Author: Kenmore Pediatric Dentistry

Why Choose a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist?

When you take your child to the doctor, you most likely don’t visit your doctor and, instead, see a pediatrician who specializes in the clinical examination, diagnosis, and treatment of infants and children. In dentistry, there are also providers who specialize in the care of young patients. They are called pediatric dentists, and in order to become a pediatric dentist, one must hold a special certification.

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Why Choose a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist?

When you take your child to the doctor, you most likely don’t visit your doctor and, instead, see a pediatrician who specializes in the clinical examination, diagnosis, and treatment of infants and children. In dentistry, there are also providers who specialize in the care of young patients. They are called pediatric dentists, and in order to become a pediatric dentist, one must hold a special certification.

What Is a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist?

A board-certified pediatric dentist is a dentist who specializes in providing dental care to infants, toddlers, children, teens, and patients with special needs. A dentist must undergo a rigorous process of additional education and training, in addition to passing a set of qualifying and oral clinical examinations before they can become certified in pediatric dentistry by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD).
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The Benefits of Choosing a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist for Your Child

Many general dentists offer family dentistry and treat patients of all ages. While it might be convenient to visit one dental office for all of your family’s care, choosing a board-certified pediatric dentist for your children offers many benefits.
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Accustomed to Treating Children of All Ages

Children’s dental care needs differ greatly from those of adults. Pediatric dentists are familiar with treating children of all ages – from infancy through young adulthood. This means they are familiar with children’s needs, fears, and insecurities at the dental office during all stages of life. We’re experts at meeting your children where they are, helping them create healthy oral hygiene habits, and adjusting their care as their needs shift throughout development.

Experienced in Accommodating Children With Special Needs

In addition to treating children of all ages, we also often see patients who have special needs. We are comfortable meeting their needs, adjusting care as necessary, and helping to make them comfortable in our office.

Our Office Is Designed for Children

Our office is also designed to be a fun, comfortable, and welcoming environment for children.

Dr. Stewart Welcomes You to Kenmore Pediatric Dentistry

At Kenmore Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Stewart is a highly experienced board-certified pediatric dentist who provides exceptional, comprehensive dental care to infants, toddlers, children, teens, and patients with special needs. To learn more about our services and how they’re tailored specifically to meet children’s needs as they grow and develop, we welcome you to contact our office today.
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Why Choose Pediatric Dentistry for Your Child?

Many general and family dentists accept patients of all ages (or at least children after they reach a certain age). While it can be more convenient to bring your whole family to a single dentist’s office, we highly recommend that children visit a pediatric dentist who specializes in oral healthcare specifically for children.

Why Choose Pediatric Dentistry for Your Child?

Many general and family dentists accept patients of all ages (or at least children after they reach a certain age). While it can be more convenient to bring your whole family to a single dentist’s office, we highly recommend that children visit a pediatric dentist who specializes in oral healthcare specifically for children.
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5 Reasons to Choose a Pediatric Dentist for Your Child

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1. We're Experts

After completing their regular course of dental school, pediatric dentists undergo two to three additional years of education and training. As a result, we are experts in oral healthcare and development in young patients of all ages – from infancy through the teenage years.

2. Children Have Different Needs and Risks at Different Ages

All throughout a child’s growth and development their oral health needs and risks change, as they grow and mature. Pediatric dentists are trained and experienced in examining, working with, diagnosing, and treating children through every stage of their development.

3. Our Hygienists Are Specially Trained

In addition to pediatric dentists being specially trained, our hygienists are too! Dental hygienists who work with pediatric dentists are highly experienced in working with smaller tools that are specially designed to clean smaller teeth.

4. Our Offices Are Kid-Friendly

Pediatric dentists also have everything in their offices tailored and designed to meet the unique needs of children and their parents. As a result, visiting our office feels more like going somewhere fun than a doctor’s visit. Our office is designed to help put children at ease and create positive experiences and associations with visiting the dentist.

