Janelle Holden, DDS

My only compliant is that they won’t clean my teeth! This place is nothing short of excellent. I’d give them 6 stars if that was an option.

If you like to get overcharged for everything, send out for any major work, kept waiting for your appointments, or ask you to pay &1000 $$ out of pocket ahead of doing any work if your child shows any sign of not cooperating (for the anesthesiologist — even if it’s just a cavity), then by all means go to this dental factory. If you are into luxuries like game room and aquariums and pretty things that will make you think you are in a great dental office then go ahead and make an appointment. I’ve tried several times but every time I go back I am left disappointed. There are too many different people working there, too big and no heart.

Caring Doctor and staff. They did a wonderful job with my son today for his first filling. Great office! Highly recommend!

My six year old had a previous bad experience at our family dental office in Canada. It was nothing horrible but the films they used for taking x-​rays were adult size and made him gag, they were unable to get the shots and he built up a big anxiety towards having to do this again. So needless to say he was very hesitant to go and have his first full check up. We moved to Manhattan Beach I went right to Unilocal in order to find the perfect pediatric dentist. I am so happy I listened to the great reviews here. Dr. Jenelle Holden is an absolute dream and her entire faculty are fabulous. The entire office is gorgeous, clean and child focused. We walked in and he was instantly drawn to the video game section as younger children were watching a Disney film on the big screen in the lobby. Our dental technician was a sweetheart I don’t recall her name but she was so gentle and explained everything to Kingsley for every step of his cleaning and X-​rays. All of the other staff I could see working with children were so sweet and so kind. The office was decorated top to bottom for Halloween which is just around the corner and this meant so much to my son. Our technician washed her hands and changed sanitary gloves through every step of his appointment. I even noted that they use fresh spring water when rinsing and cleaning out the patient’s mouth, this little detail says a lot to me. The great experience ended with his choice of a special toy and he walked out of there with a huge smile on his face. I could not ask for anything more. Oh and I should mention that the x-​ray set up was child friendly right from the zebra print protective Cape to the child size films they used in his mouth.

Dr. Holden is truly the BEST. My toddling 11-​month-​old daughter fell on Sunday night and I called Dr. Holden’s office around 8:15 pm (on a weekend, no less) because I feared her just-​beginning-​to-​emerge front baby tooth was knocked out. Within minutes I was immediately connected through to Dr. Holden and she reassured me over the phone that my baby’s front tooth was likely pushed back and not broken or knocked out.
I mentioned to Dr. Holden that I would try to get my daughter into her office the next day, but I was unsure if it would work out because I was scheduled to fly out of town on business. Recognizing my situation and that my baby was upset (and let’s face it, me too), Dr. Holden did something that just does not happen in this day and age — she offered to drive to her office and meet me there within 15-​minutes. So we met around 8:30 pm on Sunday night at her office and she examined my baby daughter and gave me peace of mind, which was priceless.
I cannot recommend Dr. Holden enough to anyone who lives in the Southbay and if you don’t live near her office, she is worth the commute. I don’t think I have ever received or witnessed better, personal, attentive medical attention in my life.
I am forever grateful to Dr. Holden’s for taking time away from her own family on a Sunday night to help out mine. Make your appointment with Dr. Holden today!

We’ve been patients of Dr. Holden for 5 years. Yes, her office has become a mill. We really liked her. However, our orthodontist sent her a letter that my son needed some teeth pulled immediately. Dr. Holden’s office made no effort to contact me after they received the letter. When I called, (4 werks after the letter was sent) her office person on the phone told me that she had a pile of papers on her desk and hasn’t had time to go over them. Great. My son’s issues were completely ignored. When I called I was told that she doesn’t don’t the procedure that was required. However, she had done this previously for my other son. I was baffled and upset. Our orthodontist actually called a spoke to her as well. She refused to do the procedure. So, we found another pediatric dentist that would do it and all the work was done in a day (it took about an hour to painlessly pull 3 baby teeth). Not a problem at the new place.
I then called Dr. Holden’s office to cancel our upcoming check ups. I left a message to speak to her as well. No call back. I guess loosing my 3 children as patients doesn’t make a big difference in her practice. What a shame.

