about Us

a better together floss-ophy

OUR MISSION

At San Marino Pediatric Dentistry, we believe that life is vibrant with opportunities to strengthen our little ones with compassion, knowledge, and a whole lot of playfulness. What we do is only a mere expression of our core mission. We strive to help your child thrive, not just in their oral care, but in their wellness as a whole.

Dr. Choi and the team are passionate about families and creating fun, positive dental experiences for your child. For us, a mechanical, surface-level approach to patient care is simply a no-go. Community is where our heart’s at, so we couldn’t be more excited to build personal relationships with you and your little one. We believe optimal oral health is best achieved as a team, starting with inspiring healthy habits at home and educating the whole family about the power of preventive dentistry. As a mother of three young children, Dr. Choi understands the importance of establishing an early dental home, where your little one can feel safe, comfortable, and cared for. If you’re looking for a pediatric dental home in San Marino, we’re excited to have your family join ours!

Choi family photo
Dr. Choi in front of clock

Mother. Dentist. Community Enthusiast.

Meet Dr. Choi

As a young child, Dr. Jessica Choi was inspired by her own pediatric dentist to create an informative dental community that embraces connection, laughter, and encouragement. Dr. Choi earned her DMD from Case Western Reserve University and continued her education at Loma Linda University. After completing her residency in 2012 and pursuing 2 additional years of specialized pediatric training at Loma Linda, she received a Masters of Science in Dentistry. Today, she is recognized as an official Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.  

Dr. Choi’s favorite part about being a pediatric dentist is developing long-term relationships with families. As a mother of three young children, she understands the influential impact of the parent, child and dentist triad. She truly enjoys working with children and connecting with parents, so they can better understand their little one’s dental needs. As a resident of the local area, Dr. Choi loves giving back and serving the community where she lives.

Beyond the walls of her dental home, you can catch Dr. Choi being a mom of three and exploring new recipes with her little sous chefs (their favorite treats to bake together are blueberry oat bars and brown butter marshmallow crispy treats!). Dr. Choi is more than excited to help guide little patients on their path to top-notch oral health, and she can’t wait to meet you!

father. surgeon. philanthropist.

Meet Dr. steve choi

Dr. Steve Choi first developed an interest in Oral & Maxillofacial surgery as a third-year dental student at University of Southern California (Fight On!). He was mesmerized by the scope of surgical training, and the skills required to be an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

After obtaining his dental degree (DDS) from University of Southern California, Dr. Choi attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio for his specialty training and obtained his medical degree (MD). He completed his internships and residency in General Surgery and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at the University Hospitals of Cleveland Medical Center. Dr. Choi is licensed to practice both dentistry and medicine and has a permit for general anesthesia. Dedicated to continuing to improve his practice, Dr. Choi attends continuing education courses to stay up-to-date on oral surgery techniques and safe practices.

As a father of three young children, Dr. Choi understands the anxiety that both parents and child can go through when dealing with dental procedures. He is passionate about providing minimally invasive surgical and anesthesia options to reduce risks of complications. His goal is to work with the parent and child to give the child the best experience possible.

Outside of work, his personal interests include hiking with his family in the San Gabriel mountains and keeping up with his three children.

little girl getting her teeth checked
Dr. Choi in front of clock

MOTHER. DENTIST. EDUCATOR.

Meet Dr. Song

Dr. Soo Song is excited to guide your children toward excellent oral health at San Marino Pediatric Dentistry! As a board certified pediatric dentist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Song is committed to educating her young patients to value their dental health as they navigate through childhood and adolescence.

From a young age, Dr. Song had extensive experience in mentoring children. She instinctively knew that she would choose a career that allows her to nurture children in their most impressionable years of development -- and thus she became a pediatric dentist! She earned her DDS from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, where she was awarded numerous awards for her clinical and academic achievements. She then served as Chief Resident and completed advanced training in pediatric dentistry with NYU Langone at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, CA.

As an advocate of philanthropic causes, Dr. Song previously worked as a behavioral therapist for children with autism and provided dental care to underserved pediatric populations throughout California. She also actively serves at her church as a dedicated leader and Sunday School teacher. Outside of dentistry, Dr. Song enjoys spending quality time with her son and husband, appreciating a good cup of coffee, snowboarding, and singing along to k-pop songs.

little girl getting her teeth checked

Visiting San Marino

What to Expect

Here at San Marino, we believe in the far-reaching magnitude of thoughtful, patient-focused pediatric care. That’s why from the very moment your little one walks into the office, our dream team will go above and beyond to make their visit meaningful and fun. Our friendly front desk team will be your first point of contact, and will always be glad to answer any questions you may have. Next, Dr. Choi will catch up on the oral health of your young brusher and provide the most gentle, customized options for their dental success.

Equipping Little Smiles

How to Prepare for Your Child’s First Visit

The team at San Marino Pediatric Dentistry share a heart for creating the most enjoyable first visit possible, so your child’s lifelong mindset towards dental health is proactive and positive. Here are a few ways you can make your child’s first visit seamless and stress-free:

  • New Patient Forms for your child. We want to make your visit as easy as possible, so we provide nifty online forms. Fill them out and submit them before you even arrive!
  • Insurance card(s) for your little one. Our team will gladly help you find out which treatments are covered!
  • A positive perspective: we’re here to create a fun, safe experience for your little one, so they can come into each visit excited and confident.
little girl getting her teeth checked

Tiny Teeth, Big Special

$185 for your child’s first exam!

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