SF Pediatric Dentistry

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mamas in our lives. . . . I am so thankful for these two hilarious, clever, sweet, and loving kids. They help me understand what all of you are going through. Each day I try to remember the roller coaster called parenting that you got off of right before stepping foot in the office. Because I have been there, too. ... . . . I hope to see you soon, but I am going to miss these two like crazy. Dr. Kristina See more

Thank you for your help in keeping our visits safe, socially distanced, and efficient! Watch how Teya brings Baby Bear for his first visit to Dr. Kristina! . Fill out all your child’s health/HIPAA/policies/insurance forms online as soon as you schedule your appointment . 24 hours before the appointment, complete the COVID screening form for yourself and your child (Bitly link through text/email) ... . Call or text us when you’re parked/outside . We will call or text you back when we are ready to bring you in . Wear your masks! . Upon entry, we will perform a temperature check and hand sanitizer, and verbal COVID screening . All good? Pick a toothbrush and come on in! . See more

If your child hits their tooth or face, it is possible that their teeth could become infected, even without bacteria! This video is an explanation and diagram by Dr. Kristina to help show why it’s important to have baby tooth infections monitored and if needed, treated. . . . #dentaltrauma #toothinjury #pediatricdentistry #sanfranciscodentist #sfmoms #accidentshappen #mouthinjury #sfkids #sfkidsplay #kidsofsf #parentproblems #toothbump #dentist #dentistry #dentalstudent #dentalschool #dentistlife #dentistvideo #dentistmom #dentistkid #sanfrancisco #kitchenstyle #kitchenremodel #sanfranciscokitchen #extraction #toothextraction #tooth #toothfairy #toothfairyiscomingtonight #imissworking

Happy #throwbackthursday ! Swipe to check out before and after! . . Here is a #silverdiaminefluoride to #NuSmile case study I wanted to share. This 4 year old child was cooperative for dental surgery in the office using numbing (injection) and nitrous oxide:oxygen inhalation analgesia/anxiolytics (laughing gas). Kiddo had 16 teeth with cavities and therefore 5 treatment appointments. Parents consented to use Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) on front and back teeth to slow and... stop the large cavities while each area of the mouth was restored to proper chewing and function. . . Photo 1 - 2nd application of SDF using a micro brush and cotton roll after completing some back fillings/crowns. Anterior teeth are easier to keep dry and clean during application and SDF can be incredibly effective and painless for these teeth! . . Photo 2 - Shows how much of the backside of the teeth was missing from decay. . . Photo 3 - Photo right after zirconia crowns by #Nusmile were placed (amazing #transformation, right?) . . Photo 4 - 1 week follow up kiddo was so pleased and would not stop smiling even though brushing and snacking were still a struggle . . Dental decay is a tricky thing because it is a chronic disease (think diabetes) with occasional acute symptoms. Dentists typically treat the symptoms holes in teeth but if the underlying habits/imbalance that brought you to my office aren’t addressed, then it’s only a matter of time before your child will get new cavities around their existing fillings. That’s why at SF Pediatric Dentistry the first visit is like an interview as well as an assessment, in order for me to meet you where you are, and hopefully guide you to a healthier mouth one step at a time. @ SF Pediatric Dentistry See more

I had some fun today trying out my new syringe-alternative... on myself! Read more for my first impressions. . . . I have given thousands of injections over the last 10 years and I know how important it is to be compassionate and as comfortable as possible rememeber, unlike at the pediatrician, we START with the ... . . . I’m the type of person who always wants to do things better. Injections are one of the things that many kids are afraid of, so it is something I am committed to improve on, even if what I currently do is working. Also, my hands are small, and it would be nice to make one of the things I do every day a little more ergonomic. So I’ve been on the lookout for an alternative for years. There are other options like the Wand or Calaject, but they are not cordless and if you have seen your child at a dental office you know they want to step on and press all the buttons... . . . PROS super ergonomic compared with traditional syringe, especially for small hands uses all the same standard size anesthetic carpules and needles looks a lot like a thermometer (because it’s gonna FREEZE those teeth) lightweight and I love the intuitive buttons Carpule holder is clear so you can easily see how much anesthetic has been delivered . . . CONS a little noisy, but with headphones on, the medical grade hepa air filter (thanks covid) and suction, I don’t think it will matter cost of course but I’m building my practice on the principal of what I would want for my own kids and yours deserve the best, too the grips that come with it are 5 of the syringe T type and 2 pen grips, but what I would really prefer are all pen grips. . . . I’m excited to incorporate this device into my practice because I think that my kids would appreciate it. When you bring your kids to me, I treat them as my own. Dr. Kristina . . . Disclosure: I purchased this product and did not receive this product at a discount/for free. I am sharing it because I believe it will help kids be more comfortable. See more

