For the last several years, I have been exploring how to thoughtfully adapt leading-edge technologies, many of which has significantly reshaped adult dentistry, into solutions that are translatable to growing mouths and ever-evolving dentitions. My driving force has been a deep belief that children deserve the same level of innovative and personalized care that we expect for ourselves as adults.

The Pediatric Dental Experience: Why Digital Care Matters for Kids

The dental experience truly lies at the heart of pediatric dentistry. When we care for children, we are actively shaping their perspectives and ultimately influencing their lifelong beliefs about dental care.

Throughout my career in pediatric dentistry, I have continuously reflected on how we can create experiences that feel more comfortable, more compassionate, and more joyfully memorable for children and families. Technology has increasingly become a valuable tool in helping us move toward that goal.

Digital workflows now allow us to visualize more clearly, reduce chair time in many situations, improve communication with families, and create increasingly customized solutions for growing smiles. For children especially, these advancements can transform not only the treatment itself, but also the emotional experience surrounding it.

What Does the Word “Workflow” Mean?

A workflow is a step-by-step, repeatable process designed to create consistent and favorable outcomes. In many ways, it is similar to following a recipe when cooking or baking.

Dentistry itself is highly systematic in nature and depends on carefully organized clinical processes that dental teams train on and follow closely each day to help ensure safety, precision, and quality care.

Digital workflows are the sequence of steps used to create a digitally designed dental solution using a CAD/CAM approach. CAD stands for Computer-Aided Design, while CAM stands for Computer-Aided Manufacturing. Together, these systems allow clinicians to digitally design and then physically manufacture restorations through either milling or 3D printing technologies.

The Digital Lab

Because we manage the CAD/CAM process from A to Z at Smiles, we are able to create highly customized dental solutions in-house within our digital lab.

Our manufacturing process is designed to be clean, organized, and OSHA-driven. Using digital data captured through intraoral scanners means that the entire design process occurs virtually. Fabrication follows a similarly controlled workflow, with restorations being printed, washed, post-processed, and carefully evaluated before anything is ever tried in or delivered clinically to a child or teenager.

What Can Be Printed?

The possibilities within dental 3D printing are vast and continue to expand rapidly. Today, digital workflows can be used to fabricate dental models, retainers, night guards, sports guards, and various forms of crowns and veneers.

At Smiles, I have also been carefully exploring and validating several pediatric innovations of my own, including:

• PrintiSmile — a growth-friendly esthetic smile solution designed for toddlers and young children
• Smile Keeper — an esthetic space maintainer concept
• Smile Forward — a fully customized orthodontic protraction headgear workflow

Each of these concepts has been developed with the same guiding philosophy in mind: creating more comfortable, thoughtful, minimally invasive, and emotionally supportive experiences for growing children and teenagers.

Keeping Dentistry Fun

One of the main reasons we keep our printers visible within our bay area is because they are wonderful conversation starters and give us the opportunity to share what we do at Smiles with children and families. Kids are completely fascinated by the 3D printing process, and we absolutely love explaining it to them!

We also enjoy printing custom toys and prizes for our visitors (special requests can even be placed in advance ). What better way to engage children in modern pediatric dentistry than by allowing them to see innovation come to life right before their eyes?

Schedule your child’s first dental visit today! Contact us here.

Jedi, 2008 and 2026

How Do Pediatric Dentists Care for a Child’s Smile?

In communities like ours in West Los Angeles, parents are deeply engaged in their children’s health and education. They want to understand their options and to be part of the decision-making process. I value this partnership deeply, because the best treatment plans are developed when healthcare providers and families work together with a shared understanding of a child’s needs and goals.

As an educator at the University of Southern California (USC) and a fellow of the American Acadmy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), my conversations with parents and my clinical practices are rooted in what we call evidence-based care, a concept advanced by physician David Sackett. He explained it as the integration of scientific evidence, clinical expertise, and the values of the patient and family. This last pilar that Dr. Sackett described is the most important one because every family has its uniqe structure, needs and desires. These values play a major part in decisions making and treatment planning.

A New Way to Visualize Growing Smiles

At the same time, dentistry continues to evolve. New technologies such as digital scanning, 3D visualization, and digital design are giving clinicians new ways to study developing smiles with remarkable clarity. However, although these technologies are becoming mainstream in general dentistry, they have yet to truly change pediatric dental care.

