Which ceramic CAD/CAM should I use?

Ceramic CAD/CAM materials have become popular among dentists whose patients are looking for a metal-free or more natural-looking material for indirect restorations, but with so many different options, selecting the best one for the job can be challenging, especially for newer dentists.

Flexural strength is an important trait to consider when selecting a ceramic option, and one of the primary factors in a manufacturers’ clinical recommendations, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. All-ceramic CAD/CAM materials differ in composition, material properties, processing methods and clinical indications, all of which work together when determining a material’s best use. For this reason, it is imperative that dentists understand the different classes of ceramic CAD/CAM materials available to them.

The latest issue of the ADA Professional Product Review helps you navigate through the world of CAD/CAM ceramics by exploring five of the most common indirect restorations, the commonly-used traditional materials, and several ceramic CAD/CAM alternatives.

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1)    Inlays, Onlays, and Veneers:

Most materials meet the minimum strength requirement for inlays, onlays and veneers. However, adhesive cementation and esthetics are crucial factors to consider when choosing the best material for your patient. Lithium disilicate ceramics (LDS) and resin-ceramic composites (RCC) are often chosen for several reasons: LDS provides better mechanical properties and esthetics, while RCC is easy to fabricate and requires less chair time.

2)    Anterior Single Crowns:

For anterior single crowns, LDS restorations provide an excellent combination of esthetics and strength. They provide better mechanical properties than feldspathic or leucite-reinforced porcelains and improved esthetics compared to the traditional porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM).

3)    Posterior Single Crowns:

With its high strength and low cost, full-contour zirconia provides an alternative to conventional full-metal crowns and PFMs. As a single layer restoration, it requires less manufacturing time than PFM, but provides less translucency. LDS is preferred for low retention preparations over zirconia because of its improved bonding, and should also be considered for patients whose wide smiles call for a more natural appearance in the molar region.

4)    Anterior Three-Unit Fixed Dental Prostheses (FDP):

The adequate strength and excellent esthetics of LDS make it a good option for anterior three-unit FDPs, while a bi-layered option – such as porcelain-fused-to-zirconia (PFZ) – can be used in situations where strength is more important than esthetics.

5)    Posterior Three-Unit Fixed Dental Prostheses / Multi-Unit:

Strength is a primary requirement in the posterior region. Full-contour zirconia is a high-strength, single-layer restorative material that can be used instead of more conventional metal or PFM options. The bi-layered PFZ also provides adequate strength and esthetics in such situations.

There are a wide variety of materials available for CAD/CAM restorations, each differing in terms of their microstructure, strength, translucency, and clinical indications. While moving away from more traditional materials can be daunting, the benefits of CAD/CAM materials can pay off, and provide you and your patient with more flexibility.

To download a printable ceramics chart, or to learn more on CAD/CAM ceramics, visit www.ada.org/pprw

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ADA 2017: Women in Dentistry Leadership Series

Atlanta — Three motivational speakers will pilot a new leadership series designed for female dental professionals at ADA 2017 – America’s Dental Meeting.

ADA 2017The “Women in Dentistry Leadership Series” consists of three talks on successive days of the ADA annual meeting. CNN commentator and author Mel Robbins, former president of client representation for sports and entertainment agency CSE Molly Fletcher, and Levo Chief Leadership Officer Tiffany Dufu will each give 90-minute talks. Each will be followed by a book-signing session.

Women in Dentistry“One only has to look around at any of our local, state and national organizations to see the tremendous increase in not only women in the dental field, but women advancing to the top spots in leadership in organized dentistry — our own past two ADA presidents included,” said Dr. David J. Fulton, Jr., chair of the ADA Committee on Annual Meetings. “All three speakers will offer attendees wonderful insight and inspiration in leadership.”

  • Thursday, Oct. 19, 2-3:30 p.m. — Former lawyer and now best-selling author Ms. Robbins will present “It Takes 5 Seconds to Change Your Life,” in which she will demystify neuroscience research and the latest social science research to explain how to identify the mistakes they’re making and create lasting change.
  • Friday, Oct. 20, 8:30-10 a.m. — Once hailed as the “female Jerry Maguire” and having negotiated more than $500 million in sports contracts, Ms. Fletcher will present “Winning in a Male-dominated Field,” in which she will seek to empower people to carve out their own paths and find fulfillment without sacrificing personal or professional goals.
  • Saturday, Oct. 21, 8:30-10 a.m. — Ms. Dufu, a launch team member for Lean In (a nonprofit that offers educational resources and programming that encourages female leadership) and a voice in the women’s leadership movement, will present “Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less.” She will recount how she learned to re-evaluate expectations, shrink her to-do list and meaningfully engage the assistance of others — freeing the space to flourish at work and develop deeper relationships at home.