5. We Can Help With Developmental Issues

We are specially trained and equipped to recognize and diagnose oral health problems in children before they even arise. As a result, we can provide your child with preventative treatments, such as interception orthodontics, that are designed to save them from needing more expansive and complex treatment as they grow and develop.
Additionally, we can provide parents with assistance throughout every stage of their child’s life, whether you’re struggling to help your infant break their pacifier habit or teaching your child how to floss their own teeth.
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Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist in Kenmore

At Kenmore Pediatric Dentistry, our pediatric dentist Dr. Stewart is highly experienced in working with patients of all ages and young patients with special needs. We’re here to accommodate your child and create positive experiences that help them establish a strong foundation for future oral health. To schedule an appointment, please contact our office in Kenmore today.

Kids Dental FAQs

Navigating your child’s dental care journey from infancy through young adulthood can be a challenge. At Kenmore Pediatric Dentistry, we are always here to provide you with guidance and answer your questions, and we welcome you to contact us anytime.

Navigating your child’s dental care journey from infancy through young adulthood can be a challenge. At Kenmore Pediatric Dentistry, we are always here to provide you with guidance and answer your questions, and we welcome you to contact us anytime. For your convenience, we’ve put together answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about children’s dental care below.

Kids Dental FAQs

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When Should My Child First Visit the Dentist?

Infants should have their first dental examination around the time of their first birthday or when their first tooth comes in – whichever happens first.

How Often Should My Child Visit the Dentist?

Children should typically visit the dentist at least once every six months for a regular checkup and professional cleaning. This ensures any new issues are addressed early while they are still easy to treat and also ensure we’re able to detect any developmental concerns while intervention is still possible.

How Does a Pediatric Dentist Differ From a Family Dentist?

Pediatric dentists are board-certified specialists in dental care for children. They complete regular dental school and then continue their education with several additional years of specialized training.
In addition to having exceptional training and experience in treating young patients, pediatric dentists also usually have office environments that are designed specifically to cater to children and patients with special needs. We specialize in creating positive experiences at the dental office to help children develop healthy dental care habits.

When Is It Safe to Use Toothpaste on My Child?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends using toothpaste containing fluoride on children as soon as their first tooth comes in. If your child is too young to spit out their toothpaste, then using only a rice-sized amount is safe.

Schedule an Appointment With Our Pediatric Dentist in Kenmor

To ensure your child receives the specialized dental care they need while they develop and grow, we recommend establishing their dental care with a pediatric dentist. At Kenmore Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Stewart is a board-certified pediatric dentist who is highly experienced in providing comprehensive dental care to children of all ages, in addition to working with a friendly, gentle touch that helps children relax in the dental chair for a positive experience and association with dental care.
To learn more about our practice or to schedule an appointment for your child, we welcome you to contact our office today.

How to Care for Your Child’s Teeth

Good oral health starts during infancy before any of a child’s teeth have even erupted. Read on to learn about some of the basics of caring for your child’s teeth as they grow and develop.

How to Care for Your Child's Teeth

Good oral health starts during infancy before any of a child’s teeth have even erupted. Read on to learn about some of the basics of caring for your child’s teeth as they grow and develop.

How to Care for Your Child's Teeth, Starting at Birth

Although they have not yet erupted, infants already have a full set of deciduous (also called primary or baby teeth) when they are born, and your child’s oral care will begin right away with an examination in the doctor’s office to ensure they are able to nurse or eat from a bottle comfortably and efficiently.
  • Before your baby begins teething, gently wipe their gums with a warm, damp washcloth to remove any harmful bacteria and prevent inflammation and mouth sores.
  • Start brushing when your baby's first tooth comes in and floss as soon as your baby has two teeth next to each other. Use an infant toothbrush and a small, rice-sized amount of infant toothpaste containing fluoride.
  • Do not put your baby to bed with a bottle as this can lead to tooth decay.
  • Once an infant reaches six months, they can usually be weaned from the bottle and switched to a sippy cup which will reduce the amount of sugary liquids that pool around their teeth, helping to prevent tooth decay.
  • Your child should be able to learn to spit out their toothpaste after brushing around age two.
  • At age three and up, children can use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste, but they still need to be carefully monitored when brushing so that they do not swallow too much.
  • Supervise your children while they brush to help them learn proper brushing and flossing techniques and to make sure they do not swallow their toothpaste.

