist and a pediatric dentist. She attended Pomona College and received a Bachelor of Arts in English and then graduated from the University of San Francisco with a Bachelor of Science and her Doctor of Dental Surgery. After graduation, Dr. Mulcahey completed post-doctoral work at the University of Los Angeles, earning her Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and her Certificate in Orthodontics. She became a Member of the UCSF chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon dental honor society upon completion of dental school.

Dr. Mulcahey was very self-conscious of her own smile and begged her parents for braces. From the moment she started wearing braces she was fascinated with the process and paid close attention to what was going on. Once her braces were removed, she felt an immediate difference in her self-confidence and she put “orthodontist” on her list of possible careers. Dr. Mulcahey felt that everything she would have to do to become an orthodontist would be worth it if she could give to other people what her orthodontist gave her – a beautiful smile. 

At the time, Dr. Mulcahey was not really sure of what it entailed to become an orthodontist, so she started looking into it. That was when she realized that she would have to go to dental school and then hope she had what it would take to get into an orthodontics residency. She took all of the prerequisite courses while majoring in English and got into dental school. Dr. Mulcahey remembers looking through the catalog of specialty programs her first year of dental school and seeing the combined pediatric dentistry and orthodontics program at UCLA. At the time, she thought you had to be a bit wacky to want to work on children, so she passed right by that page. 

As it would happen, during Dr. Mulcahey’s pediatric dentistry rotation at the beginning of her final year of dental school, she realized that she actually really enjoyed working with the kids. She also seemed to have a bit of a knack for it and started to consider the combined program. When Dr. Mulcahey asked the pediatric dentist in the clinic why he worked with kids his answer was one that resonated strongly with her, and she considers it her mission to this day. He said, “If I can help children to not be afraid of the dentist, then I have done them a service for their lifetime.” As one who had a great deal of dental anxiety when she was a kid, Dr. Mulcahey took that to heart. 

Dr. Mulcahey loves the fact that she gets to interact with people and develop relationships with the kids and their parents every day. She enjoys watching the kids grow up and getting to see all of the fun things that they are planning for their future. She finds it fun to be goofy and not have to worry about how silly you are around the kids. Dr. Mulcahey loves it when she meets a kid who is anxious about treatment and she can help them develop their confidence and not be anxious anymore. 

In orthodontics, Dr. Mulcahey loves being able to help someone improve their smile. The best moments are when she does something for a patient, then they look in the mirror and light up or cry because they are so happy. Dr. Mulcahey always hopes that people will look back at their experiences with her and remember them fondly.

“First and foremost, I would love for them all to know that I care. I care about them, I care about their kids, I care about doing my best for them. It is always my intention to treat my patients to the best of my ability, the very same way I would treat my own kids.”

-Dr. Mulachey

Dr. Kathleen Mulcahey has been married to her husband, Butch, since 1993. He is a product design engineer at a company in Sylmar. They have three sons and just recently became empty-nesters. Joey is finishing his Master’s degree in Civil Engineering and is married to her amazing daughter-in-law, Lindsey. Stephen is at Hillsdale College in Michigan, majoring in Physics, and Michael is at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, majoring in Astrophysics. Dr. Mulcahey also has a dog, two cats and a leopard gecko that are keeping her company with the kids gone!

Dr. Mulcahey loves music. She plays the piano and flute but just doesn’t practice much anymore, but she is still singing. She was in choirs throughout elementary school, junior high and high school, and into college. During dental school, Dr. Mulcahey had the opportunity to be a volunteer member of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus as well as participate in the more modest group of fellow health science people called The Vocal Chords. Since then, she has stayed involved in various choirs and worship teams at church. Dr. Mulcahey is a member of the Santa Clarita Master Chorale and the Grace Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir.

Dr. Mulcahey grew up in Claremont, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. She loves living in Valencia. The climate is great, but it also has such a strong family vibe. She loves that there are so many wonderful people that she has had the chance to know, both in the community and through the practice. Dr. Mulcahey also loves the beautiful views of the mountains!

Dr. Mulcahey knows that no matter how long she has been a dentist and orthodontist, there is always something new to learn and so many ways to improve. As she works very hard to do her best job, she is always looking for how she can improve, both in her clinical skills and knowledge, as well as her communication and her ability to work through the hard things. 

Education

  • Pomona College, Bachelor of Arts in English

  • University of San Francisco, Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Dental Surgery

  • University of Los Angeles, Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and Certificate in Orthodontics

Outside The Office

  • Reading

  • Walking

  • Spending time with family and friends

  • Traveling

  • Eating out (a lot!)

  • Involved in her local church and loves being able to serve there.

  • Loving music and singing

Favorite Patient Memories

  • Discussing movies with a patient, Dr. Mulcahey and the patient ended up belting out songs from “The Greatest Showman.” Of course, the patient’s mom recorded it!

  • A little girl was really struggling when Dr. Mulcahey was working on her fillings. Although she was able to complete her visits, tears would often be flowing down the little girl’s face. Dr. Mulcahey was so proud of her for trying so hard, but they were both tired when it was done. A couple of months later, her mom brought in her brother for his first visit to the office. The mother told Dr. Mulcahey that the same little girl started crying at home because she didn’t get to go to the dentist! (It is nice to be loved!)