Meet Our Staff: Lois Vulpis

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

Up next in our "Meet the Staff" blog series - we have another one of our front desk rock stars, Lois Vulpis! Get to know Lois a bit more, find out what she likes to do in her spare time and how she ended up in pediatric dental:

 

Why did you choose pediatric dentistry or orthodontics?

I taught dance to small children for almost ten years.  I love working with parents and children, so going into this field made sense! 

Did you always think you'd end up working in pediatric dental? What other career dreams did you have as a child?
I wanted to be a nurse, and a dancer, but instead became a computer programmer, systems analyst.

What’s your favorite thing about working with kids every day?
Kids are fun, period.  

Do you have any tips and tricks to calm first time patients?
I smile and greet people in the warmest way, sometimes it can turn an angry person around.

Any suggestions for parents on how to prep kids for their first time visit?
Children read their parents better than anyone. I would tell parents to be upbeat, happy, and always smile when talking about the dentist.

What is the number one problem you encounter when it comes to children’s dental hygiene?
Not taking enough time to brush (my kids especially). Make sure to brush for TWO minutes TWICE daily!

What do you do when you’re not in the office?
I enjoy spending time with my family, I volunteer in a museum and also study dance!

Do you have a favorite movie or TV show?
Downton Abbey   

 
Do you have any pets? What kinds and what are their names? 

I have an old cat that came with the name Boots, though I would have named her Edith, she is beautiful.

What is your favorite vacation spot? 

Wyoming – the Big horn Mountains, and Hawaii

Do you like to cook? What is your specialty?

I make a great Brisket, and mash potatoes, and a great pot of sauce and meatballs!

Who is your favorite band?

The Nick of Time ( My husband’s band)

What is your favorite sushi roll?  

I don’t know - I actually haven’t had any yet!

 

Learn more about our practice and our staff on the web. You can also call any of our three offices to schedule an appointment or walk through with your child.

 

Meet Our Staff: Katie Jantz

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

We want to help you get to know all of the wonderful staff here at Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental. Up first - Katie Jantz!

Did you always know you wanted to work in pediatric dentistry?

No! My dream was always to be a mom.  

What’s your favorite thing about working with kids everyday?  

I love the children's innocence.

Do you have any tips and tricks to calm first time patients?   

I actually tell them that the Doctor doesn't know how to count and that they will need to help them! Focusing on counting with the Doctor keeps their mind off of what's going on.

How do you try to make dentist visits fun and not scary? 

Look at our office, it's easy!

In your experience, what are kids most afraid of when they go to the dentist?

The fear of the unknown. But after they know it won't hurt - they love coming back! 

What do you do when you’re not in the office? 

Everything! Soccer, brownies, dance, basketball and homework. It's easier to be at work!

Do you have a favorite movie or TV show? 

Friends.

Do you have any pets? What kinds and what are their names? 

I do! Her name is Molly, she is an Australian Labradoodle.

Who is your favorite band?

Zac Brown Band.

What is your favorite sushi roll?

Shrimp tempura.

Jello, yuck or yum? 

YUCK.

Would you rather swim with sharks or pet a lion? 

How about neither? But, if I HAD to choose - pet a lion.

Learn more about our practice and our staff on the web. You can also call any of our three offices to schedule an appointment or walk through with your child.

Kids Friendly Hanukkah Crafts

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah! And in honor of this year’s holiday - we’ve gathered some easy Hanukkah crafts for kids to help in celebration:

Felt Dreidel Banner - With assorted colors of felt, craft glue, scissors and some string - you’ll have a banner to string up in no time. Just draw a dreidel shape onto a piece of felt, cut it out and use as a template for the other dreidels for your banner. Then just cut out some shapes (circles, triangles, squares) from the assorted colors, and add them to your dreidels. View the full tutorial here »

Handprint Menorah - Make your own simple, unique menorah with some card stock and paint. Dip your child’s hands in the blue paint, then make a handprint on the card stock being sure to overlap the thumbs. Be sure to wash hands before adding the yellow thumbprint as the flame! View the full tutorial here »

Hanukkah Tissue Paper Suncatchers - Use craft sticks to form a Dreidel or Star of David shape, then cover it in tissue paper to make a beautiful sun catcher for the windows! View the full tutorial here »

Milk Carton Dreidel - One of the best parts of the Hanukkah celebration - playing the dreidel game and eating lots of gelt. Make a homemade dreidel for this year’s games out of a small milk carton, pencil, paintbrush and marker. View the full tutorial here »

 

Check out our Pinterest page for more crafts and share your creations with us on our Facebook page! 