There are savings for purchasing all three. The cost for the series is $95 per session, or $250 for all three if purchased by Sept. 22. After Sept. 22, the cost increases to $125 per session or $350 for all three. Each session is worth one hour of continuing education credit.

The series is sponsored by Crest + Oral-B.

Complete biographies of the speakers are available at ADA.org/meeting.

Registration for ADA 2017 opens May 10. Learn more about the annual meeting at ADA.org/meeting.

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The Importance of Focusing on Flossing With Kids

mother and daughter smiling burg children's dentistry

Flossing. It’s the bane of all the oral health chores we do day-in and day-out. While it’s often overlooked, we are reminded each and every time we go to the dentist as our dentist asks us, “do you floss regularly?” Maybe you’re great at it and can give an answer with confidence. Or maybe you’re like many of us who feel we can do better. It can be hard to remember, but it only takes an extra two minutes out of the day to complete.

I think you can see the value in your own flossing. Now it’s time to turn our attention to helping our kids floss. You can make it fun, and help them establish a foundation for oral health by forming this very necessary habit.

The Importance of Flossing

Flossing is essential to maintaining healthy gums and teeth. Flossing is perhaps even more important than brushing because it removes bacteria that are the precursors of plaque, which if left to fester will turn into tartar that cannot be removed by regular brushing or flossing. Tartar is what eventually causes the damage that leads to decay and tooth.

Make Flossing Fun

We all know it- flossing isn’t the funnest thing in the world, and it feels weird! But we can make it so kids want to floss. Let’s make it fun! Here are a few ideas:

Brush Like a Superhero!

Turns out, when superheroes aren’t out fighting crime and saving lives, they’re at home brushing and flossing. True story! And we have a way for your kids to imitate brushing like a hero. Follow the instructions at the link for awesome superhero cutouts that you can tape to the bathroom mirror. Your kids will have so much fun brushing and flossing!

The Peanut Butter Rubber Gloves Game!

This is an idea from Kool Smiles! It’s an awesome way to teach your kids the value of flossing while showing them an example of how flossing works with peanut butter and rubber gloves.

What you will need:

  • a rubber glove
  • peanut butter
  • a toothbrush
  • floss
  • a friend (you can be that friend!)

This activity is pretty simple.

First, put a rubber glove on (you).

Second, have your child cover the glove in peanut butter, including in between fingers. Make sure to keep your fingers tightly closed together after.

Third, have your child take the toothbrush and brush the peanut putter off the glove. Continue to keep your fingers tight. Your child will notice that it’s hard to get in between the fingers.

Fourth, suggest that they try using the floss run between the fingers to get the extra peanut butter. As they slide the floss down each finger, just like they would when flossing.

As the peanut butter is removed, share with your child that this is just like flossing, and that flossing removes the “peanut butter” between our teeth and keeps our gums and teeth healthy!

We hope you use these activities to help your kids learn why flossing is important! Take the time to teach your kids the value of flossing so they can build this habit for the future.

Click here to schedule an appointment with Burg Children’s Dentistry.

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April is also Oral Cancer Awareness Month

oral cancer awareness month

We’ve been celebrating Oral Health Month but there’s an illness we think it’s important to focus on this April – Oral Cancer.

So what signs and symptoms should you be on the lookout for?

If you notice patches on your lips or on the inside of your mouth, if you have a sore on your lips or mouth that doesn’t heal, if you have loose teeth, difficulty swallowing (or pain when swallowing), a lump in your neck, or experience numbness in your lower lip and chin, it’s time to schedule an immediate visit with a health care professional. Two other potential symptoms to be aware of are difficulty wearing your dentures and/or a persistent earache.

Oral cancer can originate anywhere in your mouth and throat and most oral cancers start with flat cells (that form the aforementioned patches) that cover the surface of your mouth, lips, and tongue.

People who use tobacco, consume alcohol heavily and have been infected with HPV, or have a personal history of oral cancer have a higher risk of developing oral cancer. Other risk factors include sun exposure, diet, and betel nut use.

Just like with all cancers, the key to survival is catching it as soon as possible. This is why it’s vitally important to visit both your dentist and your doctor on a regular basis and to stay on top of your check ups.

