Convenient Access from Fairfax
Fairfax parents can reach Kinder Pediatric Dental in about 12 minutes, which puts a pediatric dentist near Fairfax well within an after-school errand. Our office is on Union Ave in Bakersfield, and it treats children only, from a baby's first tooth through the teen years. We built the practice so kids feel comfortable, safe and even a little excited about the dentist, with plenty of laughter, fun and imagination along the way. Our team speaks Spanish, too.
Zephyr Lane Elementary, the newest campus in the local school district, is an easy place to start. Follow Zephyr Lane to South Fairfax Road, head north to the on-ramp, and merge west onto SR-58, the Rosa Parks Highway, for roughly three and a half miles. After a short jog on East Brundage Lane, turn north on Union Avenue and stay with it through the Golden State Avenue junction. The whole trip is about 7 miles, ending at 3130 Union Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93305, on the block between Flower Street and Lincoln Street.
Save our listing on Google Maps so the last few turns feel familiar on your first visit. Longfellow Elementary School sits about a block from the office, and Joshua Park is a short distance west, two handy markers for a child who likes to watch out the window. For nearby communities, see our pages for Hillcrest and Edison.
A Kids-First Office for Fairfax Households
Fairfax is a small unincorporated community in Kern County, bordered by the City of Bakersfield to the west and East Niles to the north. It was counted as its own census-designated place for the first time in 2020, with fewer than 2,000 residents. Nearly a third of the people who live here are children, and the median age sits in the early thirties. That adds up to a lot of lunchboxes, backpacks and growing teeth on a handful of streets.
A practice that sees only children suits a neighborhood like that. Every appointment is planned around young patients, so a nervous five-year-old is never squeezed in between adult crowns and root canals. Parents get straight answers about baby teeth, the adult molars coming in behind them, and the daily habits that protect both. When a question is easier to ask in Spanish, our team can switch languages without missing a beat.
Scheduling matters as well. We are open Monday through Thursday from 8 AM to 5 PM and closed Friday through Sunday, so a late-afternoon slot early in the week can work for families coming straight from school pickup. Booking brothers and sisters back to back keeps the freeway drive to a single trip.
Fairfax School Years and Healthy Teeth
Few communities this size have a school system with roots this deep. The local district was formed in 1891, when its average daily attendance was eight pupils, and it grew in the late 1930s as farm-labor families settled in. Today the Fairfax School District runs three elementary schools, Shirley Lane, Virginia Avenue and Zephyr Lane, along with a junior high whose teams are the Falcons. Its calendar shapes daily life for local families, so we plan checkups around it.
Each grade brings its own dental milestones. Kindergartners are still learning to brush and usually need a grown-up's help to reach the back teeth. By the upper elementary years, baby teeth are loosening and the first permanent molars have arrived, and their deep grooves trap food easily. Junior high students juggle sports, snacks and growing independence, and they respond best to a dentist who talks to them directly instead of only to mom or dad.
Two checkups a year, timed with the school calendar, catch most problems while they are small. One visit in late summer and another around spring break is an easy rhythm to remember. Between visits, our hygiene coaching gives children a routine they can follow at home, and Dr. Dove talks with parents about snacks and drinks that cling to teeth. New patients without insurance can start with the $99 Cleaning, Exam & X-Ray.
How a Pediatric Dentist Near Fairfax Helps at Every Grade Level
Pediatric Dentistry
Exams, cleanings, digital x-rays and preventive coaching form the core of every visit. We adjust the pace for a shy kindergartner or a chatty seventh grader, and parents stay informed at each step.
Dental Sedation
A seventh grader facing several fillings and a kindergartner who freezes at the sight of the chair need different kinds of calm. Weighing age, health and anxiety, Dr. Dove may suggest nitrous oxide, oral sedation or general anesthesia.
Checkups Timed to the School Calendar
We see children at least twice a year so small cavities never get the chance to grow. Booking during school breaks keeps class time free for learning.
Pulpotomy to Save a Baby Tooth
When decay reaches the nerve of a baby tooth, a pulpotomy removes the infected tissue and keeps the tooth in place. That tooth then keeps holding space for the permanent one growing underneath.
Fillings and Bonding for Growing Smiles
Composite fillings repair cavities, and composite bonding can rebuild a corner chipped in a recess tumble. Both use tooth-colored material that blends in with your child's natural smile.
Meet Your Child's Pediatric Dentist
Every child here is seen by Dr. Edward Dove, who earned his dental degree at Marquette University Dental School in 1989. He has spent almost 30 years in clinical practice across California and Arizona. That experience helps when a toddler is fussy or a junior high student would rather be anywhere else.
Insurance & Financing
Kinder Pediatric Dental is in-network with most major dental insurance plans, including Medicaid. We submit the paperwork to your plan, which leaves you free to focus on your child. Our insurance and financing page explains the other ways to pay, including credit cards, cash, personal checks and financing.
Check Out Our Raving Reviews!
“Excellent service and team! The doctor was very nice and professional. He explained everything very well and answered all my questions.”
Sandra M.
“The team is very kind! My youngest had her first dental procedure there and they did a great job!”
Holly N.
“My kids and I love this doctor. Been going to him for the last 8 years. He is the only dentist I take my kids to. My family and I trust him dearly. Thank you!”
Galaxy W.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Kinder Pediatric Dental from Fairfax, and how do I get there?
From Zephyr Lane Elementary, the office is about 7 miles away, roughly a 12-minute drive. You take South Fairfax Road north to SR-58, ride the Rosa Parks Highway west, then follow East Brundage Lane briefly and Union Avenue north. That simple route makes us a practical choice for parents comparing a pediatric dentist near Fairfax.
Can a junior high Falcon come in after classes let out?
Yes, the office stays open until 5 PM Monday through Thursday, so an afternoon appointment is often possible. The drive from the Zephyr Lane area takes about 12 minutes, which leaves time to get settled before the visit. Calling a week or two ahead gives you the best chance at one of the later slots.
Does the drive from Fairfax use the freeway?
Yes, most of it does. About three and a half miles of the trip run along SR-58, the Rosa Parks Highway, before you exit near East Brundage Lane and finish on Union Avenue. The freeway and Union Avenue both move more slowly at rush hour, so leave a few extra minutes for late-afternoon visits.
Is Virginia Avenue Elementary inside the Fairfax community?
No, Virginia Avenue Elementary sits just north of the community line, in East Niles, though it belongs to the same school district. The school opened in January 1953, and its students are the Vikings. Families from both sides of that line are welcome at our office, and brothers and sisters at different campuses can still share one appointment trip.
What happens during a pulpotomy on a baby tooth?
The infected part of the nerve is removed from the top of the tooth, and the area is treated and sealed so the tooth can stay in place. Keeping a baby tooth until it falls out on its own protects space for the adult tooth below. For an anxious child, nitrous oxide or another sedation option can make the visit easier.
Schedule Your Visit from Fairfax
Booking with a pediatric dentist near Fairfax takes one phone call to 661-485-4991, Monday through Thursday. Our Areas We Serve page lists every community we welcome, and the homepage tells you more about our Pediatric Dentist Bakersfield, CA office.
