Pediatric Dentistry in Santa Monica
At Vision Dental, our mission is to create a warm and nurturing environment where your child will feel safe and relaxed while receiving the highest quality dental care.
Our focus is on preventive dental care, ideal yet conservative dental treatment, and encouraging a positive attitude toward visiting the dentist.
We recognize a trip to the dentist may cause some anxiety for both you and your child, so our first priority will be to make your child feel comfortable, which will then put you at ease. We hope to make each visit filled with fun and laughter while also providing the tools and tips you and your child will need to maintain great dental health!
With a personal approach, Dr. Huynh and the Vision Dental Team hope to provide a comfortable high-quality dental home for children of all ages and backgrounds while building long-lasting relationships.
Establishing a Dental Home
At Vision Dental, our philosophy is to focus on providing a warm and nurturing dental home for you and your children while promoting education and prevention. Our specially trained staff and pediatric dentist will be ready to provide a positive dental experience for your child!
We make an extra effort to explain everything we are doing, so your child is comfortable and feels safe in our office. We understand you as the parent may have some questions, and we will be more than happy to make time to answer all of them as best we can!
As pediatric specialists, our doctors have extensive training and experience in treating children and adolescents from all backgrounds. Furthermore, our staff and doctors are trained to treat patients with special healthcare needs, including those with developmental and/or complex medical issues. Each patient has unique needs, thus our methods for examination and dental treatment will be tailored specifically for your child.
To ensure a great experience, our office prides itself on staying on schedule with short wait times. Your child will stay entertained with fun toys, books, coloring pages, iPads, and TVs mounted in every dental room. Every patient will receive an age-specific dental goody bag, a great toy prize, and awesome stickers!
Be sure to look out for our contests and raffles that reward kids for their healthy smiles!
First Visit to Our Santa Monica Office
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends a child’s first dental visit should occur by age 1. An early start at the dentist can help identify minor dental issues before they become major ones down the road. With your help, Dr. Andrew and the Vision Dental Team hope to make your child’s first dental check-up a positive and fun experience!
The first dental visit will include a gentle but thorough examination of the teeth, jaws, gums, bite, and oral issues. Oftentimes, we will demonstrate helpful tips and brushing techniques that cater to you and your child’s needs. A professional cleaning and fluoride treatment are often completed at the first visit.
Most importantly, there will be plenty of time for your questions to be answered! Common topics of discussion include:
- When to expect new teeth
- Pacifier and thumb-sucking habits
- Bottle and sippy cup use
- Types of foods/beverages that are best for dental health
After the examination, we will be able to give you practical tips to implement an individually tailored preventive plan based on your child’s oral health assessment.
From the beginning to the end of your visit, we do our best to ensure you and your child are comfortable and that all your questions or concerns are addressed.
Pediatric Dental Services in Santa Monica
When dental treatment is necessary, Dr. Huynh will work with you to tailor a treatment plan unique to your child’s needs with an emphasis on preventive measures. Dr. Huynh only treats what is necessary and prides himself in providing high quality yet conservative dental treatment.
For more information about our pediatric services, please see below:
Preventive Care: Establishing a Dental Home
Pediatric Dental Procedures
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas) and Sedation
Management of Growth and Development
Dental Emergencies
Gentle Care
Our 3-year-old daughter had some complex dental issues, and we checked out other pediatric dentists before finally finding Dr. Andrew at Vision Dental. From the start, he made us feel more comfortable than ever, as he explained my daughter’s situation thoroughly and reviewed our options. When it came time for her procedures, he was very gentle and kept our daughter (and us) calm. He takes a conservative approach and treats only what is necessary, which is what we were looking for. Before my daughter was fearful of the dentist, but now she can’t wait to visit Dr. Andrew and his team! If you’re looking for the best pediatric dentist, Dr. Andrew Huynh has my highest recommendation! - Lisa S.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our first goal for a child's initial visit is to do our very best to make the child feel comfortable and introduce him or her to the dental setting. Our hope is to provide a fun and positive experience for the child while at the same time ensure that the parents feel confident about their child’s dental health.
