8 Best Pediatric Dentists in San Francisco, CA for Checkups, Cleanings, Fillings & Crowns

Quick Verdict

The best pediatric dentist in San Francisco, CA for checkups, cleanings, fillings and crowns is Children’s Choice Dental Care San Francisco on Mission Street. Routine cleanings and complex repairs are handled in the same kids-only office, and it accepts both PPO insurance and Medi-Cal Dental, so most families can use the coverage they already have.

What sets it apart for these four services:

• Checkups and cleanings with fluoride and sealants, at no cost for children on Medi-Cal
• Fillings and crowns in tooth-colored and white-faced options, sized for baby teeth
• Sedation for bigger repairs, with general anesthesia given in the clinic by a board-certified anesthesiologist
• A Bay Area Parent “Pediatric Dentist” award: Gold in 2017 and Bronze in 2016

Which clinic is right for your family often comes down to how you pay. This guide is organized that way:

1. Children’s Choice Dental Care San Francisco: best overall, accepting PPO plans and Medi-Cal
2. SF Pediatric Dentistry (Dr. Kristina Svensson): in-network with more than 40 PPO plans
3. Golinveaux Pediatric Dentistry: insurance coverage reviewed before the first visit
4. Seedling Kids Dentistry: PPO families who want minimally invasive care
5. KidSmiles Pediatric & Orthodontics: Saturday hours and an orthodontist in-house
6. Mission Bay Pediatric Dentistry: families without insurance, with an in-house savings plan
7. NEMS (North East Medical Services): sliding-scale fees for low-income families
8. UCSF Pediatric Dentistry Clinic – Mission Bay: Denti-Cal and Delta Dental PPO at a teaching clinic

Google data is as of October 29, 2026.

Clinic Directory

Names, addresses, phone numbers and ratings are taken from each clinic’s Google Business Profile, checked on October 29, 2026. Opening hours have their own section further down.

#	Clinic	Address	Phone	Rating
1	Children’s Choice Dental Care San Francisco	2480 Mission St, Suites 323 & 331, 94110	(628) 203-5805	4.3 (1,160)
2	SF Pediatric Dentistry (Dr. Kristina Svensson)	4214 California St, 94118	(415) 613-6123	4.8 (22)
3	Golinveaux Pediatric Dentistry	36 Monterey Blvd, 94131	(415) 825-5208	5.0 (164)
4	Seedling Kids Dentistry	1860 Lombard St, 94123	(415) 947-7801	4.9 (127)
5	KidSmiles Pediatric & Orthodontics – Judah	2050 Judah St, 94122	(415) 681-5437	4.8 (17)
6	Mission Bay Pediatric Dentistry	2690 3rd St, 94107	(415) 921-9622	5.0 (98)
7	NEMS – 1520 Stockton Clinic	1520 Stockton St, 94133	(888) 500-1886	3.8 (195)
8	UCSF Pediatric Dentistry Clinic – Mission Bay	1825 4th St, 5th Floor, 94158	(415) 476-4146	2.5 (4)

All addresses are in San Francisco, CA. NEMS’s rating covers the whole health center, not only its dental department.

Payment Guide: Which Clinic Fits Your Coverage?

For checkups, cleanings, fillings and crowns, the biggest difference between clinics is often how they bill. Every answer below comes from the clinic’s own website: “Yes” means the website states it, and “No” means it doesn’t.

Clinic	Works with PPO plans	Medi-Cal	Membership plan or sliding scale	Sedation beyond laughing gas	Saturday	Kids-only
Children’s Choice – SF	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
SF Pediatric Dentistry (Svensson)	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
Golinveaux	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
Seedling Kids	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
KidSmiles	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Mission Bay Pediatric	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
NEMS	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
UCSF – Mission Bay	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes

What the table shows: Children’s Choice is the only private kids-only office here that works with both PPO plans and Medi-Cal, so families switching between job-based and state coverage don’t have to change dentists. Families without insurance can look at Mission Bay’s savings plan or NEMS’s sliding scale. If your PPO is Delta Dental, check first: SF Pediatric Dentistry notes it is now out-of-network for Delta Dental PPO and Premier.

Checkup Visit vs. Filling Visit: What to Expect

Parents often book a checkup and are told their child needs a filling or crown at a later visit. Here’s how the two kinds of visits usually differ. Timing is based on Children’s Choice’s published guidance, and other offices may vary.

