About Pediatrics
Pediatric Dentistry FAQs
Straight Answers to the Questions Every Manhattan Beach Parent Asks
Every parent walks into their child's first dental visit with questions. Some are practical ("How often do we really need to come back?"), some are emotional ("What if my child is terrified?"), and some only come up once, like the moment a toddler falls off a scooter and chips a tooth.
This page brings together the questions we hear most often at Turley Dental, answered directly by our own team, so you have real, trustworthy information before you ever pick up the phone.
Getting Started: First Visits & Early Childhood
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The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that children see a dentist by their first birthday, or within 6 months of their first tooth erupting, whichever comes first. Starting this early isn't about finding problems; it's about preventing them, and it gets your child comfortable in the dental chair well before they're old enough to be nervous about it.
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Not at all. We see infants as young as 2 months old. Even before teeth appear, we can check gum health and oral development, and answer your questions about teething, feeding, and pacifier use. Many parents tell us this early visit is more reassuring for them than for the baby.
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First visits are short, relaxed, and built around comfort rather than treatment. We'll review your child's health history, talk through habits like thumb sucking or bottle feeding, gently examine developing teeth and gums, demonstrate brushing technique, and send you home with a simple, personalized care plan.
Cavities, Prevention & Treatment Options
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Just like adults, most kids should visit every six months for a cleaning and checkup. These regular visits let us monitor growth, reinforce good habits at home, and catch small concerns before they become bigger, more expensive ones.
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Sealants are a thin, protective coating painted onto the chewing surfaces of back molars, where cavities most often hide in tiny grooves food and brushing can't fully reach. The procedure is painless and non-invasive, and a single sealant can protect a tooth for up to 10 years. We typically recommend them when permanent first molars erupt (around age 6–7) and again when second molars arrive (around age 11–13).
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This is one of the most common questions we hear, and it's a great one to ask. The fluoride varnish we apply in-office (we use Duraphat) is a small, tightly controlled amount applied directly to the tooth surface; it's not comparable to swallowing fluoride toothpaste. It dries in minutes, your child can eat and drink normally shortly after, and it has an extensive safety record in pediatric dentistry.
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Growth, Habits & Development
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Not at first. Sucking habits are completely normal and even comforting for infants and toddlers, and most children stop on their own by age 4. If the habit continues past age 5, it can begin to affect tooth alignment or the shape of the roof of the mouth.
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Baby teeth matter more than most parents expect. They help your child chew, speak clearly, and hold space for permanent teeth to come in correctly. Losing a baby tooth too early, from decay or injury, can lead to crowding, spacing problems, and alignment issues down the road. Healthy baby teeth are the foundation for a healthy adult smile.
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Most children lose their first baby tooth around age 6, usually a lower front tooth, and continue gaining permanent teeth in stages through their early teens. First and second permanent molars, which never replace a baby tooth, typically arrive around ages 6–7 and 11–13. This is exactly why we recommend sealants at those windows.
Dental Anxiety, Special Needs & Sedation
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Fear of the dentist is completely normal for some children, and it's one of the things we're specially trained for. We use a tell-show-do approach and age-appropriate language so your child understands each step before it happens, and our team is genuinely practiced at turning nervous first visits into enthusiastic return ones.
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Yes. Every child deserves a dental home, and we provide patient, personalized care in a calm, sensory-friendly setting. That includes extra appointment time, collaborative care planning with parents and other providers, individualized treatment plans, and sedation options when appropriate.
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We do, for children who need extra support due to anxiety, special healthcare needs, or longer procedures. Options include mild oral sedation taken by mouth, and IV sedation for deeper, fully monitored comfort. Every plan is customized to your child's age, health history, and the specific procedure involved, and we'll walk you through exactly what to expect beforehand.
Dental Emergencies
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If it's a baby tooth, do not try to re-insert it; call our office right away so we can assess your child. If it's a permanent tooth, time matters: rinse the tooth gently without scrubbing it, try to reinsert it in the socket if your child can hold it in place, or keep it in a cup of milk if not, and get to a dentist within 30 minutes if at all possible. Call us immediately; we offer same-day appointments for exactly this kind of emergency.
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It depends on the severity, but a persistent toothache, swelling, or fever should always be evaluated promptly, since it can indicate an infection or abscess.
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Yes. Whether it's a knocked-out or broken tooth, a soft tissue injury, or sudden pain and swelling, our team offers same-day emergency appointments. Call (310) 643-0125 as soon as an injury happens; we'd rather you call and not need us than wait and wonder.
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We work with a range of dental insurance plans and are happy to help verify your benefits before your visit. Call our office at (310) 643-0125 and our team will walk you through coverage and payment options for your specific plan.
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You're not alone, and please don't wait until they're "older and calmer" to start. Our entire practice is built around making visits comfortable for children who are nervous, wiggly, or unsure what to expect. Most dental-anxious kids become enthusiastic patients within a visit or two using our tell-show-do approach. Starting early, even with a short first visit, is always better than waiting.
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Yes. In addition to Manhattan Beach, we regularly welcome families from El Segundo, Hawthorne, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Torrance, and the greater South Bay.
The Turley Difference
Two generations of specialists, one dental home. That's not a slogan; it's how care actually works here. When Dr. Patricia Turley spots an early sign of crowding during a routine cleaning, Dr. Patrick or Dr. Connor Turley is down the hall, not across town. Families don't juggle two offices, two sets of records, or two different philosophies of care; they get one connected plan from a first tooth through a final retainer.
Board-certified pediatric and orthodontic specialists
Two generations of experience, 25+ years serving South Bay families
Complete family care, from infants to adults, under one roof
Manhattan Beach location with same-day emergency availability
If you didn't find your answer here, we'd genuinely rather you call than guess. Reach us at (310) 643-0125, or book an appointment online, and our team will get you a real answer
Ready to Give Your Child a Healthy Start?
If you didn't find your answer here, we'd genuinely rather you call than guess. Reach us at (310) 643-0125, or book an appointment online, we would love to meet your family. Whether this is a first visit, a second opinion, or the next step in ongoing care, our team is here to make dental visits positive and productive.