Pediatric Dentistry · Carlsbad Village

Where healthy, happy smiles come naturally.

CarlsbaDDS Pediatric Smiles is Carlsbad’s Whole Child Wellness and Prevention First dental home — board-certified specialists who care for the entire child, some of the gentlest technology in dentistry, and visits as calm as a morning on the coast!

5.0 · 1,400+ Google reviews Voted #1 in North County · 2025
2008Caring for Carlsbad since
5.0 Google rating · 1,400+ reviews
#1Best of North County · 2025
100%Would recommend · 265+ Facebook reviews
Dr. Najwa Howard, pediatric dentist

Welcome back, Dr. Najwa Howard!

We are excited to welcome Dr. Najwa Howard back to CarlsbaDDS Pediatric Smiles following her maternity leave. Dr. Howard returns to seeing patients on Tuesday, September 8 — be sure to congratulate her, and ask about the newest member of her family: baby Selah.

Meet Dr. Howard
Whole Child Wellness: Our Difference

Dentistry that looks at the whole child.

A child’s mouth tells the story of their whole body — how they breathe, sleep, eat, and grow. That’s why every visit follows our Whole Child Wellness mission: we care for the entire child, far beyond the teeth — and because the best cavity is the one that never happens, prevention always comes first.

01

Nutrition

Spotting the snack habits that quietly cause cavities — and coaching smarter swaps without the lecture.

02

Airway & Sleep

Screening for airway concerns that affect sleep, focus, and healthy growth — often before anyone else notices.

03

Growth & Bite

Guiding jaws, bites, and smiles as they develop, so small things never become big things.

04

Emotional Wellbeing

Meeting nerves with patience. Comfort always comes before treatment — every child, every visit.

Dr. Judy Brown, Dr. Linh Tsai and Dr. Najwa Howard, the three pediatric dentists of CarlsbaDDS Pediatric Smiles
Meet Your Doctors

Board-certified pediatric specialists. Moms who get it.

Dr. Linh Tsai founded CarlsbaDDS in 2008 with a simple belief: children deserve dentistry designed around prevention, not repair. USC-trained and board certified, she has spent two decades pioneering some of the gentlest tools in the field — from the no-shot, no-drill Solea laser to cavity-arresting treatments trusted by dentists across North County.

Alongside her, Dr. Judy Brown — Penn-trained, board certified, and a mom of four — brings the kind of warmth that turns first-visit nerves into high-fives.

And this September, Dr. Najwa Howard — a California native with dental training from UCLA and pediatric specialty training from USC — returns from her maternity leave to care for our families once more.

Board Certified USC, Penn & UCLA Trained Laser Dentistry Since 2015
What We Do

Care for every stage of a growing smile.

Kid-sized services in three calm categories — from cavity-free checkups to laser dentistry without the drill.

Dental emergency? We see children the same day — call us first, and breathe easy.
(760) 730-3456
The CarlsbaDDS Pediatric Smiles welcome area
The Office

A little corner of the coast, made for kids.

Tucked in the heart of Carlsbad Village, our office trades the clinical for the coastal — ocean murals, warm light, and treatment rooms designed to put small visitors at ease the moment they walk in.

Come see where the calm happens.

They go above and beyond in so many ways that I have never experienced anywhere else… The results they are able to achieve while keeping the kids always happy are astounding!
A CarlsbaDDS parent · Google review
5.0 Google · 1,400+ Reviews
100% Facebook · 265+ Reviews
4.8 Yelp · 195+ Reviews
Your First Visit

New here? Welcome.

Your child’s first visit is unhurried by design — a gentle exam, an honest conversation, and a clear plan you’ll understand before you leave. As Unrestricted (out-of-network) providers, we accept all PPO plans, and we’ll explain your benefits in plain English.

  • 1285 Carlsbad Village Drive
    Carlsbad, CA 92008
  • (760) 730-3456
  • [email protected]
  • Mon–Thu: 9am–5pm
    Fri: 9am–3pm
    Plus one Saturday a month, 8am–2pmby appointment only