Pediatric Dental Services Offered at Adelberg Montalvan

Oral care is important for each and every child that wishes to remain in good health (and have a bright smile). Here at Adelberg Montalvan, we believe that each child should receive services that are specific to them. With a wide array of pediatric dental services, we will explain all options and discuss a tailored treatment specifically for your child.

Preventative & Diagnostic

• Comprehensive oral evaluations are recommended at least once every six months to prevent cavities and other dental problems.
• Regular cleanings will keep gums and teeth healthy. Removal of tartar & plaque and polishing will give your child the bright smile they deserve!
• Fluoride treatments are available to help strengthen teeth and prevent early decay.
• Dental X-rays can help identify possible tooth decay, additional teeth, done defects, cysts, and to check the progress of previous procedures.
• Custom mouth guards can be made to better protect your child’s teeth and gums, in comparison to uncomfortable pre-formed mouth guards.

Aesthetic

• For children with chipped or misshapen adult teeth, bonding can be used to fill and restore their smile.
• Whitening teeth has been made simple and safe with professional grade AND teen safe bleaching kits.
• Icon white spot removal is available for those with unusual white spots (anyone with recently removed braces). This treatment is done without drilling or shots!

Restorative

• Composite fillings are used to fill cavities with a strong, white colored material. Removal of cavities and the addition of composite fillings can be done in a single day.
• Root canals are sometimes necessary on small children with baby teeth. This procedure is known as a Pulp Treatment. The dental pulp inside of the tooth will be removed, the root canals will be cleaned, and the canals will be filled with material until the tooth is ready to fall out on its own.
• Dental crowns are available for your child — oftentimes they are completed in a single visit! White ceramic crowns are available for primary teeth as well.
• When a tooth can't be saved, extraction are available. Since we want to make this as comfortable as possible for your child, we use the most minimally invasive techniques in combination with “laughing gas.”

For children, there is no one size fits all service, which is why we will tailor our services to your child’s needs! Feel free to give any of our three Long Island locations a call, we’d be more than happy to answer any questions you might have!

Oral Health Tips For Children With Autism

For children with autism, caring for teeth can be challenging. The sensation of brushing, opening their mouth, or laying back in a dental chair may feel uncomfortable. Every child is different! Fortunately, there are ways to make the experience less stressful. In honor of Autism Awareness Month, here are a few tips to help children with autism care for their teeth.

Oral Health Tips:

1. Choose the Right Toothbrush - Choose a toothbrush that is the right size for your child’s mouth — and make sure that the bristles are soft. This will minimize discomfort.
2. Teach Them to “Open Wide” - Get your child used to the sensation of opening their mouth wide for brushing or for dental visits.
3. Show Them How to Brush - Stand behind your child with their head on your chest. Then, you can guide the brush as if you were brushing your own teeth. If your child is uncomfortable doing this in the bathroom, try brushing their teeth on the couch or bed — wherever they feel the most comfortable.
4. Introduce Flossing - Again, place your child’s head on your chest and floss as if it were your own teeth.
5. Use a Timer - For some children, using a timer can help making tooth brushing simple, as they can see when the task will be over.
6. Use Visual Supports - If your child benefits from visual supports and schedules, take photographs of the steps on how to brush your teeth. Print them and create a visual for your child. You can also create a schedule that they can check off after the activities occur.
7. Reward Them For a Job Well Done - If your child benefits from verbal praise — reward them after each step!

We are proud to announce our support for the Nassau/Suffolk Autism Society of America this month. During your next visit to our office, donate a $1 or more — we are matching all donations 1:1. We are also giving an extra dollar for each NEW LIKE or FOLLOWER we get on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels. Learn more about how you can get involved on our blog.

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 that treats young children with special needs, look no further! Our doctors are specially trained in providing dental health care for children with autism. Contact us today to learn more.

Answering Your Orthodontic FAQs

Orthodontic care can improve the appearance of your smile, your overall health, and even your confidence. However, we also know that since orthodontic treatment is a big decision, it comes with a lot of questions. These are a few of the most frequently asked questions that we receive.

Your Orthodontic FAQs:

1. At what age should I schedule an orthodontic appointment for my child?

It  is recommended that children have an orthodontic screening at age 7. By this age, most children have several permanent teeth, allowing an orthodontist to evaluate the need for early treatment.

2. Are there any age limits to braces?

We provide orthodontic treatment to patients of all ages! While we do recommend early treatment for children, we also provide adult braces to those who are looking to improve smile alignment later on in life.

3. Will I have to change my oral health routine after braces?

Metal and clear braces both require changes to your eating and oral health care habits. Sticky, hard foods can get stuck in your braces — or in some cases, break them. You’ll want to avoid biting into hard apples and other foods that can cause the brackets to break. You will also need to be diligent with your oral health care to ensure that you remove all food particles that get stuck in your braces.

There are fewer restrictions for those that improve their smile alignment with Invisalign®, as the Invisalign® aligners are removable during meals and when brushing your teeth.

4. What is the difference between metal braces, clear braces and Invisalign®?

Traditional metal braces have brackets that are glued to your teeth with a thin wire running through each bracket. Like traditional metal braces, Radiance Clear Braces align your smile — however, the ceramic braces are made from pure grown sapphire, so that they are strong, stain-resistant and clear.

Invisalign® is a modern alignment method that uses a custom set of clear aligners that gradually aligns your smile overtime. This is perfect for those who are looking to cosmetically align their smiles. They are removable and nearly invisible when on.