My kids were patients of Dr. Holden’s for 8 years, until we moved from the area. I think this is a fantastic pediatric office for children.
Its located in the Metlox plaza, so there is metered parking underneath the building.
Upon entering, cool animal print chairs, aquariums, video games, children’s movies on the tv, etc. Thus, its very inviting for children. If that’s not enough, there are many rooms with bright colors/​paintings of animals. Also, after their appointment, they are offered toys.
All the hygienists were very friendly and outgoing. My kids never complained about going to the dentist.
Their office handles insurance very well. Never had any problems.
Finally, Dr. Holden is very friendly and invested in the community. As a bonus, my kids have always gotten compliments on their teeth (even their new dentist has given them compliments).
Because the office is so inviting, it can be very busy. One time, I made the mistake of scheduling the kids appointments over spring break. Never again. The office was packed and backed up. I’d rather just pull my kids out of school for an hour, rather than deal with that. However, the office is like clockwork with reminders and scheduling appointments every 6 months. I like that.
Final note: I saw on a prior review that someone claimed that the office uses Nitrous on all their patients for cavities-​Not True. My kids had a couple of cavities over the years and Nitrous was never used or mentioned.

Crowded and loud but they are nice.

We are done… moving dental offices for both my 12 and 10 year olds and they have been going to Dr Holden since their first dental visit.
We have had some great hygienists along the way and the atmosphere is great for kids but the it’s such a factory, move them in and out, doesn’t feel personal anymore.
When an appointment was missed (that I was not aware of) no follow up at all — only when we showed up for our next cleaning did they tell us my son had outstanding work to be done but it couldn’t be done that day.
I overlooked things along the way but between appointment and billing problems and work done my one dentist that had to be redone by Dr Holden (which makes it’s tough to book because we will only see her after those experiences).
We are picking up our records and moving on.

Dr Holden and staff are wonderful. I’m especially impressed with Christy who did an amazing job putting my very nervous 3.5 year old twins nerves at ease. Big thumbs up.

Great staff!!!
Great dentist for my 2 years old daughter.
The best for the first dentis experience…
Thank you Dr. Holden and staff

Been going to Dr. Holden since my 14 year old was old enough. Both my kids love her and all of the staff. Although not as conveniently located for us since we moved, we travel the extra miles because she’s the best.

As a patient of 20 years, yes I started seeing Dr. Holden when I was 2, I can confidently say that she made me enjoy going to the dentist. Her bedside manner is something other pediatric dentists just don’t have. Highly recommended in every respect. If you aren’t convinced go and meet her for yourself!

My kiddos and I love them!
The office is clean and gorgeous! The waiting room is fun and the office staff is incredibly professional. I can tell janell Holden has invested an incredible amount of time on staff training and development.
My son has some anxiety about dentists because of 2 previous bad experiences. He loves janell Holden’s office. They were gentle and talked him through the whole experience.
Professionalism is HUGE in my book and every single person on staff is extremely professional.
Older boy needed to have a tooth pulled. Janell called me over the weekend prescribed antibiotics and was so polite and professional.
Unfortunately my new insurance does not contract with the office. We had to pay out of pocket and it was so expensive for 3 boys. If I could afford it I would SO pay out of pocket but we can’t. The alternative does the trick but the experience at janell Holden’s we miss.

Dr. Holden is a very good pediatric dentist that actually cares about her patients not just about making money. However, we had a bad luck of botched procedure done by one of the dentists. Dr Holden had to redo this uncomfortable procedure to my child.
If your kids need procedure done make sure you only get Dr. Holden to do it and not one of her assistants.

I have nothing but fantastic things to say about this office. My 6 year old daughter had some cavities so we have made several trips here over the past 6 months and she actually looks forward to going. The office staff and dental hygienists go above and beyond to make everyone feel comfortable. I saw some complaints about waiting but we have been 6 times in the past 6 months and have never waited more than 10 minutes. Dr. Chris did all of my daughters procedures and he is awesome!!! So gentle, caring and skilled. They did use Nitrous but asked me if we wanted to use it, It was not insisted upon. Again… I truly have nothing but complimentary thins to say about this office and everyone there.

By far the most amazing and most efficient pediatric dental office I have ever seen. A well oiled machine. That being said I need to take a couple of stars off because of the increasing waiting time over the years. I do not care how amazing the office can be, I simply hate to wait at a doctor’s office, even more so with kids. I have heard similar complains from other parents. I hope they are not getting ahead of themselves, would be too bad.

