Encinitas Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics is a pediatric dental office with an in-house orthodontist, located at 135 Saxony Road, Suite 200, in Encinitas. We do not have an office in Carlsbad. For families in La Costa, Aviara, Bressi Ranch or Carlsbad Village, our Encinitas office is a short drive south, and it brings children's dentistry and orthodontics under one roof.
Saxony Road meets Encinitas Boulevard right beside Interstate 5, so drives from Aviara and Carlsbad Village are a straight run south on the freeway. Families in La Costa and Bressi Ranch can skip the freeway and come in on Leucadia Boulevard instead. The distances below are approximate road miles from each neighborhood to our office, based on OpenStreetMap routing.
Drive times change with traffic and school hours. If you are planning around school pickup or practice, call us to find a time that works.
Children are seen by two board-certified pediatric dentists. Pediatric dentists complete specialty training after dental school that focuses on infants, children, teens and patients with special healthcare needs.
Orthodontic care is provided by Dr. Tiffany Lu, a Board-Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. She earned her Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry degree at Nova Southeastern University. She then completed a Master of Science in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics at Loma Linda University. You can read their full backgrounds on our meet the doctors page.
Our cleanings and exams for kids pair a hygienist's cleaning with a dentist's exam of the teeth, gums, bite and soft tissues. We take x-rays when they are needed, not automatically at every visit, and fluoride varnish is often applied at the end.
Beyond checkups, the office provides sealants, fluoride varnish, silver diamine fluoride, fillings, crowns, pulpotomies, extractions, space maintainers, frenectomies and help with thumb-sucking and other oral habits. For babies and toddlers, infant dentistry covers the first visit, teething questions and how bottles and night feeds affect new teeth.
Some children need extra support to get through treatment calmly. Options range from a patient team and a slow explanation to nitrous oxide (laughing gas), and some children need more support than that. Your child's dentist explains which sedation options suit your child's age, health history and the work planned, and nothing is decided without you.
Yes. Because Dr. Lu works in the same office, a bite or crowding concern spotted at a checkup becomes a conversation down the hall rather than a referral elsewhere. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic evaluation no later than age 7.
For younger children, early interceptive orthodontics (Phase 1) can address issues such as crossbites, underbites, crowding or a narrow palate while the jaws are still growing. Treatment may include palate expanders, habit appliances or special braces, and Phase 1 typically takes about 12 months.
For older kids, teens and adults, Dr. Lu offers metal, ceramic and lingual braces. She also offers Angel Aligner clear aligner treatment for kids, teens and adults. Aligners are generally worn 20 to 22 hours a day and come out for eating and brushing.
Parents can be treated too. Our teen and adult orthodontics care means a parent and child can both be in treatment at the same practice.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a first dental visit by the first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth appearing. For children under age 3, that first visit is complimentary.
When you arrive, a team member gives you and your child a tour of the office so the space feels familiar. We then perform a cleaning and exam and work with you on a treatment plan that fits your needs, lifestyle and budget.
If your child is nervous, tell us ahead of time. We are glad to set up a complimentary meet and greet so your child can see the room and the team before any treatment. In the office, kids can use the play area, watch a movie during treatment and visit the prize drawer on the way out. Parents can use the complimentary beverage station.
To save time on the day, fill out your new patient forms online before you come. You will find them, along with financing details, on our patient resources page.
We are an insurance-friendly office that accepts all PPO insurance providers, and our team will go over your plan's coverage with you. For families without dental coverage, or whose plan has limits, we offer financing through CareCredit. Membership plans are also available. For orthodontic treatment, Dr. Lu reviews the estimated timeline and cost of each option that can correct your child's case.
Severe pain, facial swelling or a tooth broken in an accident should not wait. Call us as soon as you notice the problem. We will talk it through with you, give you tips for the meantime and schedule your child as soon as possible. Our emergency care for kids covers toothaches, broken and knocked-out teeth and lost fillings or crowns.
If a permanent tooth is knocked out, pick it up by the crown, rinse it briefly if it is dirty and keep it in a container of cold milk, then come in right away. A permanent tooth needs to be re-attached within one to two hours for the best chance of saving it. A knocked-out baby tooth is usually not put back, but your child should still be seen.
No. We have one office, at 135 Saxony Road, Suite 200, Encinitas, CA 92024. Every appointment, including orthodontic visits with Dr. Lu, takes place there.
Yes. We offer complimentary second opinions. If another office has given you a treatment plan you are unsure about, bring it with you and we will go through the options.
Yes. You can email info@encinitaskids.com or send a message through the form on our contact page.
Collect the filling, crown or piece of dental work and put it in a plastic bag. Call us for a same-day appointment and bring the piece with you, because a crown can sometimes be reattached instead of replaced.
Call us at (760)-634-KIDS (5437) or request an appointment online. We look forward to meeting your family.
