Smiles Across Generations: Dr. Tran's Dental Wisdom and Family Legacy

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Welcome back to the Dentistry for Kidz podcast and today's episode we have a special guest who's been breaking up the world once not all the time. Let me introduce you to the founder and CEO of All Smiles Dental, the man with a passion for pearly whites. Dr. David Tran, Dr. Tran's journey started back in 1994 when he graduated from the University of Pacific School of Dentistry, and for the past 29 years, he's been transforming smiles and spreading joy in Southern Highlands community where he probably resides. But the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. His two out of three children are following in his footsteps studying dentistry at their dad's office. It seems like creating beautiful smiles is a family affair. Welcome Dr. Tran. So for our first question, what inspired you to become a dentist?

Dr. David Tran: You want the real answer? You went to PCA?

Vote. It's good to spice it up. Right?

Dr. David Tran: Well, I mean, you're gonna hear everyone says, You know what, they want to help out. They want to do this and that stuff. But for me, I'm gonna be honest with you. Yes, you can help people out. But if you can make a living and if you can support yourself support your family, then that's not really doing it's not helping you much. I don't know if that makes sense.

No, yeah, that makes sense. That makes sense.

Dr. David Tran: I just I'm just being very honest with ya.

Ya know? Yeah. Like the answer. Like,

Dr. David Tran: did you know, a lot of people always say a lot of people always say, you know, what, they grew up and they saw their dentists or they, you know, that inspired them and they want to help, they want to help they want to do this and that and and don't get me wrong, it's great. You know, but you still get to help, but a beer will make a living out of it.

Ah, I see Democrat. It's like, it's like

Dr. David Tran: a teacher. Don't get me wrong. They're very it's a very noble profession. But most people, most teachers, I know always complain about salary, about what they make.

So you're saying you feel more secure in your profession, basically. And you get to do what you love so

Dr. David Tran: far? Yeah. I mean, I mean, definitely, I've always loved dentistry. So anyways, and you know, after 29 years, I still love dentistry. You know, I still love doing dentistry.

No, yeah, that's great. So and your two kids are going to become dentists like you. So Are

Dr. David Tran: they crazy? What? So crazy?

Like, it's so great. So how did you inspire them or like guide them to go on this path?

Dr. David Tran: Again, another honest answer. Okay. I had no idea that they were interested in going dentistry. Really, really, really, I had no idea. It was Intel. Yeah, I had no idea. They never came on to the office, and then everyone out helped that, that they expressed no interest in it at all.

They just simply one day, just tell you, I want to be a dentist. So it was like,

Dr. David Tran: Well, I think what happened? You know, they say you know what? That did? Okay. You know, it's just so you know, so yeah, I'll go on to dentistry. I don't know if that's the answer you want me to? You know, I don't know. That's the answer. You were looking for. What that's just being very honest. No,

yeah. No, that's great. No, we love honesty here. And I guess, picking back picking back off. Maybe not not related to salary. What do you think is the most rewarding thing for you about being a dentist?

Dr. David Tran: Oh, no, no, don't get me wrong. I don't want you to think that sound was the main thing. Okay. Yeah. Like anything else to help our people. You know, no, no, to me, you get to help you out. But you get to be creative. You get because it's, you're like a chef, if you will. I always tell people if I wasn't a dentist than I worked, I love to be a chef. Or I love to be an architecture because you can create something out of nothing. Oh, that makes sense.

Yes. And every patient is different right? So you get to do a lot of different it's like never boring right?

Dr. David Tran: Well, no, no dentistry is the same. Don't get me wrong dentistry is the same but as far as people Yeah, you get to meet other you get to meet other people. And that's what makes dentistry fun for me. It's not by listening haberdashery is to the meeting people. I see. I see. I see.

No, yeah, that's great. And what is a fun dental fact that you would like to share that most people don't know?

Dr. David Tran: A fun dental fact. Oh my goodness, you bring me a spot about about me or by just a patient or what? Oh,

three in general, like something people might not know. That's like a little interesting.

Dr. David Tran: Oh, my goodness. I think as far as the future go, as far as future dentistry goes, I know. There's not a lot of technology out there. That's up and coming. You know, that? I don't think even us dentists we don't know, you know, but I think that I think the future is very bright. As far as starting Frisco.

No, yes. I've heard like, now what they're doing like guided surgery.

Dr. David Tran: So I don't know what.

No, yes, but that's great. What is one of the most common issues related to dentistry?

Dr. David Tran: The most common thing we've learned to kids relate to dentistry. I think as far as kids go, they don't floss enough. Oh, flossing. Well, I don't think it's a kid formed by ticks the parents fault.

