What Teeth Do Babies Get First?

Are you waiting for your child’s first tooth to come in? This is an exciting milestone for any parent and their child! However, if you are like many new parents, you probably have a lot of questions about when to expect your child’s first tooth, where it will come in and how to care for these tiny teeth. That’s why we’ve laid out everything that you need to know about your child’s first tooth below!

When can you expect the first tooth to come in?

Exactly when your child’s first tooth will appear can vary. However, you will likely see their first teeth coming in between 4 and 7 months, with the next coming in between 8 and 12 months. Keep in mind that it is normal for there to be variation in the times that your child’s teeth come in — so don’t worry if your baby begins cutting teeth earlier or later.

What teeth typically come in first?

The first baby teeth, also known as primary teeth, deciduous teeth, or milk teeth, are usually the bottom middle teeth. These two teeth are typically followed by the upper middle teeth coming in next.

How do you care for tiny teeth?

Although your child’s first tooth can be exciting, it can also be a long and difficult process. Fortunately, there are ways to help you alleviate your little one’s teething pain. Give your little one soft rubber teethers and cloth toys to gnaw on while they teethe. You can also help soothe the main by massaging the aching guns with a clean finger and gentle pressure.

If you have any questions about how to care for your little one’s teeth, do not hesitate to reach out to our office to schedule your child’s first dental visit! We are here to help keep their tiny teeth healthy for many years to come.

Fun Weekend Events That Will Make Your Summer Even Better

There is no shortage of fun things to do here on Long Island, especially during the summer months. If you’re looking to get the kids out of the house, here are a few events you’ll definitely want to check out with your little ones.

Fun Weekend Events:

Sleep Under the Stars Sea

(~50 minutes from our Nesconset office)

That’s right! This weekend, you can sleep over at the Long Island Aquarium, where you can dream alongside your favorite fish. Kids will learn about penguins with hands-on activities. Admission to the event is $64.95 (free for children under the age of 2) and includes a movie, crafts, and snacks.

Enjoy the Bellport Day Festival

(~35 minutes from our West Islip office)

The Bellport Day Festival is full of live music, trolley tours and dance performances. Your kids will love the petting zoo — and of course, all of the food that will be there!

Visit the LI Game Farm (for less)

(~30 minutes from our Nesconset office)

This Saturday, admission to the park will be the same price that it was back in 1970 — the year that it opened! Enjoy most of the shows and attractions that the Long Island Game Farm Wildlife Park and Children’s Zoo has to offer for just $3.90 + tax.

Enjoy Country Music at Country Fest LI

(~50 minutes from our Nesconset office)

If you’re a country music fan, you won’t want to miss Country Fest LI this Saturday & Sunday! This festival has live music, pony rides, face painting and more! What better way to spend time outdoors than with music and fun?

Enter the Hither Hills State Park Sand Castle Contest

(~1.5 hours from our Nesconset office)

Think you are the best sand castle maker around? Take a road trip out east and enter the Hither Hills State Park weekly sand castle contest. It’s held each Thursday morning until August 31st!

Prevent Dental Emergencies While Away On Vacation

Planning a much needed family vacation? While you should definitely be excited about prepping for all of the fun activities you have planned, you should also make sure that you know what to do in the event of an emergency. These tips will help you prevent dental emergencies while you’re enjoying your time away.

Be proactive.

Schedule a pre-vacation visit with us. This way, we can address any issues that are of concern now to lessen the likelihood of an emergency later. If you know you’ll be traveling somewhere that may not have adequate dental services, let us know. Our expert staff will advise you on what to do should something occur that may cause an emergency dental visit.

Stay mindful.

Vacations should absolutely be a time when your family can let loose and have fun — but do keep an eye out on what is being consumed. Hard candies, popcorn and sticky treats can wreak havoc on tiny teeth — so if you're trying to avoid a possible dental emergency, you may want to avoid particular snacks. If you do come across these foods, consume in moderation and make sure your little ones brush and floss immediately after!

Pack a dental emergency kit.

Hopefully you won’t need to use it, but you’ll be thankful you have it on hand. Bring mouth guards (if you are planning any sporting activities, it’s better to be safe than sorry!), pain relievers (both topical and ingested), orthodontic wax (for those with braces!), cotton and gauze, floss, and our contact information!

Maintain routines.

Leading up to your vacation as well as during your vacation, don't let dental routines take a backseat. Brushing two minutes twice a day and flossing regularly is your child’s best defense against dental problems.

Remember, teeth are not tools.

Teeth serve many functions from chewing to helping us speak properly. And while it may be possible, they should not be used to open things (like bottles) or cut things (like tape). Doing so can cause chipped or cracked teeth so if you want to keep smiles intact, stick to chewing only.

While the above preventative measures can help avoid dental emergencies while away, they can’t always prevent them. Should your child have a dental emergency, act fast and look up an ADA Member Dentist for immediate treatment if needed. Then be sure to give our offices a call!

No matter what dental emergency you may experience, remember Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental is here for you and your child. For questions and concerns please feel free to contact us at any of our three locations or visit us online to schedule an appointment!

Weekend Events Here On Long Island!

Looking for something fun to do with the kids this weekend? There are a ton of outdoor and indoor activities here on Long Island during the summer months. So, whether rain or shine, are a few weekend events to check out with your little ones.

Seussical the Musical

(~14 minutes from our West Islip location)

Watch your child’s favorite Dr. Seuss characters get brought to life — including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie and Jojo. Visit the CK Production website for ticket information and showtimes.

Family Fun Day

(~11 minutes from our Nesconset Location)

Local author Cindy Sommer will be at the Long Island Museum reading her book Saving Kate’s Flowers. Afterwards, children can enjoy nature-themed crafts and even a few special guests from the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind.

Mermaid Tea Party

(~30 minutes from our Massapequa Park location)

Have some fun under the sea at the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum & Education Center. At this fun program, kids can decorate tiaras, explore beautiful seashells, make fun crafts and enjoy delicious treats. The tea party is $15 for the first child, and $4 for any additional child (so invite their friend or bring a sibling)!

Sensory Garden Sundays

(~30 minutes from our Massapequa Park location)

Every Sunday this summer, Planting Field Arboretum hosts “Sensory Garden Sundays.” This fun program gives children the opportunity to see, taste, touch, smell and listen to all of the wonderful plants in the Sensory Garden. Get back in touch with nature and enjoy the warm weather at this cute event.

Movies on the Beach — Toy Story!

Watch a Disney favorite at Nickerson Beach! The film begins at about 8:20pm. Bring your kids, a picnic blanket, beach chairs and a few snacks. Enjoy spending time outdoors in the summer while watching a kid-friendly movie under the stars.

Recent Patient Reviews: July 2017

We take pride in providing our patients (both parents and children!) with a wonderful dental experience. If you are new to our practice, or you’re just looking to see what others have said about our dental and orthodontic services, here are a few of our most recent reviews!

Recent Patient Reviews:

“AMAZING practice!! I was very nervous to take my 2 and 4 year old to the dentist for the first time. Dr. Mark and his staff made my girls so comfortable they now want to go to his office all the time!!!” - Lindsay K.

“They are so wonderful! My children go here. My 11 year old just got her braces from Dr. John & his Dental Hygenist Leslie. They were so kind & funny. They had her relaxed and put my girl at ease. I highly recommend them!” - Jeanine O.

“Dr. Jeanine is amazing! Everyone is so friendly and patient. Thank you for a wonderful experience!” - Pennie H.

“Lynda & Dr. Adam (really the entire staff from the moment you walk in) are so pleasant and are amazing with my children.  They are patient with my children (and me in scheduling multiple appointments for my 3 children) and take the time to explain what is occurring in a reassuring manner.  Every time we leave I am thankful that they are the ones taking care of my children's beautiful teeth!” - Serena R.

“We have been going to the practice for years. Everyone is friendly and knowledgeable. Lynda knows all my children by name and always greets them with a smile. Appointment times are readily available. In addition to providing outstanding dental care,  last year, my daughter received a very generous college scholarship award from Dr. Adelberg and his staff.” - Sharon Z.

A special thank you to EVERYONE who has shared their dental experiences with us. We always strive to give our patients the best possible dental experience. Have you recently had an appointment at our Massapequa Park, Nesconset or West Islip offices? Feel free to share a review on Google or Facebook! We love hearing from you!

Does My Child Need Braces?

One of the most common questions that parents ask at their child’s dental visit is “how do I know if my child will need braces?” We know that this a concern for many parents. And while there is no set time frame for when a child should get braces, if needed, it is important that they wait until most of their baby teeth have fallen out (around the ages of 10 to 13). If your child has lost all of his or her baby teeth, keep an eye out for these signs that they might need braces down the line.

Signs Your Child Needs Braces:

• They lost their baby teeth early (or late).
• They are having difficulty chewing.
• The have tooth crowding.
• They have an overbite/underbite.
• They have missing or extra teeth.
• Their jaw is in the incorrect position.

Depending on your child’s orthodontic needs, we offer traditional metal brace,s Radiance clear ceramic braces, and Invisalign® options.

Traditional Braces:

Traditional orthodontic braces are one of the best ways to improve smile alignment. With metal braces, we can correct crooked and crowded teeth, as well as misaligned bite and jaw problems.

Radiance Clear Braces:

For those that are looking to improve their smile alignment, but don’t want to opt for the metallic braces, we offer clear, ceramic braces. These braces mimic the color of your natural teeth.

Invisalign® :

If you are looking to cosmetically align your smile, we also offer Invisalign® . This orthodontic alternative is perfect for those who want to align their teeth without committing to traditional or clear brackets.

At Adelberg & Montalvan Pediatric Dentistry, our orthodontists know how to treat both children and adults. We offer metal braces, clear braces, and Invisalign® orthodontic options. Give us a call to schedule an appointment for a consultation — we can help you determine what orthodontic method is best for your, or your child’s, smile needs.

Celebrate National Mac and Cheese Day!

It’s National Mac and Cheese Day — will you be celebrating with a bowl of this kid-friendly favorite? What many parents don’t realize is that not only is mac and cheese kid-friendly, it’s tooth-friendly, too (just remember to brush after)! These are a few of the benefits that cheese can have for your smile health.

Health Benefits of Cheese:

• It raises the pH of your mouth. Lower pH levels put your teeth at risk of cavities. Cheese raises the pH of your mouth above 5.5, lowering your risk of tooth decay.
• It’s full of calcium and phosphorus. Cheese is full of calcium and phosphorus, both which strengthen the bones in your body — including your teeth!
• Chewing stimulates saliva. Chewing stimulates saliva flow in your mouth, washing away harmful sugars and bacteria.

While cheese can have many health benefits — it’s important that you chose the right type of cheese. Cheeses that are pre-packaged, or are processed cheese products, are full of added sugars that can wear down your enamel. Avoid these and stick to tooth-friendly cheeses like cheddar and monterey jack!

Making mac and cheese at home? Skip the boxed products and make your own, healthier version, like this low sugar, lower carb, four cheese mac and cheese!

If you find yourself with a toothache, or it’s time to schedule your dental checkup, give our office a call. We are here to help keep tiny teeth healthy all summer long!

Nassau-Suffolk Autism Society of America's Local Movie Event!

We are very thankful for the opportunity that we recently had to work together with the Nassau-Suffolk Autism Society of America (NSASA)!

NSASA is a parent run organization here on Long Island that supports individuals with autism in the local community. Through fundraising efforts, they provide educational, social and recreational opportunities to individuals with autism and their families.

One of the ways in which they are able to provide these opportunities is through private movie screenings — as it is often difficult for families to plan trips to the theater.

We recently had the opportunity to sponsor a local movie day on Thursday, June 29th at Regal Cinemas Ronkonkoma! Families that attended enjoyed a wonderful day watching Cars 3 — and importantly, making memories together! We love when we can give back to the community — especially when we get to support wonderful causes like this one. NSASA provides families with a number of positive experiences in a non-judgmental, welcoming environment. We hope that everyone who attended had a wonderful time!

Learn more about the Nassau-Suffolk Chapter Autism Society of America and what they do on their website. You can also donate to this parent driven organization here to help support local families affected by autism.