Thank you for stopping by. My name is Elite Mekel, founder of Pacific Coast Pediatric Dentistry. I spent over a decade training with and learning from many incredibly talented dentists – now I am so excited to have opened Pacific Coast Pediatric Dentistry as a reflection of the values I have fostered and practice philosophy I have developed along the way. I can’t wait to meet your family and show you everything we have been working on.
University of California, Santa Barbara – Chemistry
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine - Doctor of Dental Surgery
NYU Dental Medicine at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego – Pediatric Residency
American Board of Pediatric Dentistry - Board Certified
Born: New York City
Hometown: Oak Park, CA
Favorite Books: “All of The Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr & “Breath” by James Nestor
Favorite Podcasts: “How I Built This” and “Stuff You Should Know”
Favorite South Bay Restaurants: Brothers Burritos & Slay
Favorite South Bay Coffee Shops: HiFi, Bolt & Two-Guns
Hobbies: Reading, DIY projects (forever unfinished), camping, and paddle boarding
Children: One very energetic son named Jude
Favorite Flower: Ranunculus
Career, if I wasn’t a Pediatric Dentist: Elementary School Teacher
Favorite sports team: USC football (by marriage)
Thing I wish I could do: Dance … and be a contestant on Dancing with the Stars!
American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
Breathe Institute
Airway Health Solutions Provider
International Association of Orofacial Myology
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
International Affiliation of Tongue and Lip Tie Professionals.
American Dental Association
California Dental Association
California Society of Pediatric Dentists
Myomunchee Provider
Tongue-Tied Academy Graduate
Western Dental Society
HERmosa Circle
As a pediatric dentist, my primary focus is to prevent cavities and oral disease, and to guide proper growth and development of the teeth and jaws. I believe the best way to accomplish that is by educating patients and families. I only get to see you a few times a year, so during each visit we will spend time developing a personalized plan of best practices to keep your child’s teeth healthy in between exams. My goal is ensure you have the information and resources needed to empower you to succeed and make the best decisions for your family. I have found that so much of the time in dentistry we are trying to treat a problem when we could have just prevented it. This is why I love proactive pediatric dentistry – we have the power to create healthy habits early on that can prevent dental problems in the future.
As a healthcare provider, I take a holistic approach to my patients’ overall health. What happens in the mouth can indicate—and in some cases affect—systemic conditions throughout the body. As a dentist I get to see my patients every six months (something few physicians do) therefore, I am in a unique position to assess my patients for oral conditions often correlated to systemic diseases. Oral health is integral to overall health. I am also passionate about the importance of airway health, tongue posture and proper breathing. Nasal breathing is important for filtering the air we breathe, optimizing respiratory function, reducing risk of asthma and allergies, improving quality of sleep and even activating the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress and anxiety. I participate in regular continuing education seminars and read extensively on these topics so that I can guide my patients on how to breathe properly, evaluate proper jaw and airway development and educate families so that our children can grow and thrive to achieve their full potential.
As a mother, I understand the amount of trust families give their health care providers and am very honored to be a part of your child’s healthcare team. I feel so lucky to live in the beautiful south bay and can’t wait to serve my patients in my own community. If you see me walking the strand or at Trader Joe’s please say hi!
Schedule your child’s next dental appointment at Pacific Coast Pediatric Dentistry. Our caring team is dedicated to providing the best dental while creating a comfortable and pleasant experience for your child.