Is it just like, No, no, they

Dr. David Tran: don't feel like they don't feel like flossing is important.

Oh, would you want to tell these kids why flossing is important?

Dr. David Tran: Well, because the thing is, because you can brush your teeth, but you can't get between the teeth. And that's where plastic comes in. But to me, I was so parents, you know, just just starting off young. It's just to create a good habit. Yeah, so that's the main thing. Because a lot of parents they always they always ask, Oh, I didn't know. I didn't know I'm you know, I'm supposed to floss my kid's teeth. Oh,

really? Yeah. Which

Dr. David Tran: kind of surprises me or, or they will always say, You know what, I'll let my kids floss. But then I always tell the kids, the kids when they're young, they don't have the manual dexterity to floss themselves. So they themselves have to help floss the kids, their kids teeth. And I find the easiest way. I always tell parents the easiest way is to name on the edge of your bed and have them tilt the head back and forth from the time it comes across from the back just like we do in a dental chair. That's the easiest way.

Oh, does it help the kids like be a little more calmer? Or is it just like it's just like easier to kill? stuff? No,

Dr. David Tran: it's easier for you as a parent. You know, because I'm kidding. Parents don't want to foster kids teeth because it's difficult. Right? The kids don't want it the parents aren't good just difficult but I think I find that if you lay on the bed that if your bed and stand behind a plot from the backer that helps a lot. It makes it very easy. Oh for me, the main thing is to get into a habit. I always tell parents start young get into habit. That way they know you got to brush and floss brush and floss brush up pots.

And then just to clarify the flossing comes after the brushing or before the brushing.

Dr. David Tran: Oh, good question. You know some people floss before some people floss afterwards. I always floss. I always wash before and then brush.

Yes. Before and then brush. Oh, yeah, I

Dr. David Tran: know. I know. I said that way but

no, it's good. It's good that we're clarifying. And then I guess like when children start transitioning, kind of to flossing on their own? Would you recommend them to us? You know, like that little pig floss?

Dr. David Tran: Right? I tell my patient just on time. Yes, the boss aide will help. But it's still but I still prefer compared to flossing just confined to floss.

Okay, okay, I see. I see the thank you so much. And how do sort of your patients detect that they have cavities? And how do you detect that they have cavities?

Dr. David Tran: For kids or for adults?

You know what? Let's make a general both my novel

Dr. David Tran: for kids a lot of time they don't know. And while kids and adults locker room they don't know until our hearts right or like the kids a lot of time the parents will brush their teeth and they'll see oh this is dark stock and then they'll bring it in so that's a cavity and as far as adults a lot of times adults don't know they have a cavity unless smile there's no unless it hurts them. Oh are you know when you go down into denistone? Yes, they have cavities my lifetime they don't know.

Oh, okay. So I guess like when they actually Do you find those cavities? Is it typically when they go to your office and they do a checkup? Or? I guess is it just when they feel that it is bothering them?

Dr. David Tran: Well, I guess I guess there's two types of patients those patients that only come to dentists when they're hurting. Okay, and then there's patient that comes in regularly to be more preventative and so when you go to the office to check in if you do have a cavity, that's one that notice the dentist will notify the cavity. Sometime a cavity you may not feel like you don't want to fill it doesn't necessarily have to feel to have a cavity.

Oh, what are some of the signs that you do have cavity?

Dr. David Tran: It hurts to sensitive? No, no, no, no, no to start out most most of the time. It's just sensitive. It may be sensitive. May be sensitive when you hate it. You eating, chewing? So those are the early signs. Yeah. Oh,

okay. And then if it gets worse, then that's when you start going over or should you just go when you get that sensation?

Dr. David Tran: No, you want to try to be more granular you want to try to catch them before it hurts.

Yeah, I guess it'd be more like the patients who don't go regularly for a checkup. But ya know, thank you so much. And can you explain what a sealant treatment is and how its benefits children's teeth?

Dr. David Tran: No, I always tell patients and Darwish, our parents soaked sealants. So kids have a binding surface of teeth, there's deep crevices. So every single time they eat through and bacteria gets into those crevices, and as far as brushing the bristles face thick. It doesn't get into those crevices, so sealant cyclo resin, that we flow over that crevices, that crevice, those crevices, that way prevents the tween bacteria from getting underneath underneath there, so they're able to brush it. So it makes it more shallow, if you will.

Oh, okay. Okay, thank you so much. And what age do you typically recommend that children should get the treatments?

Dr. David Tran: So typically the same that we usually placed when they're six years old, that's when a six year old comes out? So we placed seniors on six year molars? Oh,

six years, okay. And do they ever, like go before go after? Or is like the general range of six years.

