Your kids can see the dentist at Huntington Park Smiles, in the same office as the rest of the family. We’re at 3058 E Gage Ave. Everyone on our team speaks English and Spanish, so the kids can answer in English while Grandma asks her questions in Spanish.
For parents and grandparents too
A child’s cleanings and a grandparent’s crown or implant can both be done here. If several of you need appointments, we’ll look for times that work for your family. We often have openings the same week.
If your child is nervous
Plenty of kids are nervous about the dentist, and plenty of parents are too. We keep things calm and take our time with both of you.
Kids take their cue from the grown-ups around them, so a little preparation at home helps:
- Pick a time of day when your child is well rested.
- Read a picture book together about a visit to the dentist.
- Play dentist: have your child open wide while you count their teeth.
- Don’t talk about pain, even to say there won’t be any. If your child asks what will happen, suggest asking the dentist.
How much toothpaste should a child use?
Use a smear about the size of a grain of rice from the first tooth until age 3, then a pea-sized amount from 3 to 6. That’s the American Dental Association‘s advice for fluoride toothpaste, and it’s less than many kids use. The rest of the routine:
- Brush twice a day, morning and night, for two minutes each time.
- Once two teeth touch, start cleaning between them with floss.
- Teach your child to spit the toothpaste out rather than swallow it.
- Keep helping until your child can do a thorough job alone, and watch them brush until at least age 6.
Do baby teeth matter if they fall out anyway?
Kids need their baby teeth to chew and to speak clearly, and the teeth hold space for the adult ones. A cavity in a baby tooth can still hurt and get infected.
In young children, a common cause of cavities is sugar that sits on the teeth for hours, like juice sipped all afternoon or a bottle of milk or juice at bedtime. Give water between meals, and if your child falls asleep with a bottle, put only water in it.
If a tooth gets chipped or knocked out, the first-aid steps on our emergency page cover what to do, and what’s different for a baby tooth.
Questions about dental care for kids
Does my child need a pediatric dentist?
A general dentist can look after a child’s teeth too. Dr. Livier Mora is a general dentist, not a pediatric specialist. A pediatric dentist trains for two or three more years after dental school, and some children need one, such as those with special health needs.
Which insurance plans do you accept for kids?
We’re in network with Aetna, Ameritas, Delta Dental, Guardian, MetLife, Principal and United, and we welcome most other PPO dental plans. We don’t accept Medi-Cal or Medicare. Tell us your plan when you call. You don’t need insurance to book. Without it, or with a plan we don’t take, you’d pay for the visit yourself. You’ll get the price before any treatment starts. If you’re approved, CareCredit and Cherry offer financing for larger treatment.
My child has never been to a dentist. Is it too late to start?
It’s never too late. Mention that it’s your child’s first dental visit when you make the appointment.
When do kids start losing their baby teeth?
The front teeth usually go first, at 6 or 7. The last ones, including the baby molars, come out between 10 and 12.
How often should kids see the dentist?
Most children should have a checkup every six months.
If you’re not sure whether your child is old enough for a visit here, ask us. Call (323) 581-2603 or use the form below.