Talking to Your Children About Braces

Let’s talk braces.

Braces are common among many children, teens, and adults in the US. But while some children view getting braces as a rite of passage, others may feel like their world is ending. This hesitation may come from seeing a friend with braces get teased or the fact that they are going through a major life change — like the transition from middle school to high school.

However your child is feeling, it’s important to start a conversation about their impending orthodontic treatment. See below for some things to keep in mind!

Be supportive: Remember, not all kids like the thought of braces, but showing your support and offering advice can work wonders. Did you or your spouse have braces growing up? Dig out some photos and show your child how you looked pre-treatment! This can help them see the big picture — that after this treatment, they’ll have a truly stunning smile!

Explain the benefits: Having a great smile isn't the only benefit of braces. With straight teeth, your child will be able to brush and floss easier, helping prevent cavities and other dental problems! Also, when teeth are aligned properly, you are able to speak, bite, and chew properly.

Give them choices: Metal braces aren’t your child’s only options. Speak with one of our orthodontists about some of the other orthodontic options we offer! For instance, Radiance Clear Braces are exactly that, clear — which is a great choice for any aesthetic concerns. We also offer Invisalign® treatment which straightens teeth with a custom-made series of aligner trays, a virtually invisible piece of plastic that is worn over teeth.

Choose the right orthodontist: When it comes to the health of your child, you wouldn’t pick just anyone to go to for care. At Adelberg Montalvan, we treat our patients as if they were our own children — so you can rest assured that they are in great hands. Just look at what some of our patients have been saying!

And, as an added courtesy, we'd love to offer any NEW patients $500 OFF braces:

Adelberg Montalvan specializes in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and welcoming environment, in three different Long Island locations: Massapequa Park, Nesconset and West Islip. If you are in need of a local orthodontist, look no further! Contact us today to learn more.

New Happenings at Adelberg Montalvan!

We have some new and exciting updates to share with you! From a new face on our star staff to new services for our awesome patients, see below and contact us today with any questions!

New Orthodontist:

We’re pleased to introduce Dr. Mita to our practice! Dr. Mita is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, completed her orthodontic residency at New York University College of Dentistry, and has been delivering outstanding orthodontic care in Nassau and Suffolk country since 2009! She is skilled in treating both children and adults with braces, Invisalign and Invisalign Teen. In her free time you can find her spending time with her family, including her two girls Arya and Leena and dog Louie. Learn more about her here!

New Services:

Introducing: Icon White Spot Removal — a way to treat white spots without drilling or even using the laser. Many people have white spots or decalcifications on their teeth after orthodontic treatment. This painless, one-time procedure only takes 30-45 minutes to eliminate discoloration and restore pearly whites  Ask our doctors if Icon is right for your child or young adult.

Also introducing Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) treatment! SDF treatment is often a more natural way to treat cavities and may be used as an alternative to drilling or filling. When appropriate, SDF is faster and less expensive than drilling and filling while also killing the bacteria that cause cavities. Ask our doctors if SDF is the right choice for your child.  

New Virtual Tours:

Haven’t been to an Adelberg Montalvan location yet? Know what you’re walking into, by virtually stepping foot into our offices courtesy of our new Google virtual tours.

Nesconset:

West Islip:
Massapequa Park:

Adelberg Montalvan specializes in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and welcoming environment, in three different Long Island locations: Massapequa Park, Nesconset and West Islip. If you are in need of a local pediatric dentist and/or orthodontist, look no further! Contact us today to learn more.

Adelberg Montalvan Proud to Support the Nassau/Suffolk Autism Society of America

Did you know that more than 3.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder? And, since 2000, the prevalence of autism in U.S. children has increased by 119.4 percent, from 1 in 150 in 2000 to 1 in 68 in 2010. In fact, the CDC lists autism as the fastest-growing developmental disability.

As we approach Autism Awareness Month (April), we’re proud to announce our support for the Nassau/Suffolk Autism Society of America!

Each of our offices will be participating in this year’s puzzle piece heart campaign and starting TODAY, March 29, we will be accepting donations to help make a difference for individuals with autism!

During your next visit, donate a $1 (or more!) and sign your name in one of these puzzle piece hearts to hang in our office. We will match ALL donations 1:1 and even give an extra dollar for each NEW LIKE or FOLLOWER we receive on our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram)! All donations will go toward social and recreational events for individuals with autism on Long Island.