Family Friendly Holiday Events on Long Island

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

From our favorite festive performances, to gingerbread house workshops, light shows and more - one thing is certain, there is no shortage of family friendly holiday events here on Long Island:

Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
Belmont Lake State Park - Saturday December 6th
Head over to Belmont Lake State Park in North Babylon for the annual Holiday Tree Lighting by Santa, carolers, displays, ice sculptures, and a Grand Finale Fireworks Display! Please bring canned food to donate to Long Island Families in need. Learn More »

Jones Beach Holiday Lights Spectacular
Get in the holiday spirit with one of Long Island’s holiday favorites - the Jones Beach Holiday Lights Spectacular! Take a 2.5 mile drive through the park to see over 150 holiday themed light displays, all synchronized to holiday music. Stop in the Holiday Village for photos with Santa, holiday refreshments, music, and a maze! Learn More »

Gingerbread House Workshops
Children’s Museum of the East End Bridgehampton - Saturday December 6th
Decorate a personal gingerbread house with an assortment of treats! Can’t make it this weekend? No worries, this event repeats every weekly. Call the Children’s Museum at      631-537-8250 for more information.

A Christmas Carol
Theatre Three, Port Jefferson
Follow the miser Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey that teaches him the true meaning of Christmas—past, present and future—in almost twice daily performances of the Charles Dickens classic. Learn More »

Trans Siberian Orchestra
 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Uniondale - Thursday December 18th
The rock orchestra wills out their live debut of The Christmas Attic, a holiday tradition for a new generation. Learn More »

For a full roster of events, visit Long Island Press' full article here »

#TuesdayTips - For Keeping Your Kids Smiling Through the New Year!

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

We know the holiday season is a busy time for everyone. With holiday recess from school around the corner and a plethora of holiday happenings - it's not hard for daily routines to fall by the wayside. Don’t let your kids oral health take a back seat as well!

Holiday breaks are a great time to help your little ones establish and maintain healthy dental habits - and their diet is an important part:

Moderate Sugar Intake - Sugary candy, drinks, and food are part of the holidays and with this comes the increase risk of cavities. Look for sugar-free options and avoid carbonated drinks (which can actually erode teeth more than sweetened drinks).

Keep an Eye on Cooked Starches - Cooked starches like breads, pasta, pretzels, and chips can lead to cavities as much as sugars can since they often take longer to clear the mouth than sugars.

Serve Cheese as Snacks - Cheeses like aged cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, and Monterrey jack are great snack or post meal options because they clear the mouth of food and neutralize the acids that attack teeth.

For more healthy holiday habit tips, please visit the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s  article here. If you have additional questions about your child’s teeth, feel free to give us a call. 

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. Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for updates and industry news!

Meet Hermey the Elf

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

If you’ve seen Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, then it’s no surprise to you that Hermey the Elf grew up not wanting to build toys, but instead become a dentist! Now, Hermey continues to do his part in increasing oral health literacy by teaming up with the ADA to promote proper dental hygiene, maintaining the right nutrition, and dental visits as key factors in preventing cavities.

Introduce your kids to Hermey by heading over to MouthHealthyKids.org for free downloadable educational coloring book pages, a fun dental health quiz, and a separate sweepstakes drawing to receive a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer prize package!

In the meantime, here is a Healthy Teeth Checklist that Hermey uses so he can remember how to keep his mouth healthy - share these tips with your kids to help them remember to take care of their teeth too:

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. Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for updates and industry news!

Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental is Going PINK For BCA

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

The month of October accounts for several national observance, including National Dental Hygiene Month, National Orthodontic Health Month, as well as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of the survivors, fighters, and those affected by breast cancer, we have gone PINK at all of our locations.

We are proud to announce our offices are gloving up and joining the fight against breast cancer! For every box of pink gloves we purchase this month, a donation will be made to finding a cure.

We’ll also be Making Strides Against Breast Cancer on Sunday, October 19th at Jones Beach State Park to support our very own, Patty! Today 1 of every 2 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer reaches out to the American Cancer Society for help and support. The donations our team raises will enable investment in groundbreaking breast cancer research, free information and services for women diagnosed with the disease, and access to mammograms for women who need them. 

 

Our donations will help more than 2.9 million breast cancer survivors celebrate another birthday this year!

The Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental Mouthguard Center of L.I.

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

Hope all of our patients enjoyed their first week back in school. But parents, before they run off to their first fall sports game, we have some important news to share. Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental will now be offering a Mouthguard Center at each of our locations! The bonus, you don’t need to be a patient - so be sure to share with your child’s teammates!

Mouthguards are one of the most important pieces of sports equipment your child needs to stay safe. They are a simple solution that helps to dramatically reduce the risk of oral injuries and concussions. Our mouthguard center will fit your child with a custom mouthguard unique to their mouths. A custom fit mouthguard lasts longer, offers greater protection and is more comfortable to wear than store bought guards. Plus your child will have the opportunity to pick their own colors, whether for their school, intramural, or PAL league!

Please come by any of our 3 locations before your child’s next game to be sure a mouth guard is included as part of their uniform:

Nesconset Office
62 Lake Ave., Suite A
Nesconset, NY 11767
(631) 360-7337

Massapequa Park Office
1000 F. Park Blvd.
Massapequa Park, NY 11762
(516) 798-1111

West Islip Office
615 Montauk Highway, West Islip NY 11795
(631) 661-7337