Dr. Yasmine Zaeni strives to offer children personalized care that suits their individual needs. She takes time to connect with each child and earn his/her trust through patience, humor and a gentle touch. She is committed to making children's dentistry safe, comfortable and fun.
About UsChildren should have their first dental exam at age one or when your child gets his/her first tooth, whichever comes first. The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Dental Association and The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry all recommend that children have their first dental exam by their first birthday. While most babies won't have too many teeth at that stage, it's a good time to establish a "dental home", your go-to for all your child's future dental needs. At that first visit we will provide a gentle exam and discuss a wide variety of topics such as your child's growth, development, habits, oral hygiene guidance, fluoride, sealants and nutrition. Depending on his/her age, we may also clean your child's teeth, take x-rays and apply topical fluoride to help protect the teeth against decay.
Our brand new office was designed specifically for kids to ensure they feel comfortable and welcome at their dental visits, including a bright, open layout and lots of entertaining details. The play area has arts and crafts, books, toys and video games to keep everyone smiling.
Safety is our top priority and we employ the most modern equipment and up-to-date technology with your family's health and comfort in mind. We use digital x-rays that emit the lowest possible radiation and are more environmentally friendly.
As a parent herself, Dr. Zaeni is passionate about treating each precious child in the most effective and least invasive manner possible. This includes the practice of assessing your child's risk of tooth decay early on, and guiding you on prevention.
Children have a higher risk for cavities because baby teeth have much thinner enamel than adult teeth. Therefore, regular dental cleanings are very important for children. Starting at age one, we recommend professional dental cleanings and exams at least every six months to help your children avoid cavities, and so that any cavities that we do find can be easily treated before they get too serious.
Learn MoreSmall cavities can be observed or treated with dental fillings. But larger cavities and cracked teeth may require more extensive treatment like dental crowns which cover the entire tooth to preserve it. It's important to treat baby teeth because any infection in them can spread to and damage the developing adult teeth under the gums. They also serve as ideal placeholders in the jaw for developing adult teeth.
Learn MoreA pulpotomy is also known as a “nerve treatment” for baby teeth. If a cavity gets deep enough it can become painful. A pulpotomy helps remove infection and preserve the baby teeth until the permanent teeth erupt into place. The process is much shorter and easier than an adult nerve treatment.
Learn MoreWe offer several different sedation options for dental treatment including nitrous oxide (laughing gas), in-office IV sedation and general anesthesia in a hospital setting. Whether children are apprehensive from previous medical/dental experiences, they need extensive restorative care at a young age, or they have special needs, we have the expertise and means to make sure they comfortably get the dental treatment they require.
Learn MoreProper tongue and lip movement is essential for effective breastfeeding in infants and speech in older kids. Tongue and lip ties can cause issues with breast-feeding such as a poor latch, excessive spitting up, poor weight gain and more. It's important to assess and treat these restrictions as early as possible. Our doctors use a special laser to quickly, safely and effectively release the tongue and lip ties without the need for numbing injections or sedation (we may place a topical gel). We work closely with Certified Lactation Counselors to identify your baby's needs and ensure proper aftercare to maximize the success of treatments. We also provide tissue releases for older children with tongue ties.
Learn MoreWe’re located on Clayton Road, across from Lucky and KMart. Our newly built, modern office was designed with your family's comfort, safety and enjoyment in mind.
Dear Hopscotch Families,
In an effort to keep our patients, staff and community safe and help reduce the spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus), our office will be closed starting March 16, 2020 for at least two weeks. We have come to this difficult decision based on the recommendations of state and national health authorities such as the California Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We apologize for any inconvenience and we will work with you to reschedule your children's appointments as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please call or text our office at 925-254-4777, or email us at hello@hopscotchdental.com, and we will do our best to assist you. For more information on Covid-19 and prevention tips, click here.
In health,
Dr. Yasmine Zaeni and the Hopscotch Children's Dentistry Team