be HAPPY &
For Dr. Shari Carroll, special needs pediatric dentistry in Redondo Beach is not just an area of professional training. It is personal.
A parent first
Dr. Carroll’s son was diagnosed with autism as a young child. Her family moved to Los Angeles so he could have access to specialized treatment and services. As a parent, she learned firsthand how exhausting it can be to explain your child to a new provider, how frustrating a one-size-fits-all approach can be, and how much difference it makes when a professional is willing to adapt.
That experience influences the way Dr. Carroll practices dentistry every day. She understands that a diagnosis does not tell you everything about a child. Communication, sensory sensitivities, attention, anxiety, medical needs, previous experiences, and what worked – or failed – at past appointments all matter.
Experience
More than 15 years
Professionally, Dr. Carroll has more than 15 years of experience treating children with special health care needs in office and hospital settings. As an attending doctor with the USC pediatric dental residency at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, she has extensive experience caring for medically complex and medically fragile children, including patients whose dental treatment requires coordination with hospital-based specialists and anesthesia teams.
Our Redondo Beach office
Care closer to home
Dr. Carroll created her Redondo Beach office in part because she saw South Bay families traveling long distances for pediatric dentists comfortable treating children with significant medical or developmental needs. She wanted those families to have an experienced option closer to home.
How we personalize each visit
1
A dedicated sensory room
Our office includes a dedicated sensory room that intentionally looks and feels different from a traditional dental operatory. It includes a floor-to-ceiling sensory wall and adjustable colored sensory lighting. The room can be adapted based on what helps an individual child feel more regulated and comfortable.
2
Sensory Profile
Our office can send families a Sensory Profile before the visit. The profile gives Dr. Carroll and the team useful information about the child’s preferences, triggers, communication style, and sensory needs before the child ever sits in the dental chair.
3
The right pace for each child
Some children benefit from extra time, visual or verbal preparation, a slower introduction to the environment, parent involvement, fewer sensory inputs, or desensitization visits. Others do best when the appointment moves quickly and predictably. Personalized pediatric dentistry means figuring out which approach is right for that child.
Dr. Carroll takes tremendous pride in welcoming all children, including those with special needs. Our goal is not to force every child through a conventional dental visit. Our goal is to provide necessary dental care while respecting the child in front of us and customizing the experience to that child’s individual needs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I tell you about my child's sensory needs before the appointment?
Yes. Our office can send you a Sensory Profile before the visit so Dr. Carroll and the team can learn about your child’s communication style, preferences, triggers, and sensory needs in advance.
What makes the office sensory-friendly?
Our office includes a dedicated sensory room with a floor-to-ceiling sensory wall and adjustable colored sensory lighting. We can also modify the pace, communication style, sensory input, and other aspects of the visit when appropriate for the individual child.
Does Dr. Carroll have experience with autism and medically complex children?
Yes. Dr. Carroll has more than 15 years of experience treating children with special health care needs in office and hospital settings. She is also the parent of a child with autism and serves as an attending doctor with the USC pediatric dental residency at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Reviewed by Shari Carroll, DMD, MPH - Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
Contact
1611 S. Catalina Avenue | Suite 100 Redondo Beach | CA 90277 | Phone: (310) 357-4414
There is FREE parking in our underground parking garage accessible off of Catalina Avenue.
Existing patients: Please use Dr. Carroll’s established after-hours contact instructions for urgent questions outside normal office hours.
