Dentist for Kids Services

in Honolulu, Hawaii

Education is provided because we believe that it is the key in the prevention of tooth decay. Parents' apprehension about visiting the dentist can affect a child without the parent realizing it. Please help us to encourage your children not to be fearful of the dentist. We can help you get important information that may ease your mind. You can keep your child cavity free by applying what you learn.

Preventive Care:

Exam: This is an evaluation and assessment of oral health that should be done regularly.

Prophylaxis (cleaning): A technique used to clean teeth with a rotating cup and textured paste that helps remove plaque and stains. This should be done prior to exams.

Our second patient contact (the first was taking blood pressures) while in dental school was during the second year. We cleaned patient's teeth using a revolving cup and a gritty paste and I have continued to do this same procedure for many years until recently.

Now, outcomes research (an interesting subject I will discuss another time) has found that we had it wrong all this time. Using that gritty paste to remove the plaque also removes a microscopic surface layer of the tooth which is the most Fluoride rich and decay resistant portion. In addition, the Fluoride we apply will go right through any plaque on the teeth and we don't have to remove it for an effective Fluoride treatment.

Because of these discoveries you will notice that your child's cleaning appointment has changed. We will only use that gritty paste on tooth areas where there are stains or a rough surface that needs to be smoothed. We use a toothbrush and floss to remove the acid producing plaque with you and/or your child watching so we can point out any areas that need to be cleaned more or perhaps differently. Now that I have adjusted to the change I notice that you and your children are getting much better at removing plaque and I am happy with our new approach.

Fluoride: A carefully measured solution is placed on the teeth after they have been cleaned. Fluoride hardens the surface of the tooth and helps resist decay.

Why do we give Fluoride tablets to our children?
The Fluoride that children swallow when their teeth are being formed becomes part of the hard part of the tooth. With Fluoride, the tooth is better able to resist the decay acids made by plaque.

Do the teeth all ready present benefit from the Fluoride we swallow?
No. The only benefit is if we swish the Fluoride in our mouths so that some of it can soak into our teeth.

Why does the dentist apply Fluoride directly to the teeth and why is Fluoride in toothpaste?
The Fluoride we swallow doesn't get to the teeth present in the mouth but Fluoride applied directly to the teeth by way of dentist applications, mouthwashes and toothpaste soaks into, and becomes part of the outermost part of the teeth. This makes the teeth more resistant to decay acids.

What happens if we get too much Fluoride while our teeth are developing?
The Fluoride will continue to get into the hard tooth structure and help it resist decay. Another interesting thing happens though. When the Fluoride reaches a certain level it interferes with the process of tooth formation and, depending on the amount of Fluoride, teeth will have white spots or in severe cases, a brown chalky appearance. For that reason, some Fluoride is good but more is not better and indeed is bad! If you live on a military facility in Hawaii you have Fluoride in your water so do not give your child Fluoride as it will be too much.

Why do many children's brands of toothpaste not have Fluoride?
Children swallow toothpaste instead of spitting it out and remember too much Fluoride will hurt developing teeth. A compromise so that teeth will get a Fluoride bath while not giving developing teeth too much Fluoride is to use only a very small amount of Fluoride toothpaste.

Are Fluoride rinses effective?
As long as your child doesn't swallow the rinse. It will add more Fluoride protection if your child is getting cavities and needs the extra protection.

Why do people object to adding Fluoride to our water in Hawaii?
I think there are probably many reasons. My feeling is that Fluoride has been used in America's water for more than 60 years and if there were any health risks we would know from Attorneys filling suit for injuries and monetary damages. Fluoride does help protect teeth.

Sealants: Plastic material applied to permanent molars where decay occurs most often. It acts as a barrier to protect decay-prone areas. They have been proven over two decades to dramatically reduce cavities in the most vulnerable tooth surfaces.

Restorative Care:
Fillings: Tooth colored resin used to fill space in tooth where decay has been removed. Pulp (Nerve) Treatment: By use of proper techniques, it is possible to "save" teeth that would ordinarily be lost because of deep cavities with exposure of nerves. A pulp treatment consists of surgically removing the infected portion of the nerve, placing a sterilizing medication, and sealing the tooth. Pulp treatment is done with the tooth anesthetized (numb) so that the child feels no pain.

"Saving" a primary (baby) tooth, if it is going to be in the mouth for six months or more, is recommended because it provides the child with a chewing surface and acts as a natural space maintainer for the permanent tooth.

Crowns (Caps): When teeth are so broken down that fillings cannot be used, we are still able to save the tooth with the use of crowns. Back teeth are crowned with stainless steel crowns. Front teeth can be crowned with either stainless steel or tooth colored crowns.

Below: Before and after pictures of tooth colored
crowns (caps) on front teeth:

Honolulu Dentist for Kids

Copyright © GDFC Hawaii 2007-2008. Website optimized by Page 1 Solutions, LLCHonolulu dentist for kids Dr. Neal Timon, in Hawaii has provided this website for informational purposes only. Please contact our office for more information about dentistry for children. We gladly welcome patients from across Honolulu, Ewa Beach and Kapolei, Hawaii.