Visiting the Dentist and Preventing Cavities

The American Dental Association recommends that children visit a dentist starting around their first birthday or when they get their first tooth, whichever happens first. Children should then continue to visit a pediatric dentist about once every six months to monitor their development, help them establish healthy oral hygiene habits, and for professional cavity prevention with fluoride and dental sealants on molars.
To learn more about caring for your child’s teeth at any age or for help educating your child on proper oral hygiene habits, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Stewart at Kenmore Pediatric Dentistry.
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What to Do When Your Child’s 6-Year Molars Are Erupting

At around age 6, children start shedding their deciduous teeth to make room for their permanent teeth to come in. At this time, the six-year molars also erupt.

What to Do When Your Child's 6-Year Molars Are Erupting

Every parent’s first experience with their child’s teeth occurs when they’re still infants and their first, baby teeth begin coming in. At around age 6, children start shedding their deciduous teeth to make room for their permanent teeth to come in. At this time, the six-year molars also erupt.

What Are Six-Year Molars?

The six-year molars are permanent, adult teeth that begin to erupt just behind a child’s second or second-year molars at around age six.
Since these teeth are new growth, they will not fall out and be replaced by new teeth like your child’s baby teeth. So, it’s important to help your child understand the importance of caring for them well since they’ll have their six-year molars for life.

Symptoms Your Child Might Experience

When the new molars are close to coming in, your child might experience some gum discomfort for about a week. As the new tooth erupts, your child might experience the following symptoms:
  • Inflamed gums
  • Tender gums
  • Swelling in the area
  • Jaw pain
  • Headache
  • Low-grade fever
  • Difficulty chewing solid foods
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Irritability
Most often, molars come in without any complications. Children, however, can develop an infection as their new teeth erupt. If your child has any pus, discomfort lasting more than a week, or persistent fever, schedule a doctor’s appointment right away.
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How to Alleviate the Symptoms of Molar Eruptions

Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to can help your child get some relief from the discomfort of getting a new molar.
  • Dietary Adjustments - Avoid hard or solid foods until the tooth has erupted.
  • Cold Foods - Sipping ice water or popsicles can relieve inflammation.
  • Teething Gel - OTC teething gels numb the gums.
  • Swishing - Rinsing with warm salt water eases inflammation.
  • Children's Ibuprophen - With your doctor's permission, children's ibuprofen can help relieve swelling and reduce fever.

Caring for Your Child's New, Permanent Molars

Teaching your child proper oral hygiene habits is essential to keeping their teeth and six-year molars healthy for life. Show them the proper ways to brush their teeth and floss.
Plus, it’s important to bring them to the dentist for a checkup and preventative dental care treatments like fluoride applications and sealants that can make molars easier to clean and help protect them from the bacteria and acid that cause tooth decay.
To learn more about six-year molars and preventative dental care that can keep your child’s teeth healthy for life, we welcome you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Stewart at Kenmore Pediatric Dentistry.

How to Tell If My Child Needs Braces

Young children can be screened to determine if they’ll need braces. If so, interceptive treatments for young children can encourage healthy development, avoiding the need for braces altogether. If, however, you find yourself wondering about your child’s development, the following signs would indicate that they might need braces.

How to Tell If My Child Needs Braces

Young children can be screened to determine if they’ll need braces. If so, interceptive treatments for young children can encourage healthy development, avoiding the need for braces altogether. If, however, you find yourself wondering about your child’s development, the following signs would indicate that they might need braces.

