Recent Patient Reviews

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

"Mom, that was so much fun!” Can you believe that this is what my son said to me as we walked out of the door from his dental visit?  Although my son has been visiting the dentist for years, this was our first time at Adelberg and Montalvan Pediatric Dentistry.  From the moment we arrived, until the moment we left, everything was wonderful. - Macaroni Kid

We’re SO glad Luca enjoyed his visit with us and Dr. Bennet. We always strive to care for our patients as if they were our own children and love hearing that they enjoyed their dental experience with us!

Dr. Bennet and Luca discussing the equipment

Head over to Smithtown’s Macaroni Kid to read Luca’s full story!

At Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental our purpose is to provide exceptional mental and dental care that can impact your child’s life forever.  Our practice has been providing excellent pediatric dentistry to children of Long Island for over 14 years.  We have three locations: Nesconset, Massapequa Park and our newest location in West Islip.  

#TuesdayTips – Helping Children Break Oral Habits

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

  

Oral habits, like non-nutritive sucking and teeth grinding, are common in young children, and unfortunately can cause more harm than good if they aren’t stopped at the proper time.

Non-nutritive sucking (includes sucking on a thumb, hand pacifier, toys, blankets, or other non food items) helps comfort children when they are feeling tired, upset, or nervous. Children often end non-nutritive sucking between the ages of 2 and 4, those who use pacifiers stop earlier than those who suck on their thumbs. Should the sucking continue, it may change the shape of the child’s mouth and teeth which opens the door to potential speech and bite problems.

It’s important to help your child break the sucking habit, some ways include using reminders like putting a bandage on your child’s thumb or have them wear a mitten or sock at night. You may also choose to give your child something to track small successes; add a gold star to the calendar each day the child doesn’t suck. After a certain amount of time, the child gets a reward. If you still find yourself having problems, you can always discuss with any of our staff during your next dental visit for other strategies to help break this tricky habit.

Why children grind their teeth on the other hand isn’t always clear. Sometimes it’s due to stress, teething pain, or just because the top and bottom teeth don’t line up properly. And while we know teeth grinding typically ends by 7 years of age once the permanent molars erupt, sometimes it doesn’t always stop over time.  If you are concerned that your child’s teeth grinding is serious, schedule an appointment with us. We’ll evaluate if their habit has caused any major problems and may discuss the option of a custom fit mouth guard to wear at night.

If you have more questions or concerns with your child's oral habits - schedule an appointment at any of our 3 locations. We'll evaluate the situation and discuss solutions to ensure your child is paving the way towards excellent oral health!

Dr. Ericka Facebook Contest Winners!

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

And Dr. Ericka’s favorite ice cream flavor is….

VANILLA! Choice C.

The two randomly selected winners who guessed correctly are: Sharon Vlasi Zimmerman ($25 Gift Card to Friendly’s) and Sharon Lacentra ($25 Gift Card to Ralph’s Italian Ices). Congratulations! Our office will be in touch with details on how to claim your prize.

About Dr. Ericka:

Ericka Montalvan, DDS

Dr. Ericka Montalvan, a pediatric dentist since 2005, has been practicing dentistry since 2000 after graduating from the University of Florida College of Dentistry. She received an undergraduate degree from the University of Miami, majoring in biochemistry and minoring in chemistry. After dental school, she continued a one-year general practice residency at a VA Medical Center in Florida. Two years after practicing general dentistry, her heart was set on pediatric dentistry, and she went to New Jersey to complete a two-year residency at UMDNJ Dental School. She is a board certified pediatric dentist.

Dr. Ericka, while practicing in our three Long Island locations, also volunteers in the community and is involved in dental missionary trips around the world. She is an active member of many dental associations such as the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the NYS Dental Association.

She was raised in sunny Miami, Florida and now lives in New York with her husband, daughter and son. Dr. Ericka is fluent in Spanish and Sign Language. She strives to provide exceptional care for your children.

Bedtime Snacks for Kids

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

Adults aren’t the only ones who can suffer from late night food cravings, children can as well. Many active kids may actually need the snack to hold them over night, especially during growth spurts. While it's not the best idea to eat a large meal at this time, there are some snacks that can help fill your child’s stomach and not be detrimental to their oral health.   

The snack should remain small, just to tide them over and help them get to sleep. Sugary foods should be avoided as they are especially damaging when given the chance to rest against the teeth enamel over night. Instead opt for some of the below foods to help with sleep, decrease cavities, and provide your child with more energy in the morning:

• Bananas
• Whole grain crackers
• Unsalted almonds
• Low fat cottage cheese
• Low sugar cereal with fat free milk

It’s important to plan the bedtime snacks 30-45 minutes prior to bedtime. By waiting, you give the tooth enamel time to strengthen back up before brushing. And it's also important to keep in mind, only give your child a snack if they are hungry, not out of habit.

What are your go-to snacks for your child before bed? Share with us on our Facebook page!

 

Homemade Father’s Day Gift Ideas

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

Father's Day is THIS Sunday - and if you're kids are still looking for some gift inspiration, we've got you covered. After all, what’s more thoughtful than a homemade gift? This Father’s Day, help the kids create a present straight from the heart. Here are a several handmade gift ideas that dad will surely cherish:

Aprons

Whether your dad’s the grill master or a skilled baker, an apron makes a wonderful gift. Make it extra-special by personalizing it! Shelterness.com recommends purchasing a plain apron and decorating it to suit dad’s style.

