Kids’ dentistry is dental care for children: checkups, cleanings, fluoride, fillings and crowns. At Redondo Beach Dental Group children are seen at the same family office as their parents, a short drive from Torrance, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.
Cavities are common in young children and easy to miss at home. According to the CDC, more than half of children aged 6 to 8 have had a cavity in at least one baby tooth. Regular checkups catch them while they are small. Call (310) 542-6988 to book your child’s next visit.
Family Dentist or Pediatric Specialist: Which Does Your Child Need?
Parents searching for a kids’ dentist in the South Bay will find two kinds of office. Pediatric dentists are specialists who complete about two to three years of extra training after dental school and see only children. Family dental offices, like Redondo Beach Dental Group, treat children and adults in the same practice. Both can look after a child’s teeth well. The better choice depends on what your child needs.
A family dental office is usually a good fit when:
- Your child needs routine care: checkups, cleanings, fluoride and the occasional filling
- You would like your child seen at the same office as you or their siblings
- You want your child to grow up with one dental office that will keep seeing them as an adult
A pediatric specialist may suit your child better when:
- A very young child has extensive decay that needs a lot of treatment
- Your child needs treatment under sedation or general anesthesia
- Your child has medical, developmental or behavioral needs that call for specialist training
If you are not sure which group your child falls into, bring them in for an exam and ask. The dentist can tell you whether your child’s treatment fits a family practice and whether sedation, if your child needs it, can be done here. Many children are nervous about the dentist, and gentle, patient visits are often enough. Parents who feel the same way can get help with dental anxiety too.
Dental Services for Children
Children’s care is one of the dental services at Redondo Beach Dental Group, and it falls into three groups: visits and prevention, habits at home, and treatment when a tooth needs repair.
Visits and prevention
- Your Child’s First Dental Visit: for parents of babies and toddlers who have not seen a dentist yet. It covers when to book and what happens at a first appointment.
- Early infant oral care: for new parents. How to clean a baby’s gums, when to start with a toothbrush, and how much toothpaste to use.
- Dental cleanings and exams for children: the six-month checkup, where we clean your child’s teeth, check for decay and take X-rays when they are needed.
- Fluoride treatment for kids: a quick varnish, gel or foam applied at a checkup to strengthen enamel, often suggested for children who get cavities easily.
Habits at home
- Caring for your child’s teeth: brushing, flossing and the age at which most children can brush on their own.
- Baby bottle tooth decay prevention: for parents of infants and toddlers. Why milk, formula or juice in a bedtime bottle causes early cavities, and how to avoid it.
- Nutrition and diet for healthy teeth: which foods and drinks raise a child’s cavity risk and which help protect teeth.
Treatment
- Fillings for children: for a cavity or a small chip. The dentist removes the decay and fills the tooth, usually in one visit. Sealants for the chewing surfaces of back teeth are covered here too.
- Pediatric dental crowns: for a baby tooth with decay too large for a filling. A crown covers and protects the tooth until it falls out on its own.
- Emergency Pediatric Dental Care
What Your Child Needs at Each Age
Babies (birth to 12 months)
A baby’s mouth needs cleaning before any teeth arrive. Wipe the gums with a soft, damp cloth after feeds. Once the first tooth appears, switch to a soft baby toothbrush. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a first dental visit when the first tooth comes in, and no later than the first birthday. The CDC also recommends a first visit by the first birthday.
Toddlers and preschoolers (1 to 5)
Toddlers need a parent to do the brushing, twice a day, with a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice until age three and a pea-sized amount after that. Avoid putting a child to bed with a bottle of milk or juice.
School age (6 to 12)
Permanent molars come in around age six, and the second molars around age 12. According to the CDC, sealants on these back teeth can prevent up to 80% of cavities for two years and continue to protect against half of cavities for up to four years. Ask about sealants, a thin coating painted onto the chewing surfaces, at your child’s checkup. Most children can brush well on their own by about age seven or eight; until then, check their work. If your child plays a contact sport, custom sports mouth guards help protect teeth from knocks.
Teens
Teenagers often brush less carefully and snack more, so checkups still matter. Teens can keep seeing the same office into adulthood, which is one of the reasons families choose general and family dentistry over an office that sees only children.
What a Child’s Dental Visit Costs
The cost of a child’s dental visit depends on what the visit includes. A routine checkup with a cleaning costs less than one that adds X-rays, fluoride or sealants, and treatment such as a filling or a crown is priced separately. Your insurance plan sets most of what you pay. Ask for an estimate before treatment so you know your share in advance.
We accept PPO plans. Many dental plans cover routine checkups and cleanings for children at a higher rate than fillings or crowns, but the details vary, so ask us how your plan applies to your child’s treatment. For costs your plan does not cover, we offer payment plans through Cherry, CareCredit and LendingClub, and an in-office plan for patients without insurance.
About the Practice
Redondo Beach Dental Group is a family practice that sees children and adults, so parents and children can be patients at the same office. Dr. Moshe Eizdi leads the practice. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Southern California, where he graduated with honors, and his own work covers cosmetic and restorative dentistry, including implant restorations.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should a child first see a dentist?
A child should first see a dentist when the first tooth comes in, and no later than the first birthday, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. The CDC also recommends a first visit by the first birthday. That visit gives the dentist a chance to check for early decay and show you how to clean your child’s teeth.
How much is a dentist visit for a child?
The price of a child’s dentist visit depends on what is done at the appointment and on your insurance. A checkup and cleaning costs less than a visit that adds X-rays, fluoride, sealants or a filling. Redondo Beach Dental Group can give you an estimate before any treatment.
Is a pediatric dentist more expensive than a regular dentist?
Whether a pediatric dentist costs more than a family dentist depends on the office and your plan, because each practice sets its own fees and each insurer negotiates its own rates. The useful comparison is the estimate for your child’s actual visit. Ask any office you are considering, including ours, for that number before treatment.
What destroys teeth the most?
Tooth decay damages more children’s teeth than anything else. Bacteria in plaque feed on sugar and make acid that dissolves enamel, so frequent sugary snacks and drinks, and juice or milk in a bedtime bottle, raise the risk. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste, sealants on the back teeth and regular checkups all help protect against it.
Can a family dentist see my child instead of a pediatric dentist?
A family dentist can see most children for checkups, cleanings, fluoride and fillings. Families often prefer it so parents and children use one office. A pediatric specialist may be the better fit for a very young child with extensive decay, a child who needs treatment under sedation or general anesthesia, or a child with special health care needs. Ask at your child’s exam which fits your child.
How often should kids go to the dentist?
Most kids should go to the dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning. A child who gets cavities easily may be asked to come more often. Regular visits let the dentist find decay while it is small and needs only a filling.
Does dental insurance cover children’s checkups?
Most dental insurance plans cover children’s checkups and cleanings, often at a higher rate than fillings or crowns. Coverage depends on your plan. Redondo Beach Dental Group accepts PPO plans, so ask us how your plan applies to your child’s treatment before the visit.
Book Your Child’s Visit in Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach Dental Group is at 2511 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. We are open Monday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call (310) 542-6988 or request an appointment online, and tell us your child’s age so we can plan the visit.