Pediatric Dentist in Lomita, CA

Caring for children from infants through adolescence, including those with special health care needs
Board-certified pediatric dentist Dr. Brianne Hama (Dr. Bri), Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
Gentle, preventive-first approach with a focus on comfortable, positive visits
Solea laser dentistry for pain-free fillings without needles or drills in most procedures
Accepting most PPO insurance plans; CareCredit and Sunbit financing available
Conveniently located in Torrance, serving families in Lomita and the South Bay

Ready to Schedule Your Child’s Appointment?

Most Major Insurance Accepted

Finding a pediatric dentist your child actually feels comfortable with is one of those things that sounds simple until you’re in the middle of trying to do it. For families in Lomita, a genuinely child-centered, specialty-trained pediatric dental practice is close by, and the experience your child builds there in those early years shapes how they feel about dental care for the rest of their life.

At our Torrance pediatric dental practice, we see children from their very first tooth through their teenage years, including those with special health care needs, and every visit is built around making your child feel cared for and at ease. Dr. Bri and her team bring board-certified expertise and warm, personal attention to every appointment, with a focus on prevention, comfort, and building a dental relationship your child can grow into.

Lomita sits just south of Torrance along Hawthorne Boulevard, and for most families the drive to our office takes under ten minutes. The South Bay communities along this stretch are well served in many ways, but a board-certified pediatric specialist in the immediate area is genuinely hard to find. Most general dental offices that see children cannot offer the same depth of specialized training, behavioral expertise, or clinical technology that a dedicated pediatric practice brings to every appointment. That distinction matters most when a child is anxious, young, or simply getting their first look at what a dental visit can feel like.

What Pediatric Dentistry Is and Why It Matters

Pediatric dentistry is a dental specialty that requires two to three additional years of residency training beyond dental school, focused specifically on the oral health, development, and behavioral needs of children from infancy through adolescence. That extra training matters because children’s dental needs are genuinely different from adults’. Their teeth are developing, their anxiety responses are different, and earning their trust requires specific skills and experience that can’t be picked up on the job.

According to the CDC, half of children aged 6 to 9 have already had a cavity in their primary or permanent teeth, making tooth decay one of the most common chronic childhood conditions in the United States. The encouraging reality is that most of it is preventable with consistent professional care and good habits at home. Starting your child with a pediatric specialist early builds the foundation that makes prevention possible for years to come.

What to Expect at Your Child's Visits

A Comfortable, Unhurried First Experience

If this is your child’s first dental visit, or if they’ve had a tough time at the dentist before, we understand there may be some hesitation. Our approach is never to rush. We introduce your child to the environment, the chair, and the tools at their own pace, building familiarity before moving forward with anything else. The goal of every first visit is for your child to leave feeling good about what just happened, because that sets the tone for every visit that follows.

We recommend bringing your child in for their first visit as soon as that first tooth appears, or by their first birthday at the latest. Starting early lets us monitor development, catch any concerns while they are still small, and give you practical guidance on home care from the very beginning.

Pain-Free Dentistry with the Solea Laser

One of the things that sets our practice apart is Solea laser dentistry. The Solea is an FDA-cleared CO2 laser that replaces the dental drill and, in the majority of hard and soft tissue procedures, eliminates the need for a local anesthesia injection. That means no needles, no numbing, and no prolonged numbness after the appointment. The Solea is also vibrationless and produces virtually no noise, which removes two of the most anxiety-producing parts of a traditional dental visit. For children who are nervous or have had a difficult experience before, this is a meaningful difference, and most kids walk out genuinely surprised at how easy it was.

Board-Certified Care Across Every Visit

Whether your child is coming in for a routine cleaning, a filling, a crown, or something more involved, they will always be seen by Dr. Bri, a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. That continuity matters. A provider who knows your child, their history, and their temperament delivers more effective, more comfortable care than one who is meeting them for the first time. Our consistent, familiar environment is part of what keeps Lomita families coming back year after year.

About Dr. Bri

Dr. Brianne Hama earned her undergraduate degree at UC San Diego, her Doctor of Dental Surgery at USC, and completed her pediatric dental residency at New York University College of Dentistry. She has practiced pediatric dentistry in Florida, Texas, and California, and has participated in dental mission trips in Nepal, Nicaragua, Grenada, Belize, Mexico, and Costa Rica. She is passionate about giving back to underserved communities and has volunteered with the Ayuda Dental Community Service Group in the local Los Angeles area. You can learn more about her background and approach on Dr. Bri’s profile page.

Our practice is privately owned, which means every decision we make is centered on your child, not a corporate protocol. Dr. Bri takes time with every family to explain what she is seeing, what she recommends, and why. You will never leave an appointment feeling like your questions went unanswered or your child was rushed through.

Schedule at SoCal Pediatric Dentistry

At SoCal Pediatric Dentistry, we genuinely love what we do, and it shows in the way we care for every child who walks through our doors. Dr. Brianne Hama brings board-certified expertise, Solea laser technology, and a warm, personally engaged approach to every appointment, whether it is your baby’s very first exam or your teenager’s routine cleaning. We see children of all ages and temperaments, including those with special health care needs, and we take as much time as each child needs to feel comfortable and cared for.

We accept most PPO insurance plans, and details are available on our dental insurance page. We also offer flexible payment options through CareCredit and Sunbit for families who need them, outlined on our financial page. Families in Lomita are warmly welcome at our Torrance office. Reach out through our contact form to request an appointment, and we will take it from there.