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mamas in our lives. . . . I am so thankful for these two hilarious, clever, sweet, and loving kids. They help me understand what all of you are going through. Each day I try to remember the roller coaster called parenting that you got off of right before stepping foot in the office. Because I have been there, too. ... . . . I hope to see you soon, but I am going to miss these two like crazy. Dr. Kristina See more

Do you or a friend have questions about your baby’s mouth? I’m here for you! I made this awesome guide to share some great information about how to take care of your baby’s newest friends their teeth! Link in bio https://www.sfpediatricdentistry.com/quick-guide.html . . . I’ve been missing everyone so much! But I especially miss seeing your sweet babies for their first visits! ... . . . I can imagine it is hard for new parents right now who are wanting to get their baby’s care on the right track! This guide will definitely help you feel more confident until you’re able to bring your baby in for an in-person visit. . . . Stay safe at home my dears. Dr. Kristina See more

Happy #throwbackthursday ! Swipe to check out before and after! . . Here is a #silverdiaminefluoride to #NuSmile case study I wanted to share. This 4 year old child was cooperative for dental surgery in the office using numbing (injection) and nitrous oxide:oxygen inhalation analgesia/anxiolytics (laughing gas). Kiddo had 16 teeth with cavities and therefore 5 treatment appointments. Parents consented to use Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) on front and back teeth to slow and... stop the large cavities while each area of the mouth was restored to proper chewing and function. . . Photo 1 - 2nd application of SDF using a micro brush and cotton roll after completing some back fillings/crowns. Anterior teeth are easier to keep dry and clean during application and SDF can be incredibly effective and painless for these teeth! . . Photo 2 - Shows how much of the backside of the teeth was missing from decay. . . Photo 3 - Photo right after zirconia crowns by #Nusmile were placed (amazing #transformation, right?) . . Photo 4 - 1 week follow up kiddo was so pleased and would not stop smiling even though brushing and snacking were still a struggle . . Dental decay is a tricky thing because it is a chronic disease (think diabetes) with occasional acute symptoms. Dentists typically treat the symptoms holes in teeth but if the underlying habits/imbalance that brought you to my office aren’t addressed, then it’s only a matter of time before your child will get new cavities around their existing fillings. That’s why at SF Pediatric Dentistry the first visit is like an interview as well as an assessment, in order for me to meet you where you are, and hopefully guide you to a healthier mouth one step at a time. @ SF Pediatric Dentistry See more

Did you know that Dr. Kristina has been using silver diamine fluoride (SDF) since 2015, when the FDA finally approved its use for the treatment of tooth sensitivity? And that it has been researched extensively to have the added benefit of STOPPING 80% of CAVITIES from growing with 2 applications per year? . . . This is a game changer for kids Unfortunately it can’t be used in every situation, but it can be a great option for a number of things ... 1 - Your baby has cavities and you want to wait until they’re a little older before doing general anesthesia to treat them definitively 2 - Your preschool aged child has visible decay in more than one area and we need to space out the dental surgery appointments or attempt minimally invasive option. 3 - Your 9/10 year old child has special needs or severe anxiety whereby surgical treatment in the dental office without sedation/general anesthesia is too challenging, and the cavities are on the baby molars that will be falling out in 1-2 more years. 4 - Your dentist recommends using it preventatively to re-mineralize small cavities to avoid dental surgery altogether for 80% of teeth because at this point in the parenting game, chances of controlling your child’s diet completely AND flossing every day are only 5%. 5 - Your child has moderate to severe hypoplasia (inadequate mineralization) of the permanent molar enamel which is causing sensitivity with eating and drinking. 6 - Your teenager is forgetting to brush and snacking on carbs/sports drinks/boba while playing video games and starts to get cavities in between their newly erupted teeth! . . . Prevention for children is so important! SDF can be a great adjunct to traditional dental treatment and maybe I won’t have to inject your child’s face! Some downsides are: SDF is not appropriate for all cavities, it tastes bad for 10 minutes afterwards, and it forms a black scar where the hole or weak spot in the tooth is. See more

In case anyone wanted to start their Wednesday with a toothy pun . . . The office will be closed through April 7 but most likely longer, it is a difficult time for all of us. If your child is a patient of record and having an emergency please call 415-613-6123. ... . . As a healthcare provider, my priority is health and safety. We don’t talk about this aspect often but dentists are very well trained to deal with aerosols and infectious droplets. With the nationwide shortages in PPE (masks, gloves, distilled water, hand sanitizer) I am doing my part in conserving resources while trying to keep your kids out of the emergency room for dental reasons. . . . . We will be sending an update soon for our families. In the meantime, feel your feelings, allow yourself to grieve for what once was, ground yourself in the reality of today instead of grieving for the future, and hug those sweet kids! I’m trying to do all those things, too, and it’s really hard! Dr. Kristina See more

Any time you have sugar or acid in your mouth, your teeth melt a little. Cavities are holes in your teeth that happen because so much of your tooth melts away that it crumbles and breaks apart. For kids, prevention goes a long way! Learn what things predictably prevent cavities in this video.

