Thank you for taking the time to read this. Ive wanted to be a dentist ever since I was a sophomore in high school and this profession has evolved into one of the greatest blessings of my life. Pediatric dentistry has given me the opportunity to meet so many wonderful, talented, and kind-hearted children. Ive enjoyed seeing them grow up into resilient teenagers and for some, now see their children; it has made my job so rewarding.
My goal as a pediatric dentist is to give kids a chance to have a healthy smile and to get them to a general dentist in great oral health. Its also very important for me to teach children and teenagers to cope with the anxiety that dentistry brings upon us. Teeth play such an important role in our lives, but it takes a lot of work to achieve a great smile.
I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, and I graduated from Punahou High School. I kept myself busy by playing 3 sports- football, basketball, and track. In search of a small college atmosphere where I could still play football and concentrate on academics, I ended up at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon and received my Bachelors of Science degree in biology. I was extremely fortunate to achieve 1st team All-State honors in football as a defensive back at Punahou, as well as All-American and Academic All-American honors as a cornerback at Lewis and Clark College. I will always be thankful for the experiences that I have received through athletics as the qualities and lessons learned have helped me become a better dentist and employer.
Following college, I was accepted into the University of Missouri Kansas City Dental School where I discovered that working with children was my passion, and this led me to specialize in pediatric dentistry. I completed my 2 year pediatric dental residency program at Louisiana State University in New Orleans which quickly became one of my favorite places! The culture, jazz, and food (especially the crawfish) were beyond amazing! I returned to Honolulu where I spent the first 3 years of my career as an associate and in 2005, I opened Aiea Pediatric Dental Center. I was determined to give the children of Hawaii the best dental care possible.
There are so many influential people that I will always be grateful for. I couldnt feel more blessed to have such a wonderful wife who I consider my soulmate. She is so understanding of the time requirements and demands of my profession. We continue to learn from each other and grow together as a couple and as parents everyday. We have two amazing children, who we consider our pride and joy. I never knew how much love my heart could hold until becoming a dad. Being a parent has definitely helped me to become a better pediatric dentist. My siblings have also been a big part of my life and have taught me many lifelong lessons. We really dont realize how much our parents love us until we have children of our own, so I cant end this without acknowledging how thankful I am to have been brought up by a wonderful mother and father. They have given me so much love, guidance and support throughout the years and have been role models of faith and prayer, working hard, kindness, generosity, integrity, and always putting forth your best.
It is such a privilege to be serving you in a field I have grown to love so much. I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii but have been away for quite some time for school. I spent a total of 8 years in Omaha, Nebraska, 4 years in undergrad at Creighton and last 4 at the Creighton School of Dentistry. Being away for so long, has made me realize that there really is no place like home! I am ecstatic to be here.
I understand the importance of oral health and how it can affect someones self confidence and way of lifemy promise to you is to do everything in my power to make you feel like family while being treated for your dental needs.
My family, especially my parents have been such a blessingI could not be where I am today without them. I also have a mini Australian shepherd named Benji who is the life of any party! I enjoy being outside with him, spending time with friends and family, and going to the beach.
We have an extremely hard working front staff that has an extremely difficult job of handling the high volume of patients we see on a daily basis. However, they are always professional and willing to accommodate you the best that they can. Our front staff employees take a lot of pride in what they do and that is what makes this group special.
A good pediatric dental hygienist is hard to find because it requires patience and having a particular personality/calming voice to make children feel comfortable. Our dental hygienists will spend more time with the patients than the dentist. They are the educators of our practice, andI am confident that we have one of the best pediatric dental hygienist teams in Hawaii.
My dental assistants are a very important part of our practice. When working on children, a great assistant has the ability to calm a child down as well as being able to hold their composure in stressful situations. Our dental assistants all have a very calming demeanor which helps in reducing the anxiety of your children during dental procedures. An assistant plays a big role in the quality of dentistry I can perform. In a practice that provides as many services as we do, our assistants are very talented and extremely hard working.
My treatment philosophy on pediatric dentistry is simple, perform the least amount of dental work on baby teeth as possible. Not all decay on baby teeth should or needs to be filled, it is a win if a baby tooth falls out with decay. Every dentist has a different opinion on how or when to treat cavities, you can feel comfortable knowing that everything I recommend for my patients is what I would do for my own children.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a child should go to the dentist within six months of getting their first tooth or no later than their first birthday. Especially for first time parents, there is a very important step to follow.
Choosing the right pediatric dentist for your children can be very overwhelming. The best advice I could give you in finding a good dentist is through word of mouth, rather than social media. There are many paid advertisements on the internet and magazines by dental offices. There are unfortunately competitors who ask people to put inappropriate and made up reviews on social media sites as well, all of which we have no control of even if they were never our patients. After your first meeting with your pediatric dentist, make sure you are comfortable with both doctor and staff members. Dont feel hesitant to ask questions. Your child is your most prized possession so no question is too trivial. If you dont feel the office is a good fit for your child, try another office! You always need to have a good feeling about your childs health care provider.
My hope is that this information gives you a little insight about our practice philosophies and provides you with some knowledge about pediatric dentistry. Thank you very much for taking the time to read this, and I wish you the best of luck in finding a pediatric dentist that you feel comfortable with and trust.
Reviews
Rating 4.8 out of 5 based on 90 reviews
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newest oldest highest lowestHawaii Threading
2 years ago
Aiea pediatric dental center is the best dentist for children. Dr. Tom is awesome. Super clean office and spacious rooms.
Leslie Rosa
2 years ago
Dr. Tom and Team is AMAZING! From scheduling an appointment, to office visits and explanations of options for our child's needs was a very smooth process. They make you feel comfortable and safe with the protocols they follow. My child who is very nervous was well comforted. Dr. Tom preformed a frenotomy. The explanations they provide and how certain procedures help solve other existing problems are just amazing.
jackie d
2 years ago
Love this dentist! I've been coming here for a few years now. I chose them because they are specifically a Pediatric dentist. They are magnificent with children! They've also won Best in Honolulu a few times. I've moved all the way Kahaluu but still make the trip for these guys! They are great
Nakeisha Brown
2 years ago
Hands down the best dental center for us, by far! Every experience we've had with this center has been very positive. Staff are kind, generous with information and overall great with kids. I highly recommend them to friends and family! Thank you for such a positive and great experience with our little one!
Amy Laronal
2 years ago
Awesome service and friendly staff. All my kids are serviced by Dr. Derek Tom :)
Zoe Zaina
2 years ago
You guys are out of your mind for thinking you can take a minor in your office without a guardian present and offer anesthesia to our children during procedures. That's a huge red flag. You are also out of your mind to requiring vaccinations to enter your office. Huge red flag to require such a thing from parents who aren't even your patient. After how we were all treated last year at your office, I will never even consider a follow up appointment with your office. This place is a scam. Do not take your kids here!
Monique Akina-Morgan
2 years ago
Such a great place to go if you have children and parents who are afraid to go to the dentist. The energy and vibe is so positive and humbling. They are very welcoming from when they meet you outside until you exit that front door. The doctor took his time to explain his concerns, and procedures needed. They were very gentle with my 3 year old and keep him involved the whole time. Admire the fact that they chose not to put kids to sleep. Also such a big bonus to make it feel like your under the sea with all the fishes and animals on the walls.
Roseline Pregana
2 years ago
My Daughter first time doing her cap filling the doctor did a great job. My children went to this pediatric since there was baby. Thank you
Heather Estoesta
2 years ago
They are so awesome with all my kids. Very fast and professional. They took awesome care of my son and made sure he felt safe!!!
Crystal G
2 years ago
Dr Tom and his team has the best service and I would highly recommend him to anyone with kids! Clean office and wonderful staff!
Caroline Garcia
2 years ago
Very organized keeping patients safe from checking in to checking out. Dr. Tom is great with advise to children so they can understand. Office staff and dental assistants are awesome, very friendly and family oriented.
