Finding the right dental home for your child is one of the most important decisions you can make for their long-term health. The practice that sees your child at age one shapes how they feel about dental care for the rest of their lives, and that kind of trust is built slowly, visit by visit, family by family.
HulaGrins Pediatric Dentistry has been that practice for families across Torrance and the greater South Bay for over 15 years. Our practice was originally built by Dr. Wayne Tofukuji, who spent decades caring for the children of this community before retiring and passing our practice on to Dr. Sena Hiradate in March 2020. Dr. Sena trained alongside Dr. Wayne as an associate, and when the time came for him to step back, there was no question about who would carry our practice forward. Today, many of the families Dr. Wayne cared for are now bringing their own children to HulaGrins, and that generational continuity is something the team takes great pride in.
At HulaGrins, the word "Ohana" is more than a branding choice. In Hawaiian, it means family, and it shapes how every member of the team approaches care. Children are treated as individuals, not appointments, and parents are treated as partners in their child's health, not simply observers in the waiting room.
Dr. Sena purchased our practice just two weeks before COVID-19 forced closures across the country. That early challenge set the tone for how HulaGrins operates: with resilience, adaptability, and an unwavering focus on the people we serve. Our practice has grown steadily since then, and the foundation remains the same as it was under Dr. Wayne. Relationships come first.
Dr. Sena Hiradate, DDS, is a board-certified pediatric dentist with over 15 years of clinical experience. She holds a Pediatric Minimal Sedation Permit and is a member of the College of Diplomats. She has also completed specialized training in tongue-tie release procedures, which allows her to offer laser-assisted frenectomies using the LightScalpel CO2 laser, one of the most precise tools available for soft tissue procedures in children.
Dr. Sena is a mother herself, which gives her a grounded perspective on what parents go through when bringing an anxious or resistant child to the dentist. She speaks Japanese fluently, a meaningful asset in a community as diverse as Torrance’s South Bay, and she is known for taking the time to make each child feel genuinely comfortable before any treatment begins. Her approach is patient, clinical, and honest, not rushed.
Dr. Sonya Lin rounds out the HulaGrins clinical team as a board-certified associate. Together, Dr. Sena and Dr. Sonya bring a combined 15-plus years of experience to our practice. Dr. Sonya is trained to assess for tongue-tie and lip-tie restrictions, and both doctors work from a shared philosophy: conservative, relationship-centered care that puts the child’s comfort and long-term oral health first.
The full range of pediatric dental services at HulaGrins spans everything from infant oral exams for one-year-olds to orthodontic evaluations for teenagers. The team handles preventive care, restorative treatment, sedation dentistry, emergency appointments, airway evaluations, and tongue-tie releases, all under one roof. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children establish early and consistent dental care beginning in infancy, and HulaGrins is equipped to serve that complete patient journey from the very first visit.
According to the AAPD’s clinical best practices guidelines, early professional intervention and continuity of care tailored to each child’s individual needs are central to long-term oral health outcomes. That philosophy is exactly what drives the care at HulaGrins.
For children who need extra support, HulaGrins offers nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and general anesthesia. Dr. Sena holds a Pediatric Minimal Sedation Permit and works with a board-certified anesthesiologist for cases requiring general anesthesia. The goal is always to provide effective treatment while keeping the experience as calm as possible for both child and parent. Should your child ever experience a dental injury or sudden concern, same-day emergency care is available for urgent situations.
The South Bay has no shortage of pediatric dental practices, but HulaGrins occupies a distinct position in this community. It is locally owned and operated, which means the people providing your child's care are invested in this neighborhood in a way that a corporate practice simply cannot replicate. Dr. Sena is on the floor, doing the work, and she has been doing it in this same space for over five years under her ownership, following in the footsteps of a mentor who spent decades here before her.
Families choose HulaGrins because their children actually look forward to coming back. The office is warm, the team is consistent, and the care is real. When a child leaves without fear and a parent leaves with confidence, that is what success looks like here.
HulaGrins Pediatric Dentistry is proud to serve families in Torrance and throughout the South Bay. Our team cares for patients from infancy through young adulthood, providing personalized dental care in a comfortable, welcoming environment. We accept Delta Dental PPO, MetLife, Guardian, and several plans under the Careington umbrella, as well as CareCredit financing. Whether you are a new family looking for a dental home or a returning patient ready to schedule, we are here for you. Reach out through our contact form to get started, and we will take it from there. Our team is always happy to answer questions before your child's first visit. We look forward to welcoming your family into ours.