Dr. David Tran: Now the general range is six years. That's why they call it six year model usually comes around six years old. Of course, some kids are a little bit more delayed. Some are a little bit more early, but usage on six year so. Okay.

Okay. And then how long do they typically last? And do they require any special care afterwards?

Dr. David Tran: As far as lasts, it could last a year, three, five years? It depends on the kids depends on what the age depends on, they take care of it. So if they say they eat a lot of Sticky, sticky food, a lot of sticky stuff, then then you have the sealant may come off. And then what we do is we go back in and just we seal it.

Hmm, I see. I see. Okay, no, yeah. Thank you so much for those tips. And do you have any tips for kids who are nervous about going to a dentist?

Dr. David Tran: nervous going to, I find that the most of the problem is the parents. Oh, really suck what I find. Because I find kids are really good as long you know, kids are great. Okay, it's the parents that that that that that that scares them. Use because it's so that's why I don't like parents in the room. You know, because a lot of times parents can project or give off that vibe, you know, because parents know what's going on. Kids don't know what to kiss don't know what's going on. And as a kid that great. So you still uses explain to them and they and they get it. It's just the parents where it makes it worse. It makes it bad. Oh,

okay. Oh, so you typically just make them go out the room. So they like, oh,

Dr. David Tran: I prefer not to have parents in the room. It's just makes it so because a lot of time what happened? He tried to talk to the kids, the kids won't listen to you. The kids always turn around and look at parents to get their parents approval. Oh, you know, so they're not listening to you. Or the parents will always try to interject. You know, while you're trying to talk to the kids, and then it just just doesn't know.

Okay, so parents just, like, try not to be helicopter parents. Right?

Dr. David Tran: So if I do have parents in the room, I just tell him, You know what, let me just go. You know, that I just have love. Just stay in your corner. Let me just, you know, talk to the you know, let me just have the child. That's what I do.

Oh, okay. It works. Most or

Dr. David Tran: all you have some parents. They'll say You know what, if you don't listen to tennis, you know, I'm going to tell my take on all your teeth. Oh, you know, so the parents. The parents were threatening him or scare him. And then I was looking at the parents like you're not helping me

Yeah, yeah, we've been getting more scared of you. What age do you think that kids should start going to a dentist?

Dr. David Tran: I tell parents, I see kids as young as two or three years old. Okay, as long as they can sit by themselves. You know, they can't sit by themselves. And we'll just wait on, you know, next year or six months or next year. Yeah, so that's what I tell parents. As long as you can see teeth come in, they can sit by themselves.

Oh, okay. Oh, so you don't want to kid that's like too dependent on their parents.

Dr. David Tran: Right? Right. Right.

Otherwise, they'll give you some trouble or is it like? Well,

Dr. David Tran: I know. I mean, if done are able to sit by themselves, then you can't work on them? You know, or a lot of time? And again, it depends on the child. Also. Sometimes a good with the parents I'm charged or not. So it depends on the child. Oh,

okay. Do you ever give anesthesia to your patients? Or is it the kid?

Dr. David Tran: Yeah. Most of them? Yes. Uh huh.

Oh, god, okay. And it typically helps. Or do they typically get a little more nervous?

Dr. David Tran: Like I said, I mean, there's this restriction this ways that I go about to not let them know I'm given a shot. No, no cuts. The last thing I want to do is to scare them. Because what tends to happen if you scare them, they're going to have to be done a few weeks. Oh, yeah, that's the last thing want to do is hurt a child? You know, and I won't hurt I try not to hurt him. I try not to force them. If I can't work on them, then I'll refer them to a specialist. That may be concerned, you know, put a date them or what have you. But I but I will not. I try not to hurt them.

Ah, okay. I see. No, yeah, that's a great approach. You're a great doctor. No,

Dr. David Tran: because I find that a lot of time, a lot of time with adults. The reason why I'm afraid of dentists, is because they had a bad childhood experience.

That's the number one reason you know, so with me, it's not worth it for me.

Okay, as I say, if I can't work with them, but they won't say they won't, you know, then I'd say you know what, I don't think this is right, you know, then I just tell the parents, it's best that they go to a specialist, because the last thing you want to do is just traumatize a child.

Oh, so you kind of like building a healthy relationship with your patient.

Dr. David Tran: You know, like I said, the last thing you want to do is to have them grow up being fearful going to the dentist. You know, that's the last thing that you want to do. Well, for me at least. Yes. I don't want to I don't want to scare them. Yeah, if I can't work on them, then yeah, I just rather refer out. Is there a structure that can take care of that can take better care of the child and I can see, you know, that's, that's the training, which I don't you know, so like, it's not worth it for me. I rather because I just don't want them to grow up being afraid to go and dance. That's all. Oh, okay.

