Finding a dentist your child is not afraid of makes everything easier. At Family and Kids Dental on 14th Street in downtown Modesto, Dr. Syed Hyder, DDS has spent over nine years caring for local families — and a large part of that work is with children. He is a general dentist, not a specialist, and that is deliberate: your child and you can be seen in the same office, on the same day, by the same dentist.
Why parents in Modesto bring their children here
- One dental home for the whole family. Toddlers, teenagers, parents and grandparents are all treated under one roof, so you are not driving between offices.
- Unhurried, explain-first visits. Children are shown what will happen before anything is done. That single habit prevents most of the fear that follows people into adulthood.
- Nitrous oxide conscious sedation. For longer or more sensitive treatment, this keeps an anxious child calm and comfortable without a general anaesthetic.
- Bilingual care. The team speaks English and Spanish, so parents can ask questions in the language they are most comfortable with.
- Medi-Cal accepted. Along with most dental insurance plans and flexible payment options.
Kids dental services we provide
Every service below is one we actually perform in the Modesto office:
- Infant oral care — the very first visit, usually around the first birthday
- Dental sealants — a thin protective coating on back teeth, where most cavities start
- Fluoride application — strengthens enamel against decay
- Pulpotomy — treatment for a deeply decayed baby tooth, so it can be saved
- Kids crowns — when a tooth is too damaged for a filling
- Space maintainers — hold the gap open when a baby tooth is lost early, so adult teeth come in straight
- Emergency dental care for children — knocked-out teeth, breaks and sudden pain
- Ortho aligners and braces — for older children and teens
When should my child first see a dentist?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a first dental visit by a child’s first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth appearing — whichever comes first. Parents often wait until something hurts, but the point of that early visit is the opposite: it is short, gentle, and mostly about getting the child comfortable in the chair while there is nothing to fix.
What a first visit actually looks like
For a young child the first appointment is deliberately low-key. Dr. Hyder counts the teeth, checks how the jaw and bite are developing, looks for early decay, and cleans if the child is comfortable with it. Parents stay in the room. Nothing is done without explaining it first, and if a child is not ready on the day, that is fine — the visit becomes a chance to build trust for the next one.
Keeping your child’s dental care affordable
Cost is the most common reason children miss dental visits, and it is usually the most expensive decision a family can make — a check-up costs a fraction of what a filling or a crown does later. A few things that help:
- Use your preventive benefit. Most plans cover cleanings and exams at little or no cost. Sealants and fluoride are among the cheapest protection available.
- Ask about Medi-Cal. We accept it, and many families do not realise their children qualify.
- Get the estimate in writing. You should know the cost before treatment starts, not after.
- Ask about payment plans. See our payment options and pricing and fees.
- Keep the six-month rhythm. Small problems caught early stay small.
Serving Modesto and the surrounding communities
Families travel to us from Modesto, Ceres, Turlock, Riverbank, Oakdale, Salida, Empire and Keyes. The office is at 1207 14th St, Modesto, CA 95354, in downtown Modesto.
Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM. Closed Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Book an appointment
Call (209) 422-3176, email info@familykidsdentist.com, or request an appointment online. If your child is in pain today, call the office directly and ask about same-day emergency care.
Frequently asked questions about kids dental care in Modesto
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a first visit by your child’s first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth appearing. That early appointment is short and gentle, and its main purpose is to spot problems early and help your child feel comfortable at the dentist.
Most children should be seen every six months for a check-up and cleaning. If your child has had several cavities, wears braces, or is at higher risk of decay, Dr. Hyder may suggest visits more often.
Appointments are unhurried and everything is explained before it is done, which resolves most anxiety on its own. For longer or more sensitive treatment we offer nitrous oxide conscious sedation, which keeps a child relaxed and aware, without a general anaesthetic. Parents are welcome to stay in the room.
Yes. Family and Kids Dental accepts Medi-Cal, along with most dental insurance plans. We also offer flexible payment options for treatment that is not fully covered. Call the office and we will check your child’s coverage before the appointment.
No. Dr. Syed Hyder, DDS is a general dentist who treats patients of every age, and a large part of his practice over the past nine years has been caring for children. Families who prefer one dentist for the whole household often find this more practical than using a separate office for the children.
Call the office straight away on (209) 422-3176. If it is a permanent tooth, hold it by the crown rather than the root, rinse it gently with water if it is dirty, and keep it in milk or the child’s saliva until you arrive. Time matters a great deal with a knocked-out permanent tooth.
We see families from Modesto, Ceres, Turlock, Riverbank, Oakdale, Salida, Empire and Keyes. The office is at 1207 14th St in downtown Modesto and the team speaks both English and Spanish.