Gentle dental care for kids 4–12 in Laguna Niguel: cleanings, sealants, cavity care, orthodontic checks and sports mouthguards. Book a visit today.
AAPD Member
5-Star Rated
Hospital Privileges
90% less radiation than traditional X-rays for your child's safety
Safe nitrous oxide and sedation options for anxious children.
Specialized care for children with autism, ADHD, and other needs
Reserved emergency slots available every day for urgent care. We speak Spanish and Farsi.
Between ages 4 and 12, your child’s mouth changes more than at almost any other time. Baby teeth loosen and fall out, permanent molars and front teeth come in, and the jaw grows to make room for them. Regular dental care during these years catches small problems early, protects the teeth your child will keep for life, and helps visits feel routine rather than stressful.
At Kidz Modern Dentistry in Laguna Niguel, Dr. Lida Pishbin and Dr. Solmaz Shir provide complete dental care for school-age children, from checkups, cleanings, and sealants to cavity treatment, orthodontic monitoring, and sports mouthguards. Every visit moves at your child’s pace, and you are always told what is happening and why.
Real families sharing their experiences with our pediatric dental care.
These are the mixed-teeth years, when baby teeth and permanent teeth share the mouth. Baby teeth hold space for the adult teeth forming underneath, so a cavity or early loss can affect how the permanent teeth line up. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, about half of children ages 6 to 8 have had a cavity in their baby teeth, which is why steady preventive care pays off.
Cavities in this age group are common, but most are preventable with regular checkups, good habits at home, and treatments like fluoride and sealants. For children under 4, our infant oral health exams cover the earlier stage of first teeth and first visits.
For families coming from communities like Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, or Laguna Hills, all appointments take place at the Laguna Niguel office on La Paz Road.
A checkup is more than a quick look at the teeth. The dentist reviews your child’s health history, examines every tooth and the gums, and checks how the bite and jaw are developing. A hygienist then cleans away plaque and tartar that brushing misses, polishes the teeth, and usually applies fluoride varnish.
Each visit typically includes:
Most children in this age range do well with a visit every six months. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends adjusting that schedule to each child’s cavity risk, so children who get cavities easily may be seen more often.
Fluoride strengthens enamel and helps it resist the acid that causes cavities. Professional fluoride varnish at checkups, together with fluoride toothpaste at home, lowers the chance of new cavities.
Dental sealants are thin coatings painted onto the chewing surfaces of back teeth, where deep grooves trap food and bacteria. They are usually placed when the first permanent molars come in around age 6 and again when the second molars arrive around age 12. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that sealants prevent most cavities in the back teeth for years after they are placed.
Depending on your child’s needs, preventive care may also include:
Silver diamine fluoride to stop a small cavity from growing without drilling
Oral habit counseling for thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, or mouth breathing
Diet guidance on snacks, juice, and sugary drinks
Our preventive dentistry services page explains each of these in more detail.
Slots for emergency dental visits available today. Don't let your child's dental pain wait. Call or text us now!
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic check by age 7, when the first permanent molars and front teeth have usually come in. That does not mean your child will need braces. It means problems like crowding, crossbites, or an underbite can be spotted while they are easier to guide.
The dentist tracks jaw growth, the order teeth come in, and how the bite is forming at each checkup. If something needs attention, you will hear about it early, along with whether to watch it or refer to an orthodontist. Learn more about our growth and orthodontic monitoring.
If your child plays soccer, basketball, baseball, or any sport where a ball, elbow, or fall could hit the face, a mouthguard is worth wearing. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends mouthguards to help prevent broken teeth, knocked-out teeth, and cuts to the lips and cheeks.
A custom mouthguard is made from a mold of your child’s teeth, so it stays in place, lets them breathe and talk, and is comfortable enough that they will actually wear it. Because children’s mouths keep changing, the dentist checks the fit at each visit. See our night guards and sports mouthguards page for more, and if a tooth is chipped or knocked out, call us right away for pediatric dental emergency care.
Some nervousness about the dentist is normal. Talk about the visit in a calm, matter-of-fact way, and avoid words like “shot,” “hurt,” or “scary.” Reading a book about going to the dentist or playing dentist at home can help younger children know what to expect.
In the office, the team explains each step before doing it, shows your child the tools, and moves at their pace. Praise and small rewards help children leave proud of how they did. If this is your child’s first visit with us, the new patient information on our website explains what to bring and what to expect.