T-Shirt Pillows

Is dad having trouble letting go of his old college or sports tees? Better Homes and Gardens suggests transforming them into cool keepsake pillows! Simply cut the t-shirt fabric to the desired size (allowing for 1/4-inch seams) and sew together. Make sure to leave an opening to fill.

Garden Markers

If your dad loves digging around in the garden, homemade garden stakes are a brilliant gift idea. According to Parents.com, all you need is craft foam and Popsicle sticks to create this charming present. Glue fruit and veggie-shaped foam onto wooden sticks to help dad identify where he’s planted everything.

Father's Day Cutout Frame

Kids can spell out just how much they love dad this weekend with a handmade Father's Day cutout frame. The photos, trimmed to show kids' faces, are displayed through the holes of the letters. Follow this easy guide from MarthaStewart.com to get started!

No matter what you choose to make for dad this Father’s Day, he’s sure to appreciate your heartfelt gift. Have even more ideas? Tell us about them at our Facebook page.

3 Tooth-friendly Summer Recipes

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

Summer’s just around the corner, and that means so are some of your kids’ favorite snacks – ice cream sundaes, lemonade and ice pops. Unfortunately these sugar-loaded treats can take their toll on teeth. Not to worry – we’ve got you covered with three tooth-friendly summer recipes your kids will love!

Smoothies
Ice cream sundaes and shakes are no doubt delicious, but all that sugar is not good for your children’s teeth. If they’re craving something cold and sweet, throw together a tasty smoothie! We love this list of healthy smoothies kids will actually enjoy. Note that the recipes do not contain added sugar (other than honey), so your kids’ teeth will stay happy and healthy.

Refreshing Drinks
When temperatures are high, children may be tempted to grab an ice cold Coke, Kool-Aid, lemonade or other sweet drink. They contain excess sugar which can destroy teeth and contributes to obesity and obesity-related health conditions. This healthy alternative to Kool-Aid is the perfect replacement! It’s made from herbal tea, apple cider vinegar, honey, lemon and salt, making it free of artificial flavors and dyes.

Healthy “Ice Cream”
It might look and taste like ice cream, but this sweet treat is made with just a few simple, tooth-friendly ingredients. Kids will love Rachael Ray’s Banana “Ice Cream” Fakeout, and they won’t even realize it contains no refined sugars. What an easy way to satisfy your child’s sweet tooth without contributing to tooth decay.

Have any other tooth-friendly summer recipes you’d like to share? Head to our Facebook page and share your ideas!

Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dentistry has three Long Island locations. We specialize in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and caring environment. Call (516) 798-1111 or visit our website to schedule an appointment.

#TBT - The History of Braces

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

When braces were first invented, they typically were reserved for those of wealth, or extreme cases of orthodontic deformations. Now, they are a routine dental procedure that both children and adults undergo to improve their oral health.

For this Throw Back Thursday, let’s take a look at a brief timeline of how they came to be what they are today:

• Braces seem to date back to ancient times. Archeologists have found many mummified remains in and around Egypt of people with metal bands and catgut around their teeth, dating back to 300 BC
• True progress wasn’t really seen until the 18th century when the concept of orthodontic braces started to appear in medical journals. Pierre Fauchard (the father of modern dentistry) published a book known as “The Surgeon Dentist” which documented numerous general dentistry topics, with a specific chapter devoted to orthodontics. This chapter explored ways to straighten teeth, including a concept involving the “Bandeau.” This device looked like a horseshoe, and would be inserted into a patient’s mouth to keep the natural arch of the teeth and mouth in place.
• Further along, in 1819 - the wire crib was invented, an early model of the dental brace we know today. In the same century, gum elastics were also used and X-rays were incorporated into orthodontic procedures.
• The first use of the word “braces” wasn’t until the early 1900s around the same time that Edward Angle, the father of American orthodontics, devised a system that classified anomalies of tooth positions and invented appliances and surgical techniques for their treatment. This system is still in effect today!

Braces have come a long way from using catgut to shift teeth into proper alignment. Even with all the advancements in these last 3,000 years - orthodontists predict the popularity of orthodontic treatment will only increase as the cost and length of treatment time decreases!

If you're seeking orthodontic treatment for your child, consult with one of our orthodontists here at Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental & Orthodontics. Let us help you identify and reduce problems early on to make sure your child’s orthodontic experience is easier in the long run! Call us today!

How to Teach Your Teens the Importance of Brushing

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

 

Remember how difficult it was to get your toddlers to brush their teeth? The good news is you’re now well-trained in encouraging healthy habits. The bad news is that getting tweens and teens to brush every day can be even more difficult. Teens who fail to brush regularly set themselves up for a lifetime pattern of dental neglect. That’s why it’s important to continue encouraging your older kids to take care of their oral health.

Children who are susceptible to gum disease and cavities often start seeing problems when they hit puberty as habits begin to slip. A recent Gallup survey found that a whopping 34 percent of teens only brush their teeth once a day, although the American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth at least twice a day.

Image Source: Gallup

Get your tweens and teens back on track by following these easy tips:

·       Avoid being too pushy, which can make your children less likely to brush

·       Incorporate positive forms of reinforcement and reward your teens for taking care of their oral hygiene

·       Do not use a visit to the dentist as a punishment, as it can create fear and dread

·       Practice good dental health habits to lead by example

How do you get your tweens and teens to brush their teeth twice a day? Tweet us your ideas @AM_pediatric.