If you want to learn more, visit the Oral Cancer Foundation’s Website here: http://ift.tt/2opasX5

 

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Negotiating on your own terms: What new grads need to know about contracts – Part 1

Editor’s note: This blog post, republished with permission, originally appeared in IgniteDDS on Jan. 25, 2017.

There it is.

A block of legal jargon, intimidation at its finest, sitting there adorning your desk, looking you smack dab in the eye.

Hello 27 pages of traps and worry and signing over my life. Nice to meet you.

Dr. Singh

Dr. Singh

That is what signing my first dental contract felt like. I sat there thinking “I can prep a Class II like a boss. I even mastered the misery of the art of dentures. But no one told me that I needed an MBA and then a law degree to finally be a dentist! We never learned this!”

And then along came hours of research and asking mentors and some painstaking work and I finally had an idea of what I was getting into… just enough to get into trouble… deep, deep trouble. I was scared. I did not know what to do. And then I found Chuck.

There he was, Chuck Mastin of Mastin Bergstrom LLC, standing in front of a study club for the Colorado Dental Association’s New Dentist Committee, giving away information on contracts. Breaks were punctuated with whispers all around the room about how fantastic he was. Every single NDC board member was giving him a gold star review to anyone that would listen. To this date I cannot mention Chuck’s name in any dental setting without getting an enthusiastic “Chuck Mastin is the BEST!” in return. I heartily concur.

THANK GOODNESS FOR CHUCK. At a time when I was concerned about signing on the wrong dotted line, Chuck swooped in and helped me navigate a dental contract, helped me understand the implications of what I was signing, helped me gauge what was fair, and helped me negotiate that which was not.

So today I am going to talk about the key components of dental contracts and give you some advice. And my first piece of advice: LET THE PROFESSIONALS DO THEIR JOB. Find a professional, sit down with them, and let them help you. You have to have a foundation (this is where this blog comes in) but then, you need someone who does this for a living to help you navigate the details. This will be worth every single penny! Check out the ADA resource, Dentist Employment Agreements: A Guide to Key Legal Provisions, here.

Dental contracts and their pieces and parts:

1. Money, money, money

Typically an associate will be getting paid one of three ways: A flat hourly or daily amount (this can also be presented as a monthly salary); a percent of some variation of production; or a daily guarantee (with the ability to product more).

Flat Compensation

Flat rates are usually the easiest to navigate. This is familiar territory. You have most likely done this before. The things to be concerned with here include:

  • Ensuring that they will not be overworking you (typically places which pay you in this manner have a volume based practice and they are doing this because they know it will be worth it for them) and
  • Are there any protections for you if there are not enough patients? (Do you get sent home for the day with a mandatory unpaid day off?)

Daily Guarantee

Daily or monthly guarantees are a little more complex. Typically a daily guarantee drops to $0 after 3-6 months. This arrangement is intended for you to take the first 3-6 months in a practice, build rapport, learn the ropes and ramp your production up. Some things to consider:

  • Is the daily guarantee a true guarantee or a “draw?” – If it is a true guarantee, you will be paid this money and it is yours to keep. If it is a “draw,” you will be expected to pay back the guaranteed money (or it will be cut from a second paycheck) if you do not produce enough to “earn” it. Big difference.
  • If you are “lucky” enough to find a position where the daily guarantee never goes to $0, buyer beware! – My first job out of school I worked for a company where my daily guarantee dropped by about $2000 after the first 6 months but never went away completely. I was elated! A protective safety net for life?! This was music to my Type A, risk aversion ears. Well, it turns out that due to very low reimbursement rate insurance contracts (HMOs, capitation, etc), it was almost impossible for me to produce enough to earn more than my guarantee. I was then stuck in a very low paying job, working very hard and not earning a representative amount. If you find yourself in a similar situation, just know, there is usually a reason. Find out why.
  • If you do not have a daily guarantee, you may be able to negotiate one in. A guarantee is a protection for you. It helps to ensure that the owning entity will fill your schedule and give you an opportunity to produce. It can also provide some financial stability while you get acclimated to your surroundings.