We are proud to be supporting such a phenomenal charity and truly believe that together we can make a difference!

Adelberg Montalvan specializes in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and welcoming environment, in three different Long Island locations: Massapequa Park, Nesconset and West Islip. If you are in need of a local pediatric dentist and/or orthodontist, look no further! Contact us today to learn more.

Spring Sports Safety: Custom Mouth Guards

Spring is officially here! And with the new season comes blooming flowers, warmer weather and of course, spring sports! As your children get ready to head outdoors, be sure to schedule an appointment with Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental for a custom fit mouth guard!

Just like you wouldn’t let your child go up to bat without a helmet or run onto the field without shin guards, mouth guards are critical for protecting your child’s smile!

Here’s how spring sports can hurt your child’s teeth:

Baseball and Softball — One of the biggest threats to the mouth is the ball itself. The impact of a ball can knock out or chip a tooth, or in other cases, misalign a jaw!

Lacrosse — The good thing here is that both girls and boys lacrosse requires the use of a mouth guard to even be allowed to play! But even during a friendly game of lacrosse catch on the weekend, one should not skip the mouth guard. Much like the above, an accidental ball to the mouth is always a possibility.

Soccer — Close plays can lead to elbows or knees to the face as well as falls to the ground! If the chin or mouth is hit in the wrong way, a mouth guard can help protect chipped teeth or cuts.

Why are custom fit mouth guards the best choice?

Well, let’s face it — any mouth guard is better than NO mouth guard, but custom mouth guards truly work best. Here’s why!

Consider this, if a helmet is too loose on your child’s head, it’s not really offering the protection it should — if anything it is decreasing it’s effectiveness! Store bought, generic guards function in a similar way. With custom fit mouth guards from Adelberg Montalvan, each guard we create is done off of a mold of your child’s mouth. That means they are completely unique to their owner. By fitting your child’s mouth perfectly, they offer optimal protection (even for those with braces!).

When a mouth guard is unique to an athlete’s mouth, it offers optimal comfort. The more comfortable something is, the more likely your child will be to wear it! And since all sports require some level of communication, a comfortable, proper fitting guard won’t restrict speech.

To help make custom fit mouth guards more accessible, we offer a dedicated Mouth Guard Center at each of our locations! We can fit your child with a custom guard, in any color or design and the bonus is you don’t need to be a patient — so be sure to share with your child’s teammates!

Have we convinced you yet? Feel free to give any of our three Long Island locations a call, we’d be happy to answer any further questions!

Choose AMPD for Your Orthodontic Needs!

At Adelberg Montalvan, we specialize in Pediatric Dentistry AND Orthodontics. All of our orthodontists are Board Certified and are proficient in treating both children and adults with metal braces, clear braces and Invisalign®.

If you are considering orthodontic treatment for your child, look no further — just see what some of our patients have been saying!

“Dr. Jenny and her staff are FABULOUS!! From the moment you walk in, you are greeted at the front desk. You barely wait. My daughter's smile is priceless thanks to Dr. Jenny. I truly recommend her. Thank you!” — Christine D.

“Awesome visit with Dr. Jon today! He and the entire staff made the process of getting braces a piece of cake for my son.” — Jodi R.

“Delia is 12 now and looking at her smile makes me happy that I made the right choice with Dr. Jenny and her staff! She barely could close her mouth with protruding upper teeth now they are all straight.” — Rosa P.

“Jenny is a wonderful person and orthodontist! She, with her partner Jon, are my go to people when it comes to all things orthodontic. Jenny and Jon will be treating my children when they are ready!” — Marc B.

“Dr Jenny is the absolute best! I have a beautiful smile because of her! Absolutely recommend her for anyone who wants a perfect smile!” — Meghan D.

“I'd give Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental 10 stars if I could. Their offices are a state-of-the-art facility, clean, inviting and kid friendly. Their front desk staff is professional friendly and accommodating. Their Doctors give top notch dental care from cleaning, fillings and orthodontic care with a kid friendly approach. My daughter is never afraid to go to her appointment. In fact she looks forward to them.” — Anna W.

“My son Michael's wire on his braces came lose. We didn't have an appointment, but when I called they told me to come in right away. One of the dental hygienist fixed the problem. Everyone is always so pleasant & provide excellent service.” — Michael M.

