Accepting New Patients
Accepting New Patients
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry says kids should see a dentist by their first birthday or within six months of their first tooth coming in. We know that sounds early. Most parents have that same reaction when they hear it – “I never went to the dentist at that age!”
Here’s the deal. That first visit isn’t about fixing cavities or anything intense. It’s not even about doing a big cleaning on your toddler’s teeth. It’s about making sure everything looks normal as those teeth come in, showing you how to brush your kid’s teeth the right way, and answering whatever questions you have about teeth or teething or any of the weird stuff that comes up. Kids who start seeing a dentist early get used to it, which means less drama later if they ever need something done.
Your kid comes in, we take a look at their teeth, and we talk with you about good habits and what to expect. If your child’s comfortable, we’ll do a quick cleaning.. If they’re freaking out because everything’s new and scary, no problem. We’ll just get them used to the office, give them a toy on the way out and try again next time.
Dr. Ray or Dr. Hayley will show you the best way to brush your kid’s teeth and talk through any questions you’ve been Googling at midnight. How long should they keep their bottle? When do molars come in? What if their teeth look weird? Whatever’s on your mind, we’ll cover it.
Pediatric dentists do two to three extra years of training after dental school, and it’s all focused on kids. Dr. Ray did his residency at Miller Children’s Hospital, and Dr. Hayley finished hers through USC’s pediatric program. That extra training matters when you’re trying to examine a squirmy toddler who won’t sit still or when you need to explain to a three-year-old why brushing matters without making them terrified of the dentist forever.
We also don’t jump to treatment unless it’s needed. We’d rather prevent problems than fix them, and when treatment really is necessary, we keep it as simple as possible. No overdoing it, no unnecessary procedures, just straightforward care that makes sense for your kid and your family.
We’re located right off the 405 in Culver City, between Slauson and Sepulveda, just above Fox Hills Mall. That makes it easy for us to get to from pretty much anywhere around here. Families come to us from Hawthorne, Inglewood, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Venice, Ladera Heights, Westchester, and Mar Vista.
If you’re in Hawthorne looking for a pediatric dentist nearby, we’re one of your closest options. The drive’s easy, parking’s not a nightmare, and we’re in-network with most insurance plans.
We take almost all PPO plans. Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Cigna, Delta, Guardian, MetLife, United Healthcare, and a bunch of others. You can check our full list of plans to see if yours is on there, or just call and ask. If you don’t have dental insurance, we’ll still see you and work something out.
The whole insurance thing can be confusing, so if you have questions about what’s covered or how much something costs, just ask. We’d rather have that conversation upfront than surprise you later.
Look, we’re parents too, so we get it. Your kid might be nervous, you probably have a million questions, and you don’t have time to read through twenty pages of information on a website. That’s why we keep things simple and focus on what actually matters.
Dr. Ray’s got a warm, funny personality that puts kids at ease, and Dr. Hayley worked as a hygienist here before she became a dentist, so a lot of our families already know her. Both of them focus on building relationships and making sure you feel heard. You can read more about our practice if you want more details.
We have a modern office with all the equipment we need, but honestly, what matters more is how we treat your family. We want this to feel like a conversation, not like we’re lecturing you or trying to upsell you on a bunch of stuff you don’t need.
If you’re in Hawthorne or anywhere nearby and your child needs a pediatric dentist, we’d love to be your family’s go-to office. Dr. Ray Klein and Dr. Hayley Botwin both completed their pediatric residencies through USC, which means everything they do is built around kids specifically, not just scaled-down adult dentistry. We take almost every PPO plan, including Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Cigna, Delta Dental, Guardian, MetLife, and United Healthcare, so there’s a good chance we’re already in your network.
We know you’re probably reading this late at night after your pediatrician reminded you to schedule that first dental visit. We get it, and we make the process as easy as possible. Dr. Ray has a relaxed, warm approach that puts kids at ease right away, and Dr. Hayley worked as a hygienist in our office before completing her residency, so she knows our families well. If you’re ready to get your little one scheduled, reach out to us here, and we’ll take it from there.
Mon-Fri: 9am – 5pm
