Pediatric Dentist in Marina del Rey
Gentle, patient care for children, from a first visit through the teenage years. The pediatric dentist Marina del Rey parents are usually looking for is someone who will work at their child’s pace instead of rushing an appointment, and who will treat the whole family on one schedule.
- Children seen alongside parents
- Free initial consultation
- Most insurance accepted
Pediatric dentist Marina del Rey: building habits from the first visit
We recommend a child’s first dental visit by their first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth coming in. That sounds early, and it is meant to. The point of that appointment is not treatment. It is a look at how the teeth are coming through, a chance to answer your questions, and a first experience of a dental chair that is short, calm and uneventful.
A pediatric dentist is a dentist with extra training in treating children. What most families need, first visits, cleanings, sealants, fluoride and the occasional small filling, is care we provide here as part of everyday general dentistry, with children seen alongside their parents.
If you want the clinical background rather than the local detail, our guide to pediatric dentistry covers it. This page is about what a visit to the pediatric dentist Marina del Rey families book with us actually looks like, and how we handle a child who does not want to be there.
What we do for children
Six services cover almost everything a child needs between the first tooth and the last one to arrive.
- 01
Gentle first visits
A relaxed introduction to the dentist for young children, focused on comfort rather than treatment. Counting teeth is a perfectly good first appointment.
- 02
Cleanings and exams
Routine checkups that monitor how the teeth and jaw are developing and catch cavities while they are still small.
- 03
Sealants and fluoride
Protective treatments for the grooves in back teeth, where the cavities children get most often tend to start.
- 04
Cavity treatment
Kid-friendly fillings when a cavity does develop, explained in terms a child can follow.
- 05
Habit guidance
Practical advice on thumb-sucking, pacifier use and brushing, and a word if we see the bite starting to be affected.
- 06
Nervous patients welcome
We take extra time with anxious children, at their pace, so a visit stays positive rather than becoming the story they remember.
The appointment, step by step
A checkup with the pediatric dentist Marina del Rey families see here is short. Knowing the order helps, both for you and for whatever you tell your child beforehand.
- Step one
A gentle exam
We keep the exam relaxed and explain each step in simple terms your child can follow along with. Teeth, gums, bite and how the jaw is developing all get a look. You are welcome to stay in the room.
- Step two
Cleaning
A gentle cleaning removes plaque and introduces your child to the sounds and the feel of dental tools, which is half of what makes the next visit easier. Fluoride or sealants may be recommended here.
- Step three
Your plan
We go through anything we found with you, along with a plan and a cost for any treatment needed. Nothing gets booked before you have heard what it is and what it costs.
A nervous child, baby teeth, and the things parents ask quietly
Children pick up more than we think. If a child is anxious, we slow down, name each instrument before it appears, and let them hold the mirror. Nothing is forced. A visit that ends early with a child who is still willing to come back is a better outcome than a completed cleaning and a fear that lasts a decade. Tell us when you book if your child is nervous, so we can allow the extra time.
On baby teeth: they matter more than their short career suggests. They hold the space for the adult teeth coming in behind them, they do the chewing, and a cavity in one can hurt and become infected just as an adult tooth can. Losing one early can let the neighboring teeth drift into the gap, which crowds the tooth that was meant to come through there.
Thumb-sucking and pacifier use are normal in the early years and most children stop on their own. If the habit continues once the adult front teeth are arriving, it can start to change the bite, and that is the point at which it is worth talking about. Later on, if the bite needs correcting, clear aligners are one of the options for older children and teenagers.
Playing a contact sport? Ask us about a mouthguard at your child’s next checkup. A guard that fits properly is worth far more than the front tooth it is protecting.
Pediatric dentist Marina del Rey: visiting our office
With children, the logistics decide whether the appointment happens at all. Here they are.
- Address13400 West Washington Blvd, Suite 202B, Marina del Rey, CA 90292
- ParkingOn-site parking in the building; street parking on Washington
- Areas servedMarina del Rey, Venice, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Culver City, Westchester
- HoursMon & Tue 10–5, Wed 8:30–4, Thu 8:30–5, Fri 9–2
- Family schedulingChildren treated alongside their parents, so one trip covers everyone
The 8:30 slots on Wednesday and Thursday work well before school. Friday afternoons close at two, which suits families collecting a child early rather than at the end of a long day.
Pediatric dentist Marina del Rey costs and insurance
What a visit to the pediatric dentist Marina del Rey parents choose costs depends mostly on the plan behind it. We accept most dental insurance plans and check your eligibility for free before the first visit, so you know where you stand before you arrive with a child in tow. Children’s preventive care, exams, cleanings, fluoride and sealants, is covered well by many plans, often better than the adult equivalent, and we will show you what your plan actually does.
If you have no insurance, the initial consultation is free, and any treatment plan comes with its cost attached before you decide. The plans we work with are listed on our insurance page.
Prevention is the cheapest dentistry there is, and that is truest for children: a sealant costs a fraction of the filling it may prevent. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry keeps plain-language guidance for parents on first visits, fluoride and habits if you want a second source.
Why families choose Elegant Dentistry
Twice voted the Westside’s best dental office by readers of The Argonaut, and rated 4.4 across 114 public reviews. The practice is led by Dr. Marjaneh Moghimi, DDS (USC), and has been open on Washington since 1997, which means some of our patients now bring their own children.
The practical advantage of choosing a pediatric dentist Marina del Rey families can share is simple: children are treated alongside their parents, so the whole household stays on one schedule and in one set of records. General, cosmetic and implant dentistry all sit under the same roof, so nobody gets sent across town.
Pediatric dentist Marina del Rey questions parents ask most
When should my child’s first dental visit be?
We recommend a first visit by your child’s first birthday, or within six months of their first tooth coming in. It is a short, gentle appointment, and it gives us a baseline to measure everything against later.
How often should my child see the dentist?
Most children benefit from a checkup and cleaning every six months, the same as adults. We will let you know if your child needs to come more often, and we will tell you why rather than simply booking extra visits.
My child is nervous. Can you help?
Yes. We regularly work with anxious and first-time patients and take extra time so your child feels comfortable at their own pace. Mention it when you book. Knowing in advance is what lets us give the appointment the room it needs.
Do you place sealants and fluoride treatments?
Yes. Both are common preventive treatments we recommend for children to help protect their teeth from cavities. Sealants go on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, which is where most childhood decay starts.
Do cavities in baby teeth need filling?
Usually yes. A baby tooth can ache and become infected like any other, and it is holding space for the adult tooth behind it. How we treat it depends on the tooth and how close it is to coming out naturally, and we will explain the reasoning either way.
Can I be treated at the same visit as my child?
That is one of the reasons families choose a pediatric dentist Marina del Rey parents can also see themselves. We treat children alongside their parents, so a single trip can cover both, and children who watch a parent sit through a cleaning tend to worry less about their own.
Ready to schedule your child’s visit?
Book with a pediatric dentist Marina del Rey families have trusted since 1997, and we will keep the first appointment short, calm and honest about what we find. New patients are always welcome and your insurance eligibility is checked at no charge.