5 Signs Your Child Might Need Braces

1. Early or Late Loss of Baby Teeth

When a child loses their baby teeth before their permanent teeth have finished developing, neighboring baby teeth can shift into the position where the permanent teeth need to erupt, causing issues.

Losing baby teeth too late can also result in permanent teeth erupting in the wrong positions. 

 

2. Misaligned Jaw Position

Overbite, underbite, and crossbite occur when the top and bottom jaws do not match up properly. Jaw alignment issues can make chewing difficult, create irregular patterns of wear on the teeth, result in soft tissue injuries, and cause significant jaw pain and posture problems. 

 

3. Prolonged Thumb Sucking 

Children who suck their thumbs past the age of 4 tend to need braces because the suction results in top teeth that protrude outward and crowded bottom teeth. 

 

4. Crowded Teeth

Crowded teeth are difficult to clean properly, increasing the risk of tooth decay and cavities. They can also cause bite problems and cosmetic concerns. 

 

5. Breathing Through the Mouth

Breathing through the mouth can affect the way a child’s jaw and facial bone structure develops, resulting in a smaller, narrower jawbone that can result in crowded teeth and the need for correction with braces.

Interceptive Orthodontics for Children in Kenmore

At Kenmore Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Laura specializes in interceptive orthodontics for children. While older children between ages 9 and 14 might need braces, interceptive orthodontics can address some issues with spacing, alignment, and occlusion by helping to guide the proper development of a younger child’s jaw.

 

As a result, your child’s jawbone can develop properly, allowing enough space to prevent crowding and encouraging the proper alignment and bite of their teeth. This can prevent the need for braces later on. 

 

To learn more about helping your child’s teeth and jawbone develop properly to prevent alignment issues later in life and the complications of crooked, crowded teeth, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Laura at Kenmore Pediatric Dentistry today.

Can Xylitol Help Prevent Cavities?

Xylitol is a non-fermentable sugar alcohol that occurs naturally in the fibers of certain vegetables, grains, and fruits. It’s also commonly used as a sweetener in sugar-free products.

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Can Xylitol Help Prevent Cavities?

Tooth decay is a common problem for children. Cavities occur when bacteria in the mouth are exposed to sugar and produce acid as a waste product. The acid eats away tooth enamel, leading to tooth decay and the dental caries or cavities.
There are several ways you can help your child prevent tooth decay such as brushing, flossing, and regular dental appointments. Recently, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has also reported that xylitol is a substance that can help prevent tooth decay in children.

What Is Xylitol?

Xylitol is a non-fermentable sugar alcohol that occurs naturally in the fibers of certain vegetables, grains, and fruits. It’s commonly used as a sweetener in sugar-free products.

How Can Xylitol Prevent Tooth Decay?

Xylitol helps prevent tooth decay in two ways:
  • It neutralizes the acids that are produced by bacteria in the mouth, effectively arresting their ability to break down the minerals in tooth enamel.
  • It triggers an increased production of saliva, which also helps to wash away bacteria, acid, and food particles from the teeth while remineralizing tooth enamel.
Although xylitol tastes like sugar, it does not feed bacteria like sugar, so it does not increase the amount of acid present in the mouth.

How Children Can Use Xylitol to Prevent Tooth Decay

Xylitol is most commonly found in sugar-free chewing gum. It’s also a common ingredient in chewable tablets, sugar-free mints, mouthwash, and toothpaste.
Although chewing gum and breath mints are a choking hazard for young children, they can still get some xylitol from snacking on whole foods like fruits and vegetables.

