About Us
Caring for Little Smiles with Expertise and Compassion
Leslieville Kids Dental Centre
At Leslieville Kids Dental Centre, our philosophy is to care for every child as if they were our own. We understand that children have unique dental needs and require a gentle, specialized approach. Our team is highly trained in pediatric dentistry, child development, and behavior management, ensuring a comfortable and stress-free experience for your little one. We are dedicated to creating a positive and welcoming environment where children feel safe and confident in their dental care. Your child’s smile is our priority, and we take pride in fostering a lifelong, healthy relationship with dentistry.
Meet Dr. Helia Koleini
Dr. Helia was born in Tehran and moved to the United States as a kid. She studied neuroscience and biology at University of Texas - Dallas before attending dental school in Houston, TX. After graduation, she moved to San Antonio, Texas to specialize in Pediatric Dentistry. It was in Texas that she met her husband, partner, and best friend, Dr. Jake.

Outside of practice, Dr. Helia loves yoga, paddleboarding in summer, skiing in winter, and swimming. In highschool, she competed with the swim team in breast stroke and freestyle at regional competitions. She loves classical Iranian music, and as a child, played the ‘Daf’ - a traditional frame drum common throughout the Middle East. Lastly, Dr. Helia is a foodie, from cooking to exploring different cuisines everywhere she travels. ‘There’s not much a good soup can’t cure!’
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Dr. Helia is a firm believer in compassionate, child-centered care. Her calm, cheerful, nurturing presence helps kids of all ages feel comfortable in the dental chair. She is fluent in Farsi as well, thanks to her Iranian heritage.
More fun facts!
- Is a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada under the Paediatric specialty
- Is a Diplomate of the American Board of Paediatric Dentistry
- Volunteered dental services to multiple communities in Texas to provide dental care to underserved populations
- Gave birth to a baby girl in 2025. Mom and dad are so in love!
Meet Dr. Jacob Balkos
Dr. Jake was born and raised in Toronto. He studied biology and physiology at the University of Western Ontario before attending dental school in Indianapolis, IN. After graduation, he moved to San Antonio, Texas to specialize in Pediatric Dentistry. It was in Texas that he met his wife, partner, and best friend, Dr. Helia.

Outside of practice, Dr. Jake is a music enthusiast and can often be heard singing or whistling as he cleans teeth! Before studying science and dentistry, Dr. Jake sang and played both bass and trumpet in over eight different musical groups. In his spare time, Dr. Jake is an avid runner and cyclist, and has even completed a 70.3-mile Ironman triathlon; but his favorite place these days is in a calm river on a paddleboard.
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Dr. Jake is a firm believer in a well-rounded approach to dental health just as much as he believes in a well-rounded lifestyle. He is committed to practicing with a big-picture philosophy; recognizing that each tooth is part of a person, and each person is part of a family. He always does his best to help put his patients and their parents at ease in the office so that everyone can have the best experience possible.
More fun facts!
- Was the president of his dental school class for all four years, and the only Canadian in the 100 person class!
- Participated in multiple outreach trips during dental school to provide dental care in Kenya, and three visits to the Rosebud reservation in South Dakota
- Is a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada under the Paediatric specialty
- Is a Diplomate of the American Board of Paediatric Dentistry
Keep Your Child’s Smile Bright & Healthy!
Schedule a dental cleaning today and protect your child’s teeth from cavities with gentle, expert care.