And if they're afraid they may not even go to the dentist. Is that

Dr. David Tran: kind of what you are? Yeah. Because remember, one reason people are afraid to go dentists. Okay. Yeah. Cuz they had a bad childhood experience. You know, because no one likes to go dentists. You know, and so, you don't want to make it worse.

Yes, yes. No, thank you. So can you share a success story of a child's dental transformation?

Dr. David Tran: Oh, my goodness. Yeah. Actually, I there's quite a few because I do see a lot of kids. You know, for me, as long as when they come in, they're fearful. They're fearful. But when they walk out, they're happy to me that success. You know, because like I said, a lot of time they come in and they don't know what to expect. They don't know what we're doing. But when you explain everything that we show them everything, they come out and they they give you a hug. To me that's a success. Oh, yeah, that's,

yeah, that's really hard for me. Is there any other ones that like, strike you as the most memorable or

Dr. David Tran: as long as you give out a pain, you know, that's successful, that's being successful? And if they want to come back and see you, that's successful.

Yes, yes. Or? No? Yeah, that's a great answer. No, thank you so much. And I guess, and we're about to close up, but what's your message to all the kids and parents listening today?

Dr. David Tran: What's my message? I guess just like anything else, try to see your dentist twice a year. But the most important brush and floss that's all you can do. You know, just a lot of you can try everything and anything okay? But it all comes down to basic. It's just brush and floss. Like I tell patients it's all like you want to lose weight. Okay, and you can try this you can try that but you know what it really comes down to watch what you eat and exercise. The same thing with with with you know, kids or dogs just come with as far as Danny FICO you can try you know this that, you know, but it just comes down and brushing and flossing.

Yes, do you want them to like put stickers on their car like brush and floss?

Dr. David Tran: We got to go that far. But you know what most people know they need to do that anyhow. You just have to remind them remind them and I guess ideally, you want to force twice a day. But you know he can't floss once a day. That's better than nothing. And it just ideally you want to floss at nighttime, but I get it Everyone's tired. You know as hard floss wherever you can floss when it was convenient for you. You know, and I always tell him like the best time I find the best time. Like right after dinner. Usually there's downtime at dinner after dinner. After you're done just go to bathroom brush, you know when you sitting there watching TV and what have you floss? Yes, you know, or I tell people let's say you're waiting for someone, you know, just have floss. I guess what I'm trying I guess. To me, Fox is so important. And I don't think people do it enough. So to me, that's, that's important. So I tell people floss whenever you can. If you're waiting for you're waiting for someone, the important thing is to have floss everywhere to so if you have access to a Yo Yo Yo yo yo be able to you, you're gonna do it more. Versus let's say we have flossing just in the bathroom. Then let's say you're in a kitchen, I don't want to run in the bathroom and get it. But if you have if people put flossing your dining room table put floss on your coffee table, put floss everywhere. That way, when you see it, you do it.

Do they need a mirror to do it? Or can they just like do it in? No,

Dr. David Tran: I don't think they need a mirror. I don't know, I tell people that at first, it may be a little bit awkward, maybe a little difficult. But the more you do it, the easier it gets. You know just like anything else, the more you do it, the easier it gets. So I don't think you don't need a mirror. But I think if you just keep Yes, it's awkward, but if you keep doing it, and the more you do it, the easier it gets and the faster it is also.

Do you have a favorite brand?

Dr. David Tran: I don't have a favorite brand that people ask me about floss or teeth taste. Same thing to me that to me, they all kind of the same. You know, as long as that complaint complaint contain fluoride, you know, but to say like anything else, toothbrush, it can use electric manual, what have you, but if you don't use properly, then it doesn't matter what you use. Yes.

Yes, that makes sense. And I know sorry. I know. I said I was gonna be a last question. But I think and I know some people like use toothpicks instead of flossing. So what is your opinion on that? I think it comes

Dr. David Tran: down to culture. I think with Asian culture, we use toothpicks. Okay, but I think toothpicks is the worst thing that you can do. Okay, see a teeth because it actually causes more harm or damage to the gums. You know, toothpick but yeah, so I think is a is a culture thing as you see. Because if you notice most of the American coating American we don't use toothpicks. Yes. Right. Yeah. So no, I prefer guy. Yeah, I mean, I prefer not use last versus toothpick. Oh, I recommend class.

Recommend, okay. Yes, yes. No, thank you so much for joining us today. It was really great talking to you. We loved all the insights. That'll be it. Thank you so much.

Dr. David Tran: Thank you for having me. Thank you. I hope it was helpful.

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