Pediatric Dentist & Practice Owner
Board Certified Pediatric Dentist
Diplomate by American Board of
Pediatric Dentistry
Pediatric Dentist & Practice Owner
Board Certified Pediatric Dentist
Diplomate by American Board of
Pediatric Dentistry
Kidz Modern Dentistry works with most major dental insurance plans, and the team verifies your benefits before the appointment so you know what to expect. Many plans cover routine checkups, cleanings, fluoride, and sealants for children. For families without dental insurance, the KMD Total Care membership plans are available as an alternative. The plan details are listed further down this page. To ask about coverage or to schedule your child’s visit, contact our Laguna Niguel office by phone or through the online booking form.
Experience total freedom in your child’s dental care. Our membership removes the barriers found in traditional insurance — no caps, no delays, and no denials. Review the benefits and exclusions to see how effortless care can be.
Common questions parents ask, answered by our pediatric dental experts.
The AAPD recommends establishing a dental home by a child's first birthday or within six months of the first tooth appearing, whichever comes first.[2] By the time your child is 4, they should already have a relationship with a pediatric dental provider and be receiving regular preventive care. Starting early makes each subsequent visit easier and more productive for the child.
Cavities often do not cause noticeable pain until they have progressed to a moderate or advanced stage. Early-stage decay may be completely asymptomatic, which is one of the primary reasons regular children's dental checkups are so important. Your child's dentist can identify early signs of decay with a clinical examination and, when appropriate, dental X-rays before the cavity becomes painful or causes structural damage to the tooth.
A pediatric dentist has completed an additional two to three years of specialty residency training beyond dental school specifically focused on the oral health of infants, children, adolescents, and individuals with special health care needs. This specialized training covers child development, behavior management, sedation, and the unique dental needs of growing patients. General dentists may see children and do excellent work, but pediatric dental specialists bring a deeper level of focused expertise to the care of young patients.
Yes, this is a very normal part of dental development. Around age 6, children typically begin losing their primary (baby) incisors at the same time that their first permanent molars and central incisors begin to erupt. This overlap can look crowded or unusual, but it is a natural part of the mixed dentition phase that runs roughly from ages 6 to 12. Your pediatric dentist will monitor this process at each visit and guide you on what is within normal developmental range.
In most cases, sealants are placed on permanent molars. However, in some circumstances, a dentist may recommend sealants for primary molars in children who are at high caries risk and who have deeply grooved primary teeth that are at significant risk for cavities. The decision is made on an individual basis after evaluating your child's specific risk factors.
If your child knocks out a permanent tooth, time is critical. Handle the tooth by the crown (the white part), not the root. If possible, gently rinse it with clean water without scrubbing, and try to place it back in the socket. If that is not possible, store it in a small container of milk or your child's saliva and contact your pediatric dental office immediately. For a knocked-out baby tooth, do not try to reimplant it, as doing so could damage the developing permanent tooth below. Contact your dentist for guidance. Same-day pediatric dental emergencies should always be treated as a priority.
In California, the Dental Practice Act, regulated by the Dental Board of California under the Business and Professions Code, governs the licensure and practice standards for all dental providers in the state, including pediatric dentists.[13] California also has state Medi-Cal Dental (Denti-Cal) programs that provide dental coverage for eligible children, and federal law under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires that pediatric dental care be included as an essential health benefit in qualified health plans.[14] Orange County families can contact their insurance provider or the California Department of Health Care Services for information about coverage options available to their children.
Longer reads from our pediatric dental team, for parents who want the detail behind the visit.
What Are Gaps Between Baby Teeth? Are Gaps Between Baby Teeth Normal? Why Spaced Baby Teeth Actually Matter for Permanent...
Read More: Should I Worry If My Child Has Gaps Between Their Baby Teeth?
Why Autism-Friendly Dental Care Matters for Your Child What Makes Dental Visits Challenging for Children with Autism? What Should You...
Read More: Choosing the Right Pediatric Dentist for Children with Autism: An Orange County Parent’s Guide
What Are “Shark Teeth” in Children? Why Do Adult Teeth Come in Behind Baby Teeth? Understanding Normal Tooth Eruption in...
Read More: Why Are My Child’s Adult Teeth Coming in Behind the Baby Teeth?Slots for emergency dental visits available today. Don't let your child's dental pain wait. Call or text us now!
We serve families from Southern Orange County, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano and surrounding communities with comprehensive pediatric dental care.
Monday - Thursday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
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