Percent of Production

Percentage of production is, by far, the most common method of getting paid and goes hand in hand with daily guarantees. Every time you have a daily guarantee, you will also have an opportunity to exceed it by producing more. Some considerations here:

  • A percentage of what? Okay, I lied. “Already, Amisha?” you ask. Yes, I already lied to you. Percentage of productions really doesn’t exist. Some definitions for you to understand before we delve deeper to explain this:
  • Productions = Gross Productions: What a dentist produces as based on their UCR (usual, customary, and reasonable fees). The sum value of all dentistry done. The sticker price, if you will. What I did not know as a new graduate: NO ONE pays UCR. If a patient has insurance, even if their insurance pays nothing, they get an automatic discount for having insurance (Confusing? I have a future blog coming up on insurances… Subscribe so you do not miss it). From UCR, we must deduct money which our contracts with insurances discount. From then, we must write off the people who do not pay and therefore go to collections.
  • Net production: Gross production minus adjustments and insurance writeoffs. A percent of adjusted net productions is what you will most likely get paid off of.
  • What percent? 30 percent of adjusted net productions is a pretty standard average. I have seen as low as 25 percent and as high as 35 percent around the nation. These numbers are all realistic expectations.

Dr. Amisha Singh is a Denver native and loves living in beautiful Colorado. While in dental school, she was the founder of the first diversity oriented, nationally based organization in the school and she currently is a member of the ADA, CDA, and MSCD and serves on the CDA New Dentist Committee as Social Chair. She is also a blogger, writer and speaker who works with IgniteDDS and Ignite DA to inspire other dental professionals and provide them resources to be the best clinicians possible. She is the AVID Healthcare Liaison for Denver Public Schools and teaches a success series integrated into the curriculum of underprivileged middle school youth to aspire them to careers in healthcare. She is also a founder/ board member for Colorado’s first South Asian Chamber of Commerce. Her passion is encouraging entrepreneurial spirit, inspiring others and she wants to dedicate her life to helping make dentists be better, healthier, more empowered people.  When not practicing dentistry she loves to get lost in a good book, cook, and do all things creative.

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Part 3: What Defines a Successful Practice?

This is the third blog post in this series. (If you missed the first two, go back and read them; I will see you in a couple of minutes.) 
OK, we have been talking about success. In the first blog post in this series, I talked about my opinion of what success means: being happy in your job. I don’t equate success with money. Although, I think if you love your job and are happy, you are going to http://ift.tt/2pcLRnm

Finding Your Family’s Pediatric Dentist in Charlotte

Relocating to a new area means a lot of changes for you and your children – establishing new schools, doctors, extracurricular activities, dentists – the list goes on.

Many questions will arise. How do I choose a reliable dental home for my children? Will they connect with the new pediatric dentist? How do you know if they are actually good with kids? How soon will you know if you’ve made the right (or wrong) decision? These are all valid concerns and you should absolutely be choosy about who cares for your children.

woman reviewing paperwork while on phone

While we aren’t able to say exactly when you will be able to make a general assessment of your doctors and dentists, we can say that you can make your decision with more confidence with some help and guidance from local resources. Let us help you make the selection process simpler with some suggestions.

Turn to social media

When you haven’t had a chance to do more than introduce yourself to your new neighbors, turn to online reviews to help guide you. If a pediatric dentist has a positive online presence, chances are they have built a lot of trust within their community! Pediatric dentist reviews can be found on Google, Facebook, Yelp, Healthgrades, and even their own individual websites. You can even make a post on your own page asking for suggestions and have your friends tag their pediatric dentist so you can easily access their page.

woman on phone

Don’t be afraid to ask other parents

As you get to know your children’s new school, get to know the parents, too. Chances are you will be pleasantly surprised at the feedback you receive from other parents. Give yourself the opportunity to ask for suggestions of all kinds – grocery stores, family doctors, pediatric dentists, kids’ sports teams, parks, arts programs for kids, etc. At some point all parents were in your shoes and probably reached out for suggestions, so don’t be afraid to ask!

woman smiling

Look for the human aspect

When choosing a pediatric dentist you typically expect them to be skilled with children and have a high level of education. Those are obviously important qualities. We encourage you to look beyond the degrees and outside influences and look for information about them as an individual. Kids like to be able to relate to their clinicians. Do they have values that align with yours? How do they talk about their experiences with kids? What do they do in their own lives? Are they personable?

Frienfly dentist with patient

Browse Dentist Websites

Browsing the websites of your prospective choices is a great way to analyze who you believe to be the best fit for your family. Look for active and helpful blog articles, answers to important questions, information/photos pertaining to staff and office locations, testimonials, and anything else you deem to be valuable information.

These guidelines are meant to help you in the process of evaluating and establishing a dental home for your child. There may be other factors that are unique to the needs of your family. If you have any questions that we have not addressed in the blog, feel free to contact us for help.

