Our Pediatric Dental Specialists

Dr. Christine Rimi Kobayashi

Dr. Tami Fujino

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is a pediatric dentist?

    Pediatric Dentists, like Dr. Rimi and Dr. Tami, have an extra two to three years of specialty training after dental school and are dedicated to the oral health of children from infancy through the teenage years.  The very young, pre-teens, and teenagers all need different approaches in dealing with behavior, guiding their growth and development to minimize future dental problems.

     

    With the additional education, pediatric dentists have the training which allows them to offer the most up-to-date and thorough treatment for a wide variety of pediatric dental problems.

  • How old should my child be to come to the dentist?

    According to the America Academy of the

    Pediatric Dentistry, your child should be seen by their 1st birthday or 6 months after the eruption of their first tooth.

     

    Beginning dental care at an early age allows guidance for caring for your child's teeth and opportunities to address preventive issues that are important for healthy teeth and a pleasing smile. Early visits also help establish a positive relationship between our office and your child.

     

  • Why are baby teeth so important?

    It is very important to maintain the health of primary teeth (baby teeth).  Neglected cavities can cause pain and infection, and it can also lead to problems which affect the developing permanent teeth.  Primary teeth are important for (1) proper chewing and eating, (2) providing space for permanent teeth and guiding them into position, (3) permitting normal development of the jaw bones and muscles, (4) for speech and (5) for esthetics/development of good self esteem.

  • Why does my child need dental x-rays?

    Radiographs (x-rays) are a necessary part of your child's dental diagnostic process.  Without them, certain cavities will be missed.  They also help survey developing teeth, evaluate results of an injury, or plan for orthodontic treatment.  If dental problems are found and treated early, dental care can be more comfortable for your child, and more affordable for you.

     

    On average, our office will request bitewing radiographs approximately once a year and panoramic radiographs every 3-5 years.  In children with a high risk of tooth decay, we may recommend radiographs more frequently.

     

    With contemporary safeguards, the amount of radiation received in a dental x-ray examination is extremely small.  Today's equipment restricts the beam to the area of interest, making the risk negligible.  In fact, the dental radiographs represent a far smaller risk than an undetected and untreated dental problem.  Lead body aprons and thyroid shields will protect your child.

  • What are sealants, fillings and crowns?

    A sealant is a clear or shaded plastic material that is applied to the chewing surfaces (grooves) for the back teeth (premolars and molars), where most cavities in children can form.  This sealant acts as a barrier to food, plaque, and acid, thus protecting the decay-prone areas of the teeth.  However, cavities between the teeth are not protected by sealants.  As long as there is no cavity in the tooth, sealants will be recommended for all children.

     

    If your child has a cavity, a filling is placed after the cavity is removed.

     

    In a primary tooth, if a cavity is too large to restore with a filling, a crown may be recommend or the tooth may need to come out.  If the cavity is too large and has involved the nerve of the tooth, then the nerve will be removed (pulpotomy) along with the cavity, and a crown will be placed.  A crown can either be tooth colored or stainless steel.  For front teeth, white crowns are routinely used for esthetics.  For back teeth, stainless steel crowns are used for their durability and longevity.  The purpose of the crown is to help provide structure for the tooth, to help maintain space for permanent teeth to erupt properly, and to help protect the remaining tooth.

     

    All of these procedures are associated with a certain failure rate depending on the severity of disease, cooperation of patient during treatment, and individual response to the treatment.  All treatment is recommended based on scientific criteria and clinical experience in the best interest of your child.

  • What about sedation?

    Small procedures in cooperative children can often be done under local anesthesia with or without nitrous oxide.  The most common form of sedation we routinely use in our office is nitrous oxide (laughing gas). This is given through a small breathing mask which is placed over the child's nose.  We monitor the children during sedation with a pulse oximeter. The AAPD recognizes this technique as a very safe, effective technique to help relax your child during treatment. Slightly more involved procedures in certain children will require the use of an oral medication along with nitrous oxide to help relax your child and facilitate cooperation with the procedure.  These procedures are scheduled carefully, require your child to be fasting the morning of the procedure, and also be free of any respiratory symptoms in the two weeks preceeding the procedure.  Often we ask that two adults be present so that one is able to sit in the back seat with your child on the drive home. Some children require an extensive amount of dental work.  In these situations, it is difficult for a small child to cooperate fully and often the treatment cannot be done properly.  For these children, we may recommend treating your child in the operating room under general anesthesia.

  • What should be done about a cut or bitten tongue,

    lip or cheek?

    Apply ice to bruised areas.  If there is bleeding, apply firm pressure with a clean gauze or cloth.  If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes or it cannot be controlled by simple pressure, call our office.

     

    If the child chews their lip, tongue or cheek area after completion of dental treatment, an antibiotic may be necessary. Please call our office.

  • What can I do about my child’s toothache?

    Call our office to schedule an appointment. Try to keep your child’s mouth as clean as possible by rinsing with warm salt water, gently brushing the area, or flossing to remove any impacted food. You may give an over the counter children’s pain medication based on their weight. Do not apply Aspirin directly to the gums.

  • My child accidently knocked out her permanent tooth, what should I do?

    If the tooth is knocked out, try to replace back into socket or if the child can hold it hold it in their cheek  until you come into our office.

     

    Contact our office as soon as possible.

  • Our child has fractured his tooth.
    What do you suggest?

    Rinse debris from injured area with warm water.  Place cold compresses over the face in the area of injury.  Placement of Vaseline over the area of the broken tooth will aid in decreasing sensitivity. Locate and save any broken tooth fragments in milk.

     

    Contact our office as soon as possible.

  • My child knocked out a baby tooth. What should I do?

    Call our office if your child has a baby tooth knocked out. Do not attempt to put the tooth in your child’s mouth, as it may cause damage to the permanent tooth coming in behind it. Instead bring the tooth with you to the office.