Let’s face it, SNACKSidents happen! During these stressful times of relaxed routines it’s important to set yourself and your family up for success by stocking up on tooth healthy foods from the left and middle category and avoiding foods on the right side. . . . Cavities are caused by acid. Your mouth can be more acidic if you have reflux or eat acidic foods, or you eat sweet foods that are metabolized by germs into acids. For kids usually it’s the snacks that g...et us in trouble. Germs eat sugar or simple carbs and poop acid on teeth, which melts the teeth slowly until you get a hole, a.k.a. a cavity . . . And please keep the brushing and flossing routines going even if you can’t come to the dentist right now! Sending you all love and hugs Dr. Kristina @ SF Pediatric Dentistry See more

Let’s talk about mouth jewelry! . Has your child lost primary molars prematurely? The primary teeth hold valuable space for the permanent teeth that will come up from below. So if the baby tooth is gone early, kids lose space quickly (especially if the permanent molars haven’t erupted yet or are currently erupting) resulting in crowding of the permanent molars and premolars. Spacers called band and loops can help maintain the space and reduce the length of orthodontic tre...atment in the future. . . . . It’s been a long time since I’ve made my own spacers and it was a fun little activity for a Saturday it’s just like making jewelry! Bending wires, soldering, and polishing, for that final sparkle! -Dr. Kristina See more

Happy Give Kids A Smile day from Sonoma county! Did you know that I work with underserved children every week at a clinic up by Santa Rosa? Public health dentistry fills my gratitude cup. I am grateful for the opportunity to connect with families from all different backgrounds and help kids fight the #1 most common chronic disease of childhood cavities! . . . ... Dr. Kristina See more

Here’s a time lapse video of some lab work because when this is over, my little friend will still benefit from a band and loop space maintainer! I’ll finish and polish it at the office and then run it through the autoclave to sterilize it and kill all the germs. I loved wood burning growing up, and this is fun for me . . I don’t know about you guys but I’m over here planning for a comeback! Hopefully by staying home I can keep my family safe and also yours. ... . . . . #dentist #dentistlife #dentist #socialsolidarity #healthcrisis #weneedeachother #wereallinthistogether #weareinthistogether #wewillgetthroughthis #wecandothis #globalcrisis #globalpandemic #coronapandemic #communityovercorona #sfmom #momboss #bossmom #sffamily #sfkids #sanfranciscofamily #sanfranciscokids #sfmom #sanfranciscomom #bayareakids #bayareafamily #bayareamom #bayareamoms

In case anyone wanted to start their Wednesday with a toothy pun . . . The office will be closed through April 7 but most likely longer, it is a difficult time for all of us. If your child is a patient of record and having an emergency please call 415-613-6123. ... . . As a healthcare provider, my priority is health and safety. We don’t talk about this aspect often but dentists are very well trained to deal with aerosols and infectious droplets. With the nationwide shortages in PPE (masks, gloves, distilled water, hand sanitizer) I am doing my part in conserving resources while trying to keep your kids out of the emergency room for dental reasons. . . . . We will be sending an update soon for our families. In the meantime, feel your feelings, allow yourself to grieve for what once was, ground yourself in the reality of today instead of grieving for the future, and hug those sweet kids! I’m trying to do all those things, too, and it’s really hard! Dr. Kristina See more

Let’s talk about mouth jewelry! . Has your child lost primary molars prematurely? The primary teeth hold valuable space for the permanent teeth that will come up from below. So if the baby tooth is gone early, kids lose space quickly (especially if the permanent molars haven’t erupted yet or are currently erupting) resulting in crowding of the permanent molars and premolars. Spacers called band and loops can help maintain the space and reduce the length of orthodontic tre...atment in the future. . . . . It’s been a long time since I’ve made my own spacers and it was a fun little activity for a Saturday it’s just like making jewelry! Bending wires, soldering, and polishing, for that final sparkle! -Dr. Kristina See more

Happy Give Kids A Smile day from Sonoma county! Did you know that I work with underserved children every week at a clinic up by Santa Rosa? Public health dentistry fills my gratitude cup. I am grateful for the opportunity to connect with families from all different backgrounds and help kids fight the #1 most common chronic disease of childhood cavities! . . . ... Dr. Kristina See more