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5 Dental Spring Cleaning Tips For Your Child’s Smile

Spring is officially here! The grass is greener, flowers are emerging, and the days are sunnier and longer. Traditionally, people love to spring clean their homes. Opening the windows and ridding your house of dust after a long winter is one of the best feelings!

Your child’s dental health needs a refresh in the springtime, just like your home, car, and closet. Though we emphasize establishing good dental health habits year-round, there are some things that are best to revisit after cold and flu season has passed. Here are five helpful tips to revive and refresh your little one’s smile this season:

Change Toothbrushes

If you bought a really neat toothbrush for your kids during Christmas, we applaud you! Now it’s time for a new one, even if it’s just a newer version of what your child was using. Some kids’ motivation to brush comes from their super-cool toothbrush. If that’s the case for your child, just toss the old one and replace it with the exact same one (if available). If you are using an electric toothbrush, 3-4 months is the recommended replacement time for the replaceable heads. Have they been sick? Cold or flu? If you forgot to replace you or your child’s toothbrush right after being ill, now is the time to throw it away and start fresh. The longer you wait, the longer the germs linger and provide a chance to re-infect your child.

Clean mouth guards

Spring sports are in full swing again, which means it’s time to pull the mouth guards out of the bathroom drawer where they lived all winter. Spring cleaning is a great time to soak your cases and give them a good scrub to clear debris and bacteria. The American Dental Association suggests cleaning a mouth guard by brushing it with a toothbrush and toothpaste regularly to remove any built up debris, then rinsing it thoroughly with warm, soapy water.

Ditch the sports drinks

When it comes to hydration during spring sports, water is best. Sports drinks have an excessive amount of sugar that contributes to many cases of tooth decay in kids. Like with any sugary food or drink, sports drinks are fine in moderation. Consider adding water to a sports drink and only giving sporadically.

Reinforce the importance of flossing

If you don’t already have a daily flossing schedule for your child, now is a great time to add it to the routine. “Sugar bugs” hide in between the teeth as well as the surface, which can cause cavities in between the teeth. Flossing is also stimulating for the gums and helps keep them healthy by ridding teeth of buildup where your toothbrush cannot reach.

Last but not least, make a spring dental appointment

Ensure your child is on a regular cleaning schedule! The single most important factor to consider in your spring cleaning routine is to schedule your next dental appointment, which is why we saved it for last! Regular visits are the key to early detection of any issues, as well as maintaining your child’s oral health. New to the area or need to establish a pediatric dentist for your child? We are here to help! Contact us today at (704) 377-3687 to get your child’s smile sparkling clean for spring.

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Meet Dr. Kim Blanding

Credentials, experience, and associations are extremely important aspects to look for in a pediatric dentist. What makes one stand out from the other? WHO they are. Our Doctor Spotlight series allows our tiny patients and parents to get a glimpse into the doctor’s lives. In this article we are featuring Dr. Kim Blanding. Come get to know us!

Dr. Blanding graduated from the University of Detroit in Michigan with a BA in Chemistry before going on to earn a dental degree from Northwestern University in Chicago. She received her Certificate of Pediatric Dentistry from New York’s Columbia University School of Dental Surgery. She knew she wanted to be a pioneering woman in the field of pediatric dentistry and continues to help children receive great dental care through organizations like Give Kids a Smile and NC Missions of Mercy.

Meet Dr. Kim Blanding of Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry

Why did you decide to focus on pediatric dentistry rather than general dentistry?
I had a great example from my dental school professor about how cool it could be to treat children. It all started with an outreach program on Saturday mornings in Chicago!
Meet Dr. Kim Blanding of Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry
Do you have kids?
My family includes Kai, Malia, Ryan, and Noah – 2 girls and 2 boys all ranging from ages 23 through 14.

Meet Dr. Kim Blanding of Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry
What are some of your “tricks” to help ease kids’ fears about their dental visits?
Talk about something they LOVE!
Meet Dr. Kim Blanding of Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry
What’s the best part of your day?
Heading to my bed at the end of the day and sleeping.

What’s your favorite kids’ show?
Scooby Doo!
Meet Dr. Kim Blanding of Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry
What’s your favorite color?
Orange!

Do you have a sweet tooth? If so, what’s your favorite sweet?
I tend to stay away from sweets as much as possible, but I do like Key Lime pie and dark chocolate covered almonds.