A Note About Xylitol and Safety for Households With Pets

Be sure to keep any products containing xylitol stored safely, as it is highly toxic to both dogs and cats.
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Cavity Prevention With Dr. Laura at Kenmore Pediatric Dentistry

While xylitol can help with cavity prevention, the best method for preventing tooth decay and cavities is practicing good oral hygiene and visiting the dentist every six months for a cleaning and checkup. Additionally, preventive treatments like in-office fluoride and dental sealants can help protect your child’s teeth from tooth decay.
During your child’s next appointment Dr. Laura can talk with you about all the preventive treatments available to your child while also providing education about how to practice proper tooth brushing and flossing techniques for healthy teeth and gums.
To learn more about preventive dentistry for children or to schedule your child’s next appointment, contact Kenmore Pediatric Dentistry today.

Why Do My Child’s Permanent Teeth Look Yellow?

Providing professional dental care for your child’s teeth, establishing good oral hygiene habits, and addressing issues as they arise are the best ways to give your child’s teeth a solid foundation of good oral health for proper development.

Why Do My Child's Permanent Teeth Look Yellow?

Providing professional dental care for your child’s teeth, establishing good oral hygiene habits, and addressing issues as they arise are the best ways to give your child’s teeth a solid foundation of good oral health for proper development. 

 

So, when you’re doing everything right and your child’s adult teeth come in looking yellow, it’s only natural to wonder what exactly is going on.

Why Your Child's Permanent Teeth Might Look Yellow

Adult teeth naturally have more dentin than baby teeth. Dentin is the layer of a tooth that’s located directly beneath the tooth’s pearly-white enamel, and dentin is yellowish and darker in color than enamel. 

 

As a result of their normal composition, adult teeth tend to look darker or more yellow compared to baby teeth. So, when a child’s permanent front tooth erupts right next to a glistening white baby tooth, comparatively, it can look more yellow than you think it should. 

 

Usually, once a child has lost most of their baby teeth, or at least the most visible ones, and have had all or most of their adult teeth come in, they will no longer appear as dark or as yellow as they did before because they will not be positioned adjacent to a much whiter baby tooth.

Additional Reasons for Tooth Discoloration in Children

If your child’s teeth still appear more yellow than you believe they should once all of their adult teeth have come in, then the discoloration might be caused by one of the following:


  • Stains     – Foods and drinks that are highly pigmented can stain teeth. Berries, fruit juices, sports drinks, colas, and tomato sauce can all cause tooth discoloration. To prevent staining, rinse with water after consuming any of these foods.
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  • Plaque and Tartar – Plaque and tartar buildup on the surface of the teeth cause teeth to look yellow. Teach your child proper brushing and flossing techniques and visit the dentist every six months for a professional cleaning.

     

  • Injury – Tooth or mouth injuries can damage a tooth’s nerve root. In the event of an injury or trauma to the mouth, contact Dr. Laura for a checkup right away.  

  • Antibiotics – Certain antibiotics such as tetracycline can cause tooth discoloration.

If you’re concerned about the appearance or health of your child’s teeth, we welcome you to schedule an appointment at Kenmore Pediatric Dentistry today.

Why You Should Replace Your Old Toothbrush

Old and trusty are two words that should never be used to describe a toothbrush. As much as you might like the one you have, your toothbrush should be replaced regularly.

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Why You Should Replace Your Old Toothbrush

Old and trusty are two words that should never be used to describe a toothbrush. As much as you might like the one you have, your toothbrush should be replaced regularly.

Why You Need to Replace Your Toothbrush

Each time you brush your teeth, your toothbrush picks up plaque and bacteria from your mouth. The older a toothbrush gets, the more bacteria it could potentially be harboring. This is also true of viruses and bacteria that could make you ill.
Additionally, a toothbrush’s bristles also wear out, making the brushless effective at dislodging food, plaque, and bacteria to keep your teeth and gums squeaky clean.
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When to Replace Your Toothbrush

Whether you brush with a regular, manual toothbrush or an electric toothbrush, you should replace your entire brush or your electric toothbrush head on a regular schedule.