Erin Gayer
2 years ago
I am very thankful to have found Dr. Tom as he walked us through how the frenectomy procedure would look like. He was honest and very easy to talk to. The procedure was quick and he had us come in the very next day to show us the stretches and then told us that he wanted us to call or text him if we had any issues, even though the following day was Thanksgiving! He responded to my questions ON THANKSGIVING! I've never experienced such genuine concern from any dentist before. He gets 5 stars for his expertise in frenectomies and 5 stars for his attentive and caring follow ups! Also, staff was personable, kind, and very professional. They are also thorough with their COVID screening and made sure their office was not crowded.
Marissa Rogers
2 years ago
We saw Dr.Tom for my newborns frenectomy at 8 weeks old. We initially went in for a consult to figure out what we needed to do for his tongue/lip tie. He was so informative and very thorough. He gives you options and doesn't make you feel pressured into deciding on the spot. It can be a very scary and big decision to get a frenectomy done. After being educated on the short and long term benefits of the procedure, I immediately decided that I wanted to go for it for the sake of my baby. Procedure day-- they talked me through what was going to happen, took baby in the room for about 5 minutes, and brought him back so quickly. My baby wasn't crying or uncomfortable at all which really put my mind at ease that he was well taken care of. We had a checkup the next day following the procedure to make sure everything was going well and he ensured that I made the right decision and that he is on the right track for success! His staff is extremely friendly and very warm. You feel like they're family and don't feel like you're in a "doctors office". Every single staff member I have come in contact with that helped us (about 4-5 of them) have been so helpful and very genuine. 10/10 recommend this office. He is highly skilled and my sons frenectomy results were instant!
Mrs.V
2 years ago
Thank you Dr. Tom and his staff for taking good care of my child. We were both apprehensive when she needed to do restorative work but everyone made it comfortable and painless!
Brian Y
2 years ago
My sons been going to dr toms since he was 1 years old. I remember him being so sad at his first visit but every 6 months it would get better and better each time, when he reached the age of 4 he knew everyone and would just end up going in to get his cleaned done by himself. The staff were always welcoming. My child is always taken in on time and is not afraid to go to the dentist. Thank you so much dr tom and staff!
CJ Borden
2 years ago
Aiea Pediatric Dental Center is great! It's very family oriented and all the staff treat you like family as well!
Shana Ong
2 years ago
First off I would like to say hands down to Dr. Tom and his staff. My son has been going to the office from possibly 2009. Dr. Tom is someone who explains things thoroughly and is so passionate about what he does. Staff members are helpful in knowing what I need to know. I also love that it's a one stop shop for ortho and getting his teeth cleaned, it saves time off from work and so many appt. From back staff to front staff I feel like they are family to us. Shout out to Aunty Kelsey!! Thank you!
Melissa Diaz
2 years ago
Dr. Toms office feels like home, Dr. Tom & his staff make you feel like family! My children have no fear coming to the dentist anymore & as a parent that is a big sign or relief. We were referred by family and met Kelsey, one of the dental assistants...Kelsey is super sweet and so are the entire staff! Dr. Tom if very informative and thorough. Love how the whole staff make you feel comfortable!
Tiffanie Spencer-Yuen
2 years ago
Dr.Tom is great! His staff is the best as well! They are always welcoming.
Sherri Macugay
2 years ago
Dr Tom and his staff are amazing! I brought my daughter here to have a frenectomy done at just 7 weeks old. Dr Tom was very informative and thorough and took his time explaining what to expect before, during, and after the procedure. I've been bringing my children here ever since. They're now 3 years old and 4 years old and not afraid to come for their check ups. Kristen does an amazing job at keeping them calm when cleaning their teeth. Kelsey made them feel comfortable when taking their x-rays and lastly, Dr Tom and Stacie has made them feel at ease when needing to get fillings done! If you're looking for a pediatric dental office to make you feel at home, look no further!
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