As a true advocate for child wellbeing, I am passionate about introducing new technologies to our profession in ways that honor kids and make their dental visits smoother and easier. I also believe in the increased educational value that these technologies can offer our families. When parents, and kids, can understand what we are seeing, they can better relate to the findings and make clearer decisions on how they would like to move through any needed care. Communication builds trust and improves the whole family’s overall experience.

How Do Healthcare Practitioners Adopt New Technologies?

The sociologist Everett Rogers described how innovations are adopted by practitioners over time. Not every clinician will jump on board from the start. New ideas begin with early adopters and, as evidence grows, become part of everyday care.

• Innovators – a small group of clinicians who explore new technologies early and carefully
• Early adopters – experienced providers who begin using these approaches thoughtfully in practice
• Early majority – a larger group that adopts the technology as evidence and experience grow
• Late majority – clinicians who adopt once the approach becomes widely accepted and well-established
• Laggards – those who prefer to wait until a method has been used successfully for many years

This gradual process helps ensure that new technologies are studied, refined, and used responsibly before becoming part of routine care. Digital dentistry is currently moving through these stages, as clinicians continue to learn, evaluate, and integrate these tools in ways that best serve their patients.

Whole-Child Health

If I were to describe the philosophy of our practice, Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, the first thing that comes to mind is our ture belief in wellness as a birthright. Our goal as healthcare professionals needs to be focused on the belief of wellness rather than illness. Health researchers describe this perspective as the idea of “Salutogenesis”, a model of care focused on supporting health, resilience, and wellbeing described by medical sociologist, Aaron Antonovsky in the late seventies. The word comes from Latin:

• “salus” = health
• “genesis” = origin

This translates to: “The origin of health” or “How health is created.”

In pediatric dentistry, this means looking beyond the teeth and caring for the whole child, recognizing that oral wellness is and essential part of total body wellbeing. A successful outcome is not just a restored tooth, but a child who feels comfortable in the dental setting and grows into an adult that values their oral health.

Where Innovation Meets Evidence, And Evidence Meets Patient care

Every major advancement in dentistry begins as an innovation. Today, digital dentistry is part of that same continuum. Innovation initiates progress, and evidence follows. Within this evolution, and in alignment with Dr. Sackett’s evidence-based model, we must create space for patient and family values.

Clinical data, no matter how robust, must be interpreted within the context of the individual. Decisions about one’s body ultimately belong to the patient—or to their parents, in the case of children. Over time, research helps refine how and when innovations are best applied, guiding us toward more thoughtful and effective care.

Technology, when used with intention, should support the principles of salutogenesis—promoting comfort, reducing stress, and fostering a sense of wellbeing during the dental experience. Because in the end, it is never just about the technology. It is about the child.

The Goal Has Always Been the Same

Despite all advances, the goal remains the same: gentle, thoughtful care that supports both the health and confidence of every child and teen that we are priviliaged to care for.

Goals for every child and teen visiting Smiles:

– comfort and emotional experience
– long-term oral health
– supported growth and development
– family involvement in care

When innovation, evidence-based care, and whole-child health come together, they create meaningful, lasting outcomes in addition to changing the future dental outlook for an entire population.

Give your child a comfortable, positive dental experience with care designed around their growth, health, and confidence at Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics.

Contact us today to schedule your child’s visit.

In 2008, I set out to remodel a small, free-standing building built in 1946 in West Los Angeles that I was fortunate to lease. I’d come across the ad on the CDA website while I was working overseas and planning my return to California. I followed the lead. The building was an existing dental office that had been leased several times over the years. The bathroom was the size of an airplane lavatory, the windows were tiny, but the space had a beautiful legacy. When I walked through it, I could already see the vision of what was to come.

The project was both expansive and expensive. Fate would have it that a loan was secured just before the financial crash that came that same year. I handled much of the contracting, permitting, and design personally, heading to the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety endless times, big plan rolls in hand. Then, I did what Pico Boulevard hadn’t seen before: I painted the entire building a bright yellow that sang to my heart and caught the eye of an artist-photographer a few years later, who featured it in his exhibition. More importantly, it became a beloved neighborhood landmark.

From Paper to Digital: The Early Steps in a New Kind of Pediatric Dentistry

Design decisions come with every project, but when it comes to creating a dental office, those decisions happen on both macro and micro levels. The Structure on one end, and minute clinical details on the other. Designing a dental space is like designing an elaborate home kitchen. You need to plan where the outlets go, what devices will live there, and how people will move through the space.

