These youngsters are visiting the office of Dr. Maile Kim who specializes in pediatric dentistry. Unlike these young people, sometimes, her patients might require mild sedation.
"Part of the general anesthesia is actually - it occurs in the hospital in the operating room and the patients that we're taking are usually very young patients or patients with special health problems," Kim said.
A dentist doesn't just wake up one morning and say "I want to work with children."
"So after four years of dental school, you do a pediatric dental residency which is a two year program. I completed my two year program in New York also at New York University," Kim said.
Many parents wonder when is the optimal time for a child's first visit to the dentist.
"Pediatric dentists like to advocate that the child see the the dentist six months after the first tooth has erupted, so usually we'd say that's about one year and we'd like them to come early because we want them to establish a dental home," Kim said.
There are any number of barriers in the way when it comes to perfect oral health - that's why it's important to have those kids' teeth checked on a regular basis.
"Especially here in Hawaii where the cavities rate is very high, especially in comparison to the mainland - it's sometimes twice as high. It could be because of diet, oral hygiene, or it could be because of the lack of fluoride or the lack of access to care."
And just how did Dr. Kim become involved with pediatric dentistry?
"So my father is a pediatric dentist here in Kailua so that is actually my mentor and the person who has guided me into this profession."
And generations of kids will be happy about that.
