EXPERT
Michael Hong
Dentist (Pediatric) | Pediatric Dentistry
Dr. Mike grew up in the less sunny state of California where he became a member of the UCLA Bruins. He received his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from UCSF, where he graduated top of his class and was elected to the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society.
He completed his specialty training in pediatric dentistry at Harvard School of Dental Medicine | Boston Children’s Hospital. His advanced program included extensive training in various sedation techniques, pediatric advanced life support, facial trauma, cleft and craniofacial conditions, and care for children with special healthcare needs.
Dr. Mike is the recipient of the Richard C. Pugh Award for placing in the top 3% on the national pediatric dental board examination.
Doing his part to advance knowledge in his profession, Dr. Mike serves as the pediatric expert reviewer for the Journal of American Dental Association (JADA). He is also a published author in the journal for his award-winning research on dental sealants.
Away from the office, Dr. Mike volunteers as an adjunct faculty member at Boston Children’s Hospital to train the next generation of dental students and residents. He and his wife Heather love the outdoors, paintballing, and grilling with family and friends.
Dr. Mike feels incredibly lucky to have the best job since going to work every day never feels like work!
He completed his specialty training in pediatric dentistry at Harvard School of Dental Medicine | Boston Children’s Hospital. His advanced program included extensive training in various sedation techniques, pediatric advanced life support, facial trauma, cleft and craniofacial conditions, and care for children with special healthcare needs.
Dr. Mike is the recipient of the Richard C. Pugh Award for placing in the top 3% on the national pediatric dental board examination.
Doing his part to advance knowledge in his profession, Dr. Mike serves as the pediatric expert reviewer for the Journal of American Dental Association (JADA). He is also a published author in the journal for his award-winning research on dental sealants.
Away from the office, Dr. Mike volunteers as an adjunct faculty member at Boston Children’s Hospital to train the next generation of dental students and residents. He and his wife Heather love the outdoors, paintballing, and grilling with family and friends.
Dr. Mike feels incredibly lucky to have the best job since going to work every day never feels like work!
7 years
Experience
Michael Hong
- Denver, CO
- Harvard School of Dental Medic
- Accepting new patients
No results found
What kind of anesthesia is used for a root canal?
Standard local anesthesia (lidocaine or articaine) is used. For comfort, nitrous oxide or procedural sedation can be utilized.
Can braces cause white marks on teeth?
Yes, the white marks are pre-cavities or white spot lesions. They mark the beginning of the demineralization process. As long as cavitation has not occurred, it can be reversed READ MORE
Yes, the white marks are pre-cavities or white spot lesions. They mark the beginning of the demineralization process. As long as cavitation has not occurred, it can be reversed with improved oral hygiene, fluoride, and as needed, resin infiltration. Hope that helps!
Can fluoride treatment reverse cavities?
If a cavity has not progressed into dentin, fluoride can remineralize and reverse the cavity.
Are veneers safe for my teeth?
Veneers oftentimes require removal of healthy tooth structure. They are generally safe but do require maintenance and replacement over time.
How do you drain a gum abscess at home?
Gum abscess may be linked to large tooth or gum problems. Abscess is indicative of an active infection. Please go see a dentist before attempting at-home treatment.
Is Invisalign as good as oral braces?
Depending on what needs to be corrected, invisalign can be just as effective as braces. For certain movements, invisalign can take a bit longer.
How long you have to wear a retainer after Invisalign?
Teeth have tendency to want to return to their original positions. Ideally, the longer you can afford to wear retainers, the better. Wearing it for life would maintain the best READ MORE
Teeth have tendency to want to return to their original positions. Ideally, the longer you can afford to wear retainers, the better. Wearing it for life would maintain the best result!
How do you brush your teeth after an extraction?
Try to avoid brushing the extraction site. Avoid spitting or using straws (any action that will disturb the clotting of the extraction site). Brush all other areas normally. Hope READ MORE
Try to avoid brushing the extraction site. Avoid spitting or using straws (any action that will disturb the clotting of the extraction site). Brush all other areas normally. Hope that helps!
How do you prepare your teeth for orthodontics?
Maintaining good oral hygiene is important when getting braces or invisalign. It may also help to familiarize yourself with the list of foods that you should avoid while in orthodontics. READ MORE
Maintaining good oral hygiene is important when getting braces or invisalign. It may also help to familiarize yourself with the list of foods that you should avoid while in orthodontics.