Starting the Conversation About Your Child's Health
A large portion of the first dental visit is spent discussing common dental topics and leaving plenty of time for questions and answers. Some common topics of discussion are:
- How to brush a young child’s teeth
- What types of foods/beverages are better for dental health
- When to expect new teeth
- How to manage teething, pacifier and thumb-sucking habits, bottle and sippy cup use
- What to do in case of a dental emergency
A Thorough Dental Exam
The next step is often to complete a dental exam, which typically includes a gentle but thorough examination of the teeth, jaws, gums, bite, and oral structures. This is a great time to demonstrate good brushing and flossing techniques. A thorough cleaning and topical fluoride application may be completed. If the child is under age 3 or unable to sit in the dental chair alone, we may recommend completing the exam/cleaning with the parent holding the child in their lap.
From the beginning to the end of your visit, we do our best to ensure you and your child are comfortable and that all your questions or concerns are addressed.
Contact Our 90403 Dental Clinic
If it's time for your child's first appointment, please contact our office to schedule an appointment.
Keeping a baby comfortable is a priority for every parent, and pacifier or thumb sucking can sometimes help to soothe a baby.
When It Becomes A Concern
Most young children go through this phase, and it only becomes an area of concern if it goes on past the ages of 2 to 4 years old. Most kids will end these habits on their own by this time without any intervention.
What You Can Do If It Continues
Prolonged sucking habits can contribute to crooked teeth or bite problems. If the habit becomes an ongoing issue, a pediatric dentist can work with the parent and child to discuss ways to address this.
Contact Our Santa Monica, CA Dental Clinic
If you have more concerns about your child sucking their thumb or pacifier, we welcome you to contact our Santa Monica, CA dental clinic. We look forward to hearing from you.
In most cases, we recommend that children visit our practice for their first visit before they celebrate their first visit (or within six months of their first tooth erupting. This recommendation is in line with that of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
All Ages Are Welcome at Our Santa Monica Clinic
While this may seem early, this visit actually serves an important purpose, allowing you to establish your child's new dental home and begin developing a relationship with a dental practice built on trust and comfort.
When a child has their first wiggly tooth, it’s an exciting time both for the child and the parent!
What They Can Do
Though kids may complain of mild discomfort associated with a loose tooth or avoid biting into hard things, there is no need to worry! You can encourage your child to gently wiggle the loose baby tooth with their clean fingers when they are at home, and eventually, the tooth should fall out on its own!
Things to Consider
Recommendations may change if a child has certain medical conditions. If a permanent tooth is coming in and the baby tooth is not showing any signs of being loose, you should let the pediatric dentist know at their regular dental visit. We see this commonly, and it is typically an early sign of dental crowding.
Call Our Santa Monica Dental Clinic
If you have more questions about your child's oral health, please contact our Santa Monica, CA dental clinic. We look forward to hearing from you at Vision Dental Montana.
We recommend brushing your child’s teeth twice a day – once in the morning and once at night! At the dental visit, we can give you some tips on best ways to brush, even if the child is a bit wiggly!
Contact Our 90403 Dental Clinic
Please contact our Santa Monica dental clinic if you have more questions on your child's oral health or to schedule a pediatric appointment. We look forward to hearing from you at Vision Dental Montana.
Meet Our Doctors:
Dr. Nicole Cheng DDS, MS
Orthodontist
College : UCLA Biochemistry
Dental School : USC School of Dentistry
Graduate School : UCLA Section of Oral Biology
Orthodontic Residency : UCLA School of Dentistry, Section of Orthodontics
Dr. Nicole ...
Dr. Andrew Huynh DDS
Pediatric Dentist
College: UCSD Biochemistry and Psychology Dual Degree
Dental School: UCLA School of Dentistry
Pediatric Dental Residency: Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital
Dr. Andrew Huynh is a board-certified specialist ...
Dr. Will Cheng DDS, MS
General Dentist
College : UCLA Biology
Dental School : UCLA School of Dentistry
Graduate School : UCLA Section of Oral Biology
Dr. William J. Cheng is co-founder and president of Vision Dental. He ...
Dr. Rogelio Garcia DDS
General Dentist
College: UCLA Biology
Dental School: UCLA School of Dentistry
Dr. Rogelio “Roger” Garcia is the co-founder of Vision Dental. Dr. Garcia stays active and current in dentistry through his professional memberships ...
Dr. John Gonzalez DDS
Dentist
College: UCSB
Dental School: UCLA School of Dentistry
John Gonzalez, D.D.S., grew up in Malibu. He went to the University of California, Santa Barbara and dental school at the University of ...