Pediatric Dentist in Santa Maria
At Mariposa Pediatric Dentistry, your top pediatric dentist in Santa Maria. We provide individualized, quality care in a friendly and fun environment. Plus, we know that children and families are all unique, and tailor our approach to best fit each child.
Furthermore, we prioritize preventive dentistry and oral health education to help set your child up for optimal oral health now and into the future.
Our Mission
Personalized, high-quality care
Every child deserves dental care designed for them. Therefore, we’ll listen to your concerns and provide honest recommendations for proven treatments that are right for your child.
All families welcome
Furthermore, we love working with families from all backgrounds and with a variety of unique needs, including children with functional needs.
Modern minimally invasive treatments
Moreover, we offer a full range of pediatric dentistry services in-office. Plus, one of our strengths is minimally invasive treatments, including the ability to treat cavities topically and without injections.
We speak Spanish
Finally, Dr. Pedersen and most of our team speak Spanish fluently. Plus, we love working with Spanish-speaking families!
Anne Pedersen, DDS
Top pediatric dentist in Santa Maria. Dr. Annie Pedersen grew up in Southern California and completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics at UCLA. Additionally, she continued her studies at the University of Washington, where she earned a Masters Degree in Biostatistics, before returning to UCLA to become a dentist. However, following dental school, Dr. Pedersen completed 2 years of additional training at the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic to earn her Pediatric Dentistry specialty certificate. Furthermore, during her second year of residency, she earned the Pugh award and the James Roche Award of Excellence from the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Plus, Dr. Pedersen lives in San Luis Obispo with her husband and 2 young children. However, when she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and gardening.
- Board Certified Pediatric Dentist
- Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the UCLA School of Dentistry
- Earned Pediatric Dentistry Specialty Certificate from NYU Langone at the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic site
Alison Riley, DDS, MS
Dr. Alison grew up in Pennsylvania and graduated with a degree in Biomedical Engineering from Penn State University. However, she then made the move to California and worked as a medical device engineer for three years. During this time, she began volunteering with the UCSD Pre-Dental Society, helping to provide free dental care to those without insurance, and fell in love with dentistry. Furthermore, she completed dental school at UCSF, then Pediatric Dentistry specialty training at The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, a level one trauma center. There, she had the privilege of caring for clinically complex patients while learning from top experts in the field. However, Dr. Alison is excited to be back on the West Coast, working with a team that is similarly passionate about providing high-quality, individualized care to all children. Outside of the office, Dr. Alison and her husband Elliott enjoy hiking, surfing, and playing with their two cats.
- Board Eligible Pediatric Dentist
- University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry Doctor of Dental Surgery
- The Ohio State University Master of Science in Dentistry
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry
Emily Renk Hawthorne
Emily Renk Hawthorne graduated from USC Dental School in 2011 and completed a hospital dentistry residency at UCLA in 2012. However, she worked with Indian Health Services for five years and community health for underserved populations for six years after that. Furthermore, she is originally from Huntington Beach, CA and now lives in San Luis Obispo with her husband and daughter.
Dr. Hawthorne sees most of our teenage patients.
- Board Certified Pediatric Dentist
- University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry