Most insurances usually
cover a check-up
up to 2 times a year
Contact us for further information

Honolulu Dental Clinic

Japanese 808-947-6608
English 808-943-9338

Mon - Wed・Friday

8:30am - 5:30pm

Sat

8:30am - 3:30pm

Thu·Sun·Holidays

closed

Ala Moana Building
1441 Kapiolani Blvd #722
Honolulu HI 96814

Next to Ala Moana Center,
Ala Moana Building#722

ala Moana Building
Map

Preventive Dentistry

Nothing is more important than
your own natural healthy teeth

Going to the dentist after one starts to feel pain is actually too late. Believe it or not, the best time to see a dentist is when there is no pain. The purpose of preventive dentistry is to get rid of the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease, and to promote a healthy environment in the mouth. Proper oral maintenance and getting regular annual check-ups is the key to having longer lasting teeth and gums. The healthier teeth one has the better quality of life one will experience. However, even if all your teeth have been lost, it is still important to get regular check-ups to make sure the surrounding gums, bones, and denture itself are in good proper condition.

Why is it necessary?

  1. Cavities are treated best when found early

    If you wait until it begins to hurt, the treatment may be more painful, costly, and time consuming.

  2. The Silent Killer" periodontitis may result

    It is difficult to detect early signs of periodontitis, and before you know it. your teeth becomes loose and treatment will be too late.

Professional Care+Home Care=

Healthy Teeth
and
Gums

Although one may be brushing regularly, there is always a good chance that he/she may be regularly missing a few spots in their mouth. Therefore, leave it up to the hygienist and dentist to find these areas, and to clean and/or treat them as needed. Here are some basic procedures that our clinic provides;

Dental Cleaning

Removal of tartar and plaque that can cause tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath will be removed. Stains caused from smoking, wine, tea, etc. will also be removed, leaving a nice “white” fresh look.

Fluoride Application

The State of Hawaii does NOT have fluoride in their public water system. Fluoride application on the teeth surface greatly reduces the chance of tooth decay, and it is recommended to the patient to have this done after the cleaning.

Radiographs

Using the latest digital radiograph technology, the dentist is able to detect any abnormal findings in the coronal part of the tooth, the root, or filling that can not be seen with the naked eye. The jaw and mouth area in general can be evaluated with a panoramic radiograph to detect any abnormalities of the bone, teeth alignment, and/or wisdom teeth. The amount of radiation emitted is also very minimal compared to the conventional analogue style.

Periodontal Pocket Measurements

When it comes to causes for losing a tooth, perhaps more than cavities is the onset of periodontitis. This occurs when plaque begins to accumulate between the area of the tooth and gum, causing the bone level of the surrounding tooth to decrease in height and creating deep periodontal pockets. Often times there is no pain involved. So, by the time one realizes something is wrong, the tooth begins to get loose and it is too late for treatment. This can occur among the young people as well. Our office will carefully look at the condition of the gum and bone at the check-ups every 6 months.

Brushing Instructions

Everyone has a different set of teeth. So, our goal is to educate the patient in regards to how to maintain proper oral hygiene step by step. We also give advice as to which toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash is best for the individual patient.

How the individual takes care of their teeth outside the dental office is very important, for this relates to over 360 days out of the year. Healthy teeth and gums will rely directly on proper oral hygiene procedures. The basic rule of thumb is the “3-3-3 Rule.” This means to brush within 3 minutes after eating, for 3 minutes, and 3 times a day. The oral hygiene procedures we promote are the following 4 steps each time you brush;

The Basic Home Care
3-3-3 Rule

To brush within 3 minutes
after each meal,
for 3 minutes,
3 times a day. 　

  • 1. Tongue Brushing

    The dirtiest area in the mouth is not the teeth, but the tongue. This is where most of the bacteria are located. Therefore, it is important to clean this place first. This will reduce much of the bad breath.

  • 2. Flossing

    Many individuals tend to floss after brushing their teeth, but it is recommended to floss BEFORE brushing. It is also important to slowly slide the floss in so as not to cut the ligaments surrounding the tooth.

  • 3. Teeth Brushing

    The proper way to manually brush the outside and inside of the teeth is to move the toothbrush vertically away from the gum, and NOT horizontally. It is important to go gentle with an electric toothbrush.

  • 4. Mouthwash

    To kill the bacteria that causes tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath, it is imperative to use a mouthwash. Those individuals that do not like the “burning” sensation should use a non-alcohol type of mouthwash.

It is critically important to be able to fully remove all the debris from the teeth.