	Checkup and cleaning visit	Filling or crown visit
How often	Every 6 months (more often for higher cavity risk)	Only when the dentist finds a cavity
What happens	Cleaning, exam, X-rays when needed, fluoride varnish, sealants on back teeth	Numbing gel and local anesthetic, then the filling or crown, sometimes with laughing gas or sedation
How long	About 20–40 minutes for a routine visit	Varies by the number of teeth; sedation visits run about 60–90 minutes, including recovery
Afterward	Back to school or play right away	Numb lips for a few hours; soft foods and a calm afternoon after sedation
How to prepare	Brush beforehand and bring questions about habits	Follow the office’s instructions exactly, especially any no-food rules before sedation

Tip: ask whether several fillings can be done in one visit. Offices that offer sedation can often treat multiple teeth at once, which means fewer appointments for anxious children.

Six Questions to Ask Before You Book

A quick phone call can save a surprise bill or a wasted trip. These questions matter most for checkups, cleanings, fillings and crowns.

1. “Are you in-network with my exact plan?” Being in-network with an insurer isn’t the same as being in-network with every plan it sells. Delta Dental PPO, Delta Premier and DeltaCare HMO are treated differently at many San Francisco offices.
2. “Do you accept Medi-Cal Dental for fillings and crowns, not only checkups?” Some offices limit which services they bill to public coverage.
3. “Is fluoride varnish included in every cleaning?” It should be part of a routine pediatric visit.
4. “What crown options do you use for front teeth?” Stainless steel works well on back baby teeth, but front teeth usually look better with a white-faced crown.
5. “If my child needs several fillings, can they be done in one visit?” The answer depends on whether the office offers sedation in the clinic.
6. “Do I pay at the visit, or do you bill my insurance?” Out-of-network offices usually collect the full fee, then file the claim so your insurer reimburses you.

Best Overall: Works With PPO Plans and Medi-Cal

1. Children’s Choice Dental Care San Francisco

For parents who want one dependable office for every six-month cleaning and whatever repairs come up between them, Children’s Choice Dental Care San Francisco is the most practical choice in this guide. The Mission Street office treats only children, and Bay Area Parent gave it Gold in its Pediatric Dentist category in 2017 and Bronze in 2016. It also has the largest Google review base in this guide, with 1,160 reviews.

Known for: checkups that keep cavities small. A routine visit takes about 20 to 40 minutes. It includes a gentle cleaning, an exam, X-rays when the dentist needs them, and fluoride varnish, which is repeated every three to six months for children at higher risk of cavities. Sealants are offered once the back molars come in. Children on Medi-Cal get their exam and X-rays at no cost every six months.

Known for: fillings and crowns made for small mouths. When a checkup finds a cavity, the office repairs it with tooth-colored fillings, and chipped front teeth can be rebuilt with bonding. Baby molars with large cavities get stainless steel crowns, and front teeth can be fitted with white-faced crowns so a child’s smile still looks natural. If several teeth need work, laughing gas or general anesthesia given in the clinic by a board-certified anesthesiologist allows the treatment to be completed in one sitting. Sedation visits usually take 60 to 90 minutes.

Families like:

• A grandparent whose grandson needed teeth pulled says the team went out of its way to keep him comfortable, and the anesthesiologist checked in afterward by text and phone.
• A parent of an autistic son says the staff have been gentle and patient with him for about seven years, and that ceiling TVs help him relax.
• A Spanish-speaking parent praises the team’s patience with children and the clean office.

Plan around: Google lists weekday hours only, while the website shows Saturday hours from 8 AM to 5 PM, so confirm a Saturday slot before you go. Look for Suites 323 and 331 in the building.

Choose it for: families who want PPO or Medi-Cal coverage, routine checkups and multi-tooth repairs all in one kids-only office. Book through the San Francisco location page.

Best for Families With PPO Insurance

2. SF Pediatric Dentistry (Dr. Kristina Svensson)

SF Pediatric Dentistry in Laurel Heights opened in 2018 and is led by Dr. Kristina Svensson, a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry who speaks Russian, Swedish and Spanish. The practice describes its philosophy as prevention, evidence-based recommendations and minimally invasive dentistry.