Have you always wanted to be a dentist? If not, what did you want to be as a kid?
I knew I wanted to be a dentist as soon as I looked in a career book and noticed only 2% of women were in the field of dentistry at that time. I could have a family and still work, too!
Meet Dr. Kim Blanding of Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry
Do you have a role model or a mentor? Why do you look up to them?
I don’t have a mentor or role model, however, the values and the demonstration of unconditional love and respect for one another that my parents share give me the motivation to be like them. They are going on 54 years of marriage.

What is your favorite sports team?
I don’t have a favorite sports team, but I do cheer for the local teams!

Finish this sentence: When I was a kid…
My twin brother and I would wake up, pack our lunches, and go exploring in the woods together!

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Meet Dr. Cecilia Hwang

Credentials, experience, and associations are extremely important aspects to look for in a pediatric dentist. What makes one stand out from the other? WHO they are. Our Doctor Spotlight series allows our tiny patients and parents to get a glimpse into the doctor’s lives. This month meet Dr. Cecilia Hwang. Come get to know us!

Dr. Cecilia Hwang attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) receiving her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree with distinction. As a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, she is also a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and many others. Her own fears of the dentist as a child lead her to choose a career in pediatric dentistry.

Meet Dr. Cecilia Hwang

Why did you decide to focus on pediatric dentistry rather than general dentistry?

I always knew I wanted to focus on one area of dentistry. In dental school, I found pediatric dentistry to be the most fun and rewarding. Dentistry can be such a serious profession, but I could be my silly self in pediatric dentistry. After choosing to do all my extramural rotations in pediatrics, including a month at the National Children’s Hospital in D.C., I knew I had chosen the right career path. There is never a dull moment when you are working with children.

Dr Cecilia Hwang and team

Do you have kids?

My husband and I have two wonderful boys, Evan (age 7) and Owen (age 4). Evan is into all things science and robotics. He is my problem and puzzle solver. Evan can solve the Rubik’s cube in under one minute! Owen is my sweet one. He is full of hugs and kisses for me every day. He is also my fun-loving crazy child.

Dr Cecilia Hwang family

What are some of your “tricks” to help ease kids’ fears about their dental visits?

Distraction! Children love stories, especially when they are made up with crazy details. Just today, I gave a little girl a Shopkins tooth (a filling) that “glows in the dark” because hers had “sugar bugs” on them. In pediatric dentistry, it’s all about explaining things in terms that kids can relate to, even if they make no sense to grown ups.

Dr Cecilia Hwang quote

What’s the best part of your day?

The best part of my day is also the craziest part of my day. It is that hour between getting home and eating dinner when I am cooking dinner/helping with homework/packing lunches for the next day all while looking for the missing Lego pieces. I love making special lunches for the boys that are both nutritious and cute. It’s a time where I can unleash my creative and artsy side.

Dr Cecilia Hwang at Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry

What’s your favorite kids’ show?

There are too many to list. I prefer the ones that teach children something rather than nonsense and silliness. Special Agent Oso, Super Why and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood are regulars at our house. Can you tell I have a preschooler? My nerdy side loves The Magic School Bus and Popular Mechanics for Kids.

What’s your favorite color?

Lilac – which also happens to be the color of dentistry.

Do you have a sweet tooth? If so, what’s your favorite sweet?

I am not much of a sweets lover. For special occasions, I love a good cake. Our family also enjoys homemade smoothies and bubble teas.

Dr Cecilia Hwang and family

Have you always wanted to be a dentist? If not, what did you want to be as a kid?

Yes. When I was very little I wanted to be a teacher, but I’ve wanted a career in dentistry since I was 13 or so.

Do you have a role model or a mentor? Why do you look up to them?

“Women are weak but mothers are strong.” – Julie Otsuka
My mother is my role model in so many ways. I look up to my mother for her dependable work ethic, patience and unconditional love for her children. There have been many hardships in her life, but she always comes out stronger because she is a mother. I would be lost in life without her.

Dr Cecilia Hwang spotlight

What is your favorite sports team?

I always root for the home teams – the Tar Heels, Panthers and Hornets. Other than that, I don’t really watch sports.

Finish this sentence: When I was a kid______.

When I was a kid, I cried myself to sleep at my first sleep away camp. It was a school trip, and someone took a photo of me. Unfortunately, the photo made it to the yearbook. It still comes up as one of the main conversation topics at family dinners. I would love to share the photo, but the yearbook has been “misplaced.”

Dr Cecilia Hwang of Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry

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