Manual Toothbrush

If you have a manual toothbrush and brush your teeth twice a day for the recommended two minutes with average pressure and vigor, you will likely need a new toothbrush every two to three months. If you brush more often or press hard when brushing your teeth (Beware: brushing softly is better for your enamel!), you might need to replace your toothbrush sooner.

Electric Toothbrush

For electric toothbrushes used twice a day, you will need to replace the toothbrush head about once a month because the rapid brushing motion these gadgets achieve wears out the bristles more quickly than manual brushstrokes.
If you brush more than twice a day, you might need to replace your toothbrush head sooner than recommended.

Worn Bristles

You can stick to a schedule for refreshing your toothbrush. However, you should replace your toothbrush whenever its bristles appear worn. Worn bristles might be frayed-looking, they will no longer stand up straight, and they won’t spring back to their original position as readily.

Following Illness

It’s also smart to replace your toothbrush or toothbrush head after you’ve been sick. Whether you had a bacterial infection or viral illness, you can actually reinfect yourself by exposing your body to the bacteria and viruses living on your toothbrush.
Additionally, your toothbrush could make other family members sick, if you store all your brushes in a communal toothbrush holder.
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How to Keep Your Toothbrush Clean

To keep your toothbrush clean, you should rinse it thoroughly with water before and after each use, and keep it stored away from other brushes. You can also disinfect your toothbrush with antiseptic mouthwash, hydrogen peroxide, and UV light sanitizers. It’s important to store your toothbrush properly and practice good hygiene to prevent germs – and don’t forget to replace your toothbrush when indicated!

How to Protect Your Teeth During Pregnancy

New babies are a joy, but pregnancy can lead to some oral health concerns for women.

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How to Protect Your Teeth During Pregnancy

New babies are a joy, but pregnancy can lead to some oral health concerns for women. Pregnancy hormones in the body can increase your risk of developing periodontal disease (gum infection). Additionally, pregnancy hormones also soften the ring that prevents food and acid from escaping the stomach, leading to acid reflux and the increased vomiting known as morning sickness. When your tooth enamel is exposed regularly, the acid can break down the enamel, weakening teeth and leading to decay, cavities, and potential infection.

4 Tips for Protecting Your Teeth During Pregnancy

1. Maintain Your Dental Care
Due to the effects of pregnancy hormones, it’s essential to maintain good oral hygiene habits during pregnancy. Continue brushing twice a day, flossing at least once a day, and ask your dentist or doctor about adding a fluoride-enriched mouthwash to your dental routine to keep bacteria at bay.
2. Protect Teeth from Morning Sickness
After vomiting, brushing your teeth is probably the first thing you want to do. However, it’s better to simply rinse with water or mouthwash and wait at least one hour before brushing. The acids from your stomach will weaken your enamel, and brushing can scratch it. If you don’t have any mouthwash on hand, try swishing with a teaspoon of baking soda and water.
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3. Snack Smartly
During pregnancy, you’ll likely experience lots of cravings. If you can, avoid eating lots of treats with added sugar or sipping on sugary beverages, as these can lead to an increase in bacteria and acids on your teeth. Instead, choose calcium-rich foods like cheese or yogurt.
4. Continue Seeing the Dentist
Unless your obstetrician instructs you otherwise, you can continue visiting your dentist for regular cleanings and checkups to help protect your teeth and prevent gum disease throughout your pregnancy.
Let your dental office know that you’re pregnant, inform them of any changes to your medications, and let them know how far along you are. Your dentist will take special precautions to ensure your dental cleaning and checkup is completely safe for you and your baby.

When to Schedule Your Baby's First Dental Checkup at Kenmore

Infants should first see the dentist within six months of receiving their first tooth or before their first birthday. If you’ve recently welcomed a newborn into the world, we invite you to establish your infant’s dental care with Kenmore Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Stewart is highly experienced and skilled in treating infants, toddlers, children, and teenagers, and our entire staff will be happy to assist you with providing your child a healthy start!
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