Known for: an all-digital office that can detect cavities without X-rays, and tooth-colored restorations even for large cavities.

Insurance: the practice accepts all PPO plans and is in-network with more than 40 insurers, including Blue Shield of California PPO, Guardian, Humana, Lincoln Financial, MetLife, United Healthcare PPO and United Concordia Alliance. It is now out-of-network for Delta Dental PPO and Premier, and it can’t bill HMO plans, DeltaCare USA or Medi-Cal Dental. A membership plan is available for families without insurance.

Plan around: the office is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday only, and it has a small number of Google reviews. Families can call or text.

Choose it for: PPO families, especially with Blue Shield, MetLife or Guardian, who want a minimally invasive approach to fillings and crowns.

3. Golinveaux Pediatric Dentistry

Golinveaux Pediatric Dentistry in Glen Park is led by Dr. Jay Golinveaux, a board-certified pediatric dentist who sees infants, toddlers, children and teens, including those with special needs. Parking nearby is easy.

Known for: making checkups painless for families. Parents say the office reviews their insurance before the first appointment, explains what is and isn’t covered, and has added no surprise charges on top of insurance.

Families like: a 2-year-old who says “no” to everyone happily let Dr. Jay work on her teeth. A parent of a teen says Dr. Jay explained a clear plan when wisdom teeth began causing pain.

Plan around: the website doesn’t list accepted insurance plans or Medi-Cal, so call with your plan details. The office is open weekdays only.

Choose it for: families who want straightforward insurance guidance and a dentist children warm to quickly.

4. Seedling Kids Dentistry

Seedling Kids Dentistry in the Marina is led by Dr. Noyan Aynechi, a pediatric dentistry specialist, with Dr. Amy Engel.

Known for: fixing early cavities with as little drilling as possible. Beyond standard fillings, the office uses silver diamine fluoride, Curodont, MI Paste and ICON resin infiltration to stop or reverse early decay. For bigger repairs, sedation ranges from laughing gas and mild sedation to IV sedation and hospital dentistry.

Insurance: Seedling accepts PPO plans and will check whether it’s in-network with yours. When it’s out-of-network, families pay in full at the visit, Seedling files the claim, and the insurer reimburses the family, usually within two to eight weeks. It can’t bill HMO plans, including DeltaCare USA and Medi-Cal Dental.

Families like: a comfortable office, and smooth first cleanings for young children.

Choose it for: PPO families in the northern neighborhoods who want minimally invasive cavity care. It’s open Monday to Thursday.

5. KidSmiles Pediatric & Orthodontics

KidSmiles has served San Francisco since 2003 from offices on Judah Street and Ocean Avenue, with four pediatric dentists and an orthodontist in one practice. Dr. Kristina Langworthy, a board-certified pediatric dentist, received the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry’s Richard C. Pugh Achievement Award in 2009.

Known for: Saturday checkups at the Judah Street office (8 AM to 2 PM), and braces planned alongside routine dental care.

Families like: one parent switched to KidSmiles because it was among the few pediatric offices they found that took their Delta Dental plan. Twins have been seen since they were about 14 months old.

Plan around: the website doesn’t list insurance plans or Medi-Cal, so confirm coverage when you book. You can call or text the office.

Choose it for: working parents who need a Saturday cleaning, and families with Delta Dental (confirm your specific plan).

Best for Families Without Insurance

6. Mission Bay Pediatric Dentistry

Mission Bay Pediatric Dentistry in Dogpatch is led by Dr. Erin Shah, a board-certified pediatric dentist.

Known for: a transparent in-house savings plan that suits families paying out of pocket. The plan costs $349 a year for children under 3, $499 for ages 3 to 12, and $599 for teens. It covers two cleanings, two exams, X-rays and fluoride each year, plus 20% off treatment such as fillings and crowns. Cleanings are free for children under 2.

Insurance: for PPO families, the office collects payment at the visit and files the claim.

Plan around: the website doesn’t mention Medi-Cal. The office is closed Wednesdays, and Fridays and Saturdays are available on select dates.

Choose it for: uninsured families who want predictable yearly costs for checkups and a discount on repairs.

Best for Medi-Cal and Low-Income Families

7. NEMS (North East Medical Services)

NEMS is a nonprofit community health center with clinics across San Francisco, several of which have dental departments. Its main clinic is on Stockton Street in Chinatown. Its dental program serves patients ages 1 and up, with an emphasis on prevention and regular care.