What helps blood clot after tooth extraction?
Not sure if I'm interpreting this question correctly but having a clot at the extraction site is the desired result. The clot will assist with healing.
What is the procedure for applying braces?
Congratulations! It'll be exciting. The process can take up to 2 hours so wear something comfortable, bring headphones just in case. They will need to clean the surface of the READ MORE
Congratulations! It'll be exciting. The process can take up to 2 hours so wear something comfortable, bring headphones just in case. They will need to clean the surface of the tooth first (etch), apply a bonding agent, and then attach brackets.
Does brushing teeth help receding gums?
Depending on how hard you are brushing, it can sometimes contribute to receding gums! It should be light pressure but thorough, not hard. I would also switch from electric to manual READ MORE
Depending on how hard you are brushing, it can sometimes contribute to receding gums! It should be light pressure but thorough, not hard. I would also switch from electric to manual toothbrushes if you currently have receding gums.
Can I drink coffee after a filling?
You absolutely can. Sometimes, you may experience a bit of temporary temperature sensitivity to a newly placed filling (especially if the filling was deep) but coffee should be READ MORE
You absolutely can. Sometimes, you may experience a bit of temporary temperature sensitivity to a newly placed filling (especially if the filling was deep) but coffee should be fine.
Is it painful to have a crown put on your tooth?
You should be fully anesthetized for the procedure so you shouldn't feel any discomfort. If during the procedure you are experiencing any sensitivity, don't hesitate to voice your READ MORE
You should be fully anesthetized for the procedure so you shouldn't feel any discomfort. If during the procedure you are experiencing any sensitivity, don't hesitate to voice your concerns to the dentist/ assistant. Depending on the office, you can also request laughing gas or other forms of relaxing medication to help you through the appointment.
Are veneers safe for your teeth?
It really depends on the reason you are getting veneers. Oftentimes, it does require the removal of some tooth structure to place veneers. Also, while durable, they will need to READ MORE
It really depends on the reason you are getting veneers. Oftentimes, it does require the removal of some tooth structure to place veneers. Also, while durable, they will need to be replaced.
Can I get a filling on wisdom teeth?
You can. However, it depends on the location of the wisdom tooth. Sometimes, the wisdom tooth could be so malpositioned that it becomes impossible to keep clean or even reach to READ MORE
You can. However, it depends on the location of the wisdom tooth. Sometimes, the wisdom tooth could be so malpositioned that it becomes impossible to keep clean or even reach to place a filling. In that case, it would be better to extract the wisdom tooth.
How do I stop my child from grinding her teeth at night?
How old is your daughter? Depending on her age, this might be perfectly normal. Grinding is a part of a child's neuromuscular development. In fact, most kids do exhibit some form READ MORE
How old is your daughter? Depending on her age, this might be perfectly normal. Grinding is a part of a child's neuromuscular development. In fact, most kids do exhibit some form of grinding. Most of the time, this habit stops after they switch over to adult teeth. For other cases, we can look into occlusal guards to help alleviate the symptoms of bruxism.
Do I need a filling for a chipped tooth?
It depends on how large the chip is. If it's a small chip, sometimes it can be "smoothened." Most of the time, a chipped tooth does require some sort of filling. Occasionally, READ MORE
It depends on how large the chip is. If it's a small chip, sometimes it can be "smoothened." Most of the time, a chipped tooth does require some sort of filling. Occasionally, the chipped piece can also be re-attached.
Is severe pain normal after a root canal?
Slight discomfort after a root canal can occur but severe pain is unusual. Root canal is the removal of the dead/infected nerve from the tooth and should alleviate any previously READ MORE
Slight discomfort after a root canal can occur but severe pain is unusual. Root canal is the removal of the dead/infected nerve from the tooth and should alleviate any previously felt pain or discomfort. Please go see a dentist.
Is it normal to have pain 3 days after oral surgery?
Depending on how extensive the surgery was, it's completely normal to be experiencing discomfort a few days after. Make sure there isn't active bleeding/infection. If pain becomes READ MORE
Depending on how extensive the surgery was, it's completely normal to be experiencing discomfort a few days after. Make sure there isn't active bleeding/infection. If pain becomes worse, please notify your oral surgeon.