“I am always very confident that my children are receiving the best dental care they possibly can. Dr. Jeanine is extremely patient and caring, putting my anxious child at ease. Dr. Jenny is an excellent orthodontist.” — Christian B.

New to our practice? Take advantage of our New Patient Gift Voucher — $500 OFF New Patient Braces!

If you have any additional questions or concerns regarding your child’s oral care or if you need to schedule an appointment, please give us a call at any of our three convenient Long Island locations.

Last Minute St. Patrick's Day Crafts & Activities

It's St. Patrick's Day and you're in LUCK! With a little help from Pinterest, we rounded up some last minute crafts and snacks to help keep your family in the holiday spirit. Help your little leprechauns celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with these creative crafts and activities!

Kill time before dinner this evening, have your kids make some Shamrock Men! It’s fun, easy, and super inexpensive — all you need is white and green paper, a black marker, scissors, glue, shamrock templates (large and small), and googly eyes (if you don’t want to draw them on).

For dessert, treat your family to Lime Sherbet Floats in honor of St. Patrick’s Day! All it takes is two ingredients and a few simple steps. Just remember to brush for two minutes before bed tonight!

Make tonight a game night! Download these FREE printable St. Patrick’s Day Bingo cards and challenge your family to a match! Kids of all ages can play.

Heading to one of the St. Patrick’s Day parades on Long Island this weekend? Make a shamrock stamped shirt! All you need is a clover pattern, a shirt, freezer paper, fabric paint, and a pencil with an unused eraser.

And why stop there? Compliment your new shirts with a one of a kind Paper Plate Leprechaun Mask! You’ll need a paper plate, construction paper, orange paint (or marker), gold glitter, glue, yarn, and scissors.

From all of us here at Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental — we hope you have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

If you have any questions about how to improve your child's oral health please give our offices a call. We specialize in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and welcoming environment. Contact us today at one of our three convenient Long Island locations!

Tips for Celebrating National Nutrition Month

Image courtesy of Eatright.org

It’s time to put your best fork forward in honor of National Nutrition Month! This year, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reminds us that by making small changes this month and over time, you can easily help improve your health now and for the future!

Not sure where to begin? See below for some nutrition tips for the whole family:

Make eating fruits and veggies fun! Trust us, it’s easy. On your next pizza night, add spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, or broccoli as a topping. For breakfast, treat yourself to a healthy smoothie — with strawberries and a banana. Get saucy with fruit — puree berries or apples in a blender and use the thick, sweet sauce on pancakes or meats. Enjoy a loaded baked potato — with beans, tomatoes, and low-fat cheese. For 16 additional tips, download this handout! 

Choose smart snacks. Eating the right snacks throughout the day helps keep you energized and focused between meals — necessary for kids in school and even adults at work! Try making stuffed pita pockets: whole-grain pita, stuffed with ricotta cheese, granny smith apple slices, and a dash of cinnamon. Spread celery sticks with smooth nut butter or low-fat cream cheese, top with raisins for the traditional “ants on a log.” For more sacking tips, download this handout!

Cook more, eat out less. Eating right isn’t impossible, even if you’re on a budget. All it takes is a little extra planning before you shop! In fact, when you prepare meals at home, they end up being cheaper and more nutritious. So before your next grocery run, plan your meals for the week, check recipes, and consult your kitchen cabinets to create a list of must have items. Additionally you’ll want to:

• Shop for foods(fruits and vegetables) that are in season. Since they’re easier to get, they tend to be less expensive.
• Focus on nutritious, low-cost foods! Foods like beans, peas, white potatoes, eggs, peanut butter, canned tuna, brown rice, quinoa, and frozen vegetables are all nutritious and often less expensive.
• Consult your newspaper and look online for sales and coupons — especially when it comes to the more expensive ingredients like meat or seafood. Compare prices while shopping as well! Different brands may increase the charge.
  

Reduce sources of added sugars! Too much sugar is bad for your health — and for you teeth! Choose water over sugary sports drinks, juices, or sodas. Add cinnamon or dried fruit to plain oatmeal instead of instant flavored oatmeal. Switch to unsweetened or no sugar added applesauce or jams/jellies. Small substitutions go a long way!

Just as a balanced diet is good for our waistline - it's just as necessary for a healthy smile! If you have any questions about how to improve your child's oral health please give our offices a call. We specialize in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and welcoming environment. Contact us today at one of our three convenient Long Island locations!