Digital dentistry has always been on my mind. In 2008, it presented through the challenge of space. The office size was small, and I had big plans. I knew from the start that I couldn’t afford a dedicated room for files. That turned out to be a gift. I was never a fan of paper charts; they seemed inefficient and unhygienic. When I was an associate, I’d see shelves and shelves of them handled by busy staff, in gloved and ungloved hands alike. It didn’t feel right.

So, I searched for a collaborator who shared the same vision of a digital pediatric dentistry future. I found Alex Furer, founder of a company called MedicTalk. He offered exactly what I was looking for: Digital charts and consent forms. The first time I called, we spoke for nearly two hours. I didn’t need convincing. I was ready for immediate adoption. With that decision, I replaced what would have been a paper chart room with a back office, giving new life to my 1,300-square-foot space and making a life-long friend in Alex.

The Spark That Changed Everything: From Analog To Digital Dental Imaging

Next came imaging. Traditional dental films were still common, but some practices were transitioning to phosphor plate systems. These are thin, flexible films that require scanning. I almost invested in a system until an IT tech, named Frank Schettini, asked me a question that changed everything:

“If you could know the outcome of an image instantly, without keeping your little patient waiting, would you like that?”

My answer was an instant yes. These sensors were designed for adults, but I believed that children deserved the same level of innovation and comfort. With practice, diligence and some tweaking, we figured out how to use them for kids smoothly. I made the same decision for large scale, extra oral imaging, setting up the office with a complete imaging suite.

That shift toward digital imaging reshaped how I practiced pediatric dentistry and added unparalleled dimension to our orthodontic treatment planning. It also set the stage for adopting full digital workflows, replacing all analog oral impressions (you know, the goopy stuff) and messy lab supplies with sleek intraoral scanners, capable of taking digital impressions in minutes and an in-house digital pediatric and orthodontic dental lab. Our environment became faster, cleaner, more comfortable, and more connected to the child’s and parent’s experience.

The Smiles Name

The name of our practice is not elusive. In fact, “Smiles” is a word commonly used in dentistry, but choosing it for me came from a deep desire to see children happy. The beauty of working with kids is enjoying their authenticity. A child’s smile is probably the most honest and true form of elevated emotion humanity can experience. It is also a language that is never misunderstood. It rings clear and warms the soul. That is why I chose this word to represent our service.

A Vision Beyond Themes

Many pediatric dental offices follow familiar motifs like jungles, oceans, or outer space. They’re playful and inviting, but I had a different vision for Smiles. I imagined every infant and toddler who walked through our doors eventually returning as a teenager and young adult. I wanted an environment that would grow with them. One that felt timeless, clean, and welcoming to all.

I also wanted a clean silhouette that would invite parents into a space that felt clear, clean and organized, yet bright and cheerful. During dental visits, parents often ask, “Is this a franchise?” or exclaim, “This place feels like Disneyland!” Those moments affirm what I hoped to create: A dental home that feels magical, safe and comfortable. Built from warmth, honoring precision, and radiating joy.

Designing Shape, Form, Function

I’ve always been a designer at heart. Shaping, refining, and harmonizing form and order. I design in 3D, in art, and in the smiles that I help create. When Smiles was built, I had no budget for an interior designer, so I hired myself for that job. To decorate the walls, I set up a makeshift bench as the construction workers worked, bought a bunch of canvases and acrylic paints from Michaels (on sale), and got to work. It amazes me how many compliments I’ve gotten on these spontaneous art pieces over the years. So, I started to add more of them and gave time to pursuing my artistic adventures, something that has brought me so much fulfillment.

These original paintings still grace our walls. Over the years, kids and parents have often commented on the warmth and joy they bring to our space. They’ve become part of our dental office design story and a reminder that creativity and authenticity can elevate a pediatric dental practice as much as technology can.

Our building is a free-standing space that allows us to open the doors and windows to the light of the sun. Our building is ADA accessible and easy to navigate. During the pandemic, despite the strict guidelines that dental offices needed to follow, I realized that we were already living many of those practices. The day-to-day protocols like allowing fresh air to circulate, to maintaining in-house laundry, to cleaning and wiping of surfaces were already integrated in our everyday practices. Our philosophy of care has always included the health of our space as an expression of love and respect for those we serve.

Color!

Almost every day, I get asked this: “Why did you choose the color yellow?”

The answer is simple: Because I wanted to bring brightness to a field that has long been associated with challenge. Yellow is fun, uplifting, and cheery. It’s a color that radiates optimism and is universally well-received. It reflects the warmth we feel for our families and the joy that flows through our work.