This is my 3^rd Review of Dr Janelle Holden and her office.
Failure to Diagnosis/​Examine: My daughter had a cleaning end of Feb. I mentioned that it looked like she had a cavity. The hygienist looked at it and said it was a stain. No X-Ray’s and no doctor to take a look. Beginning of June the spot I’d pointed to 3 ½ months before was a gaping hole because the cavity ate away at it. Thank you for being thorough in your examinations. Oh wait. You don’t bother with those during maintenance cleaning visits.
My daughter required 2 mini root canals and some fillings so I made 5 appointments scheduled over the course of 8 or so weeks. Dr Holden stressed, when she diagnosed these treatments, how time was critical in getting these done and any delay could have serious negative impact on my daughters dental health.
Despite the aggravation from having my time wasted (see previous review), my husband wanted our daughter’s fillings here. Since time was critical, so we continued.
I communicated my complaints to Dr Holden back in June, but they fell on deaf ears. Naturally I Unilocaled a review of the negative experience. In retaliation, Dr Holden cancelled our appt and withdrew from providing treatment 2 days before my daughters 3^rd appt. I don’t really know what to say about the type of person who claims to care for their patients, but chooses to harm them in retaliation.
I’m a bit stunned that rather than choosing the opportunity to correct a customer complaint, she’d choose to harm a 4 yr old child. Still no apology for their poor communication, which is the root of the complaint.
Dr Holden’s response was «delete your negative review or I won’t finish». I guess in her mind, I should be so honored that she is my kids DDS I should do what she asks. I take further offense at her attempt to manipulate the Unilocal process.
It’s also worth noting, Dr Holden, NEVER treated my child. The hygienists do the cleaning, Dr Holden did the diagnosis, and two other doctors were working on my daughters treatment.
I received a letter from Dr Holden this past week, once again asking me to delete my negative review.
Suck it up Dr Holden. You aren’t the jeweled prize you think you are. There are many many many other pediatric dentists out there. I went to you by a customer referral and the (manipulated) Unilocal reviews. Tsk Tsk Dr Holden. What happened, happened, and you chose to handle it selfishly.
Coincidentally, I found one of those other wonderful Pedi Dentists and the 2^nd mini root canal turns out to be only a filling, by diagnosis and confirmed when treated. One of those cavities turnout not to be a cavity, but calcification.
Warning to current and future patients. Don’t get sucked in by the fluff added to the office. They really do function as a mill. They want to maximize the number of patients in and out, so they can pay for their square footage.
They use Nitrous on all their patients for cavities. They don’t want to risk your child melting down and throwing them off schedule. They have a schedule and they will stick to it. Remember their time is important, so given the choice between their precisious time and drugging your child, they will drug your child every time. (Our new dentist got the cavities taken care of WITHOUT Nitrous and the procedure was much quicker for it.)

Our four children have been patients of Dr. Holden for the past 16 years and my husband and I continue to be extremely impressed not only by her professionalism and expertise, but by her entire staff. We have faced a variety of procedures over the years and while stressful, we trust her implicitly. She is warm, caring, attentive, and an outstanding dentist. The children have there teeth cleaned twice a year and there has never been an appointment that she did not personally examine one of the children before they left her office.
A few years ago, a friend called me after her son was hit in the mouth with a baseball on a Saturday afternoon and although her son was not even a patient of Dr. Holden, she called in desperation her after hours emergency number and Dr. Holden met them at her office within an hour of the accident. My friend knew her reputation but was overwhelmed by the way she and her son were treated. My response was simply, «That is Dr. Holden. I am not at all surprised.»
Although her office is «state of the art» and the Disneyland of dental offices, (there are televisions on the ceilings and every electronic game a kid could dream to play), I would drive to a one room office in the middle of nowhere to have Dr. Holden continue to treat my children. Surely they would miss the toys, aquariums, movies, and games, but it is really Dr. Holden and her staff that keep us returning.
Without a doubt the office sees hundreds if not thousands of patients, but she makes our family feel like we are her only patients. Dr. Janelle Holden is what every health care and service professional should strive to become. Thank you for your service to our children, families, and our South Bay community. You are a treasure!

I just got back from my son’s second visit to Dr. Holden and I can’t say anything but really nice things — they are wonderful with kids there!
The office itself is in the Metlox shopping/​restaurant area. It’s great because before or after your appointment you can play in the water fountain area or grab something to eat in downtown Manhattan Beach. The inside of the office is decorated all jungle so each room has an animal theme. There are video games, TVs and toys in the waiting area and TVs in each of the rooms.
The way they approach the cleaning and checkup are great. They go at it really slow and work with your child’s comfort level. My child didn’t cry at all and he is 2! I was expecting this to be a very unpleasant experience but walked out pleasantly surprised. Everything there is kid oriented, from the décor, to the fish tanks, to the goodie bags, to the flavored gloves the staff wear.
I highly recommend this pediatric dentist to anyone with kids!