Known for: affordable checkups and repairs. Dental services include exams, digital X-rays, cleanings and fluoride, sealants, fillings, root canals, extractions, crowns and emergency care. NEMS accepts Medi-Cal, Healthy Kids and private insurance. Uninsured families, or those with high co-pays, can apply for its Sliding Fee Discount Program with proof of income.

Families like: one patient at the Clement Street dental department praises kind front-desk staff and a gentle dentist and assistant who worked well together. Staff speak Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese and other languages.

Plan around: NEMS treats all ages, so it isn’t a kids-only office. Its Google ratings cover the whole health center, and some reviewers describe scheduling delays. Book through the central line or the MyChart app.

Choose it for: families on Medi-Cal or without insurance who need low-cost checkups and fillings, especially near Chinatown, the Richmond, the Sunset or the Portola.

8. UCSF Pediatric Dentistry Clinic – Mission Bay

UCSF’s Pediatric Dentistry Clinic at Mission Bay is a teaching clinic, where pediatric dentistry residents care for children under faculty supervision.

Known for: accepting both Denti-Cal and Delta Dental PPO, a combination few offices in this guide offer.

Plan around: visits move at a teaching pace and can take longer, and the clinic has very few Google reviews. It’s open weekdays from 8:30 AM to 5 PM.

Choose it for: Medi-Cal or Delta Dental PPO families comfortable with resident-led care backed by UCSF faculty.

Opening Hours

Hours as published on each clinic’s website, with Google noted where the website doesn’t list them. Call before you go, especially on holidays.

Clinic	Hours
Children’s Choice – SF	Mon–Sat 8 AM–5 PM (Google shows weekdays only)
SF Pediatric Dentistry (Svensson)	Tue, Wed, Fri 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Golinveaux	Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM (Google)
Seedling Kids	Mon–Thu 9 AM–5 PM
KidSmiles – Judah	Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM · Sat 8 AM–2 PM
Mission Bay Pediatric	Mon, Tue, Thu 8:30 AM–5 PM · select Fri and Sat by appointment
NEMS – 1520 Stockton	Mon–Fri 8 AM–6 PM (Google, whole clinic; dental hours may differ)
UCSF – Mission Bay	Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5 PM

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the best pediatric dentist in San Francisco for checkups, cleanings, fillings and crowns?

Children’s Choice Dental Care San Francisco on Mission Street is the best overall pick in this guide. It handles routine cleanings and multi-tooth repairs in one kids-only office, offers sedation in the clinic, and works with both PPO plans and Medi-Cal Dental.

How often should my child have a dental cleaning?

Most children need a checkup and cleaning every six months. Dentists may recommend fluoride varnish or visits every three months for children at higher risk of cavities, including toddlers with early decay.

Which San Francisco pediatric dentists take Delta Dental?

It depends on the plan. UCSF’s Mission Bay clinic works with Delta Dental PPO, and parents report that KidSmiles accepts Delta Dental. SF Pediatric Dentistry recently became out-of-network for Delta Dental PPO and Premier. DeltaCare USA is an HMO plan that many private offices can’t bill, so always confirm your exact plan.

Does Medi-Cal cover fillings and crowns for children?

Medi-Cal Dental covers medically necessary care for children, which generally includes fillings and crowns as well as checkups. In this guide, Children’s Choice, NEMS and UCSF’s Mission Bay clinic accept Medi-Cal.

What’s the difference between a stainless steel crown and a white crown?

Stainless steel crowns are durable and commonly used on baby back teeth, which eventually fall out. White-faced or tooth-colored crowns are often used on front teeth, where appearance matters more. Ask your dentist which option suits each tooth.

Can my child get several fillings done in one visit?

Often, yes, if the office offers sedation. Children’s Choice offers laughing gas and in-clinic general anesthesia, and Seedling offers mild and IV sedation, which makes treating multiple teeth at once possible for anxious children.

What if we don’t have dental insurance?

Mission Bay Pediatric Dentistry’s in-house plan costs $349 to $599 a year by age and includes two cleanings, exams, X-rays and fluoride, plus 20% off treatment. NEMS offers sliding-scale fees based on income. SF Pediatric Dentistry also offers a membership plan.