Every item at Smiles is custom made or carefully sourced. Let me tell you, furniture doesn’t typically come in yellow and orange! But I take great pride in finding these items and customizing them or collaborating with artisans who can create them.

People also ask me if everything I own is yellow! I’m often seen walking in the neighborhood in yellow (or orange) scrubs. I laugh because I do gravitate toward bright colors and love to wear yellow! That said, a better description of me would be a rainbow because I also love the rest of the color wheel too.

The Blue Logo and Orange Trim

Our logo is blue. It’s the color of clarity. It stands out beautifully against our yellow building and brings balance to its warmth. I didn’t realize it at the time, but many leading brands have chosen blue for the same reason. Blue communicates trust, calm, and connection. From companies like Oral-B, LinkedIn, and American Express to Samsung and IBM, blue has long represented reliability and intelligence.

As for the orange, there’s a story there. While I was building the office, I made wonderful friendships with my neighbors on both sides. On one side was The Children’s Book World, the most beautiful bookstore, a place of pure awe and adventure, lovingly led by Sharon Hearn for decades. On the other was Dr. Kevin Komatsu, a wonderful general dentist whom I entrust with my own dental care.

One afternoon, during a conversation with friends at the bookstore, someone smiled and said, “You’re a USC Trojan. You’ve got to have orange!” Another light bulb went off. Yes, I do.

Orange became the perfect finishing touch. A color of warmth, creativity, and vitality. It bridges the cheer of yellow with the confidence of blue, embodying both connection and joy. Together, these colors reflect who we are. Bright, clear, and joyfully inspired by community.

LINK to the Children’s book world:
https://childrensbookworld.com

Budget, Planning and Beliefs

There is no doubt that budgets are part of every project, and that cost is something on every practice owner’s mind. Over the years of running a pediatric dentistry business, I’ve come to appreciate that both structure and intuition play vital roles in every decision.

I’ve always had the aspiration of enrolling in an MBA program. Something in me longs for the pragmatism of structured spreadsheets and analytical outcomes. Maybe this will be a chapter yet to come. However, I’ve understood that the way I function is on a more energetic level. I certainly love to organize and plan, but the way I handle financials is guided by belief. Here are some of the ways that I flow through life:

• When we do good, good follows.
• When the heart calls, the call must be answered.
• Some investments just have to be made.
• Honor everything, waste nothing.
• Recycling, upcycling, and recreation are endlessly enriching and fulfilling.
• Appreciation is the breath of life.

Evolving Spaces, Evolving Care

I’ve remodeled Smiles four more times over the last seventeen years. Each time, we’ve refined, added, and adopted better, smoother systems and more advanced technologies. Parents rarely see these transitions. Our “reimagining’s” happen in the evenings, on weekends, and during planned closures. But every change becomes part of the warm, sunlit story that is our yellow building and embodies the beliefs that I live by.

When it’s time to update an item or replace a technology system, the existing one gets donated to a community clinic or someone who can joyfully repurpose it. Larger units like our 3D Conebeam unit (we are on our third to reduce radiation and image gently), get traded in and upgraded. Well cared for instruments get donated to dental students that need them to practice and perfect their skills.

I also take a moment to bless every item and thank it for the service it provided documenting with sentimental photos that my children can’t yet figure out but I know will one day will understand.

From Vision to Virtual Design
Today, my latest remodeling projects live inside a computer. I’m beta testing AI integrations in digital dental imaging and creating digital pediatric and early orthodontic workflows using CAD/CAM technologies. Over the past three years, I’ve focused on adapting adult digital dentistry tools to benefit children and teens, making 3D printing in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics not only possible, but beautiful and practical.

Children deserve precision, comfort, and innovation as much as adults do, and at Smiles, they now receive it. Digital pediatric dentistry and early orthodontics is happening daily in the yellow building.

Always Becoming

The path of our office, and of pediatric dentistry itself, is ever evolving. Being part of that evolution is my calling. One of deep passion for creating comfort, sponsoring health, and stewarding joy. These aspirations may sound idealistic for a field like dentistry, but similar to every remodel I’ve undertaken, they begin with a small spark and a dream to make care gentler and brighter for every child.

Like I tell the kids that come to see me: “Your teeth need to last for the next one hundred years so, you gotta love them!”

Schedule your child’s first dental visit today! Contact us here.