5. How Do I Schedule an Appointment for an Initial Exam?

Give us a call! Our doctors are excellent at treating and recognizing oral health problems. We use orthodontics to correct malocclusion, overbite, underbites, cross bites, deep bites, crooked teeth, cosmetic flaws, and other dental health issues.

At Adelberg Montalvan, our orthodontists are experienced in providing both children and adults with metal braces, clear braces, and Invisalign®. If you are considering orthodontic treatment for yourself or your child, schedule an appointment at one of our three Long Island locations.

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Earth Day Activities for Kids

Earth Day shouldn’t just be a normal day when you have children. It’s an opportunity for you to bond with your kids and teach them the importance of recycling and keeping the environment clean. Since Earth Day falls on a Saturday this year, you can spend the day teaching your children how to help the planet with these fun activities:

Explaining Water Pollution

Many children know that recycling can help the environment, but they don’t realize the effects of pollution and littering. To show them how hard it is to reverse the effects of pollution, fill a bucket with water along with some usual household trash and cooking oil (to mimic oil spills). Give your children a pair of tongs and a strainer and tell them to try and remove the pollution. They will be able to remove the large pieces of garbage, but will obviously be unable to remove the oil and any small pieces of dirt and debris.

Lesson Learned: Littering and polluting can severely hurt the environment. You can try to remove as much of the waste as you can, but you will never be able to remove 100 percent of it.

Sorting the Recyclables

Explaining why everyone needs to recycle is one thing, but showing your children how to do it can make all the difference! Set up four baskets each labeled “paper, plastic, metal, glass.” Then give them a bag filled with glass jars, cans, paper dishware, plastic water bottles, etc. Allow them to place each item in the basket they think is the correct one. Once they have finished, inspect their choices and then explain to them which ones they had trouble identifying.

Lesson Learned: By knowing which items should be recycled, kids will think twice before throwing all of their waste into the trash bin.

Being able to teach your children how they can help save the environment is a bonding experience every family should partake in. We hope you enjoy your Earth Day – remember to tag us in your Earth Day photos!

Adelberg Montalvan specializes in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and welcoming environment, in three different Long Island locations. Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for updates and industry news!

It's National Facial Protection Month!

Now that the weather is finally warming up, kids will be heading outside to play baseball, softball, lacrosse, and other spring sports. While it is great to get outdoors and stay active — it’s also important that kids stay safe. Did you know that 13-39% of all dental injuries are sports-related? In honor of National Facial Protection Month, we are reminding all of our patients to wear mouthguards to protect their teeth when playing!

If your child is injured while playing an after school or community sport this spring, here are the steps that you can follow to care for their smile.

What to Do When Injuries Occur:

Broken Tooth

Broken tooth? Place all of the broken pieces in water or milk and give us a call. It’s important to see a dentist within 24 hours of breaking your tooth.

Displaced Tooth

A displaced tooth is a tooth that is pushed forward, backward, sideways or rotated. If the tooth is hanging down, you can try to re-position it. However, it is important that you give our office a call immediately.

Knocked Out Tooth

Time is essential when it comes to lost teeth. See your dentist immediately, as re-plantation should be done within five to ten minutes. After you have found the tooth, hold it by the crown. You can rinse it off, but do not rub or touch the root. Put the tooth back in the socket and cover it with gauze to stabilize it.

Cuts

Facial cuts should be cleaned and dressed appropriately. If you have cuts inside of your mouth, gently rinse your mouth with cold water and bite on some gauze.

Jaw Fracture

If your teeth fit together properly when your mouth is closed, apply ice to your jaw and take ibuprofen to control any pain. Restrict your diet to soft foods — and if you are still experiencing pain within 24 hours, make sure you schedule a dental appointment. If your teeth do not fit together, it is important to seek emergency care. Apply ice to control the swelling while you wait.

If your child plays spring sports, we encourage you to reach out to our office. We create custom mouthguards for children — and can even customize the design to reflect their favorite sports team. Give one of our three convenient Long Island locations a call today to learn more!

Weekday Fun for LI Families: Passover Dinner, Spring Break Camps, Easter Fun

Passover dinners, weekday camps and photos with the Easter Bunny — here is what’s happening across Long Island this week!

Passover Dinner at Thyme
(~30 minutes from our Massapequa Park location)
On Monday, April 10 and Tuesday, April 11, Thyme Restaurant in Roslyn will offer a special Passover Dinner Prix Fixe Menu from 4p - 9p. Menu items include: Traditional Seder Plate, Matzo Ball Soup, Pan-Roasted Chicken, and more! Children’s options also available. Cost: Adults $59 / Children under 10 years $24. Call 516.625.2566 for reservations or visit OpenTable.com.

Peter Rabbit at Bayway Arts Center
(~15 minutes from our West Islip location)
Hop on over to East Islip’s Bayway Arts Center Children’s Theatre through Wednesday April, 12 to catch a performance of Peter Rabbit. See what adventures (and mischief) he and his cousin Benjamin get into each day at 1p. Tickets cost $11 per person.

Free Family Drop-In Day at The Long Island Museum
(~10 minutes from our Nesconset location)
On Tuesday, April 11 from 11a - 1p, bring the family to tour the Edible Eden exhibition in the Art Museum. Starting at 11:30a, museum educators will lead family fun activities and crafts in the Studio. All will discover how different artists have depicted food from Long Island’s forests, fields and waters.

Hands-on Science Zone Activities at the Cradle of Aviation Museum
(~20 minutes from our Massapequa Park location)
From April 11 - April 13 from 11a - 4p, participate in three great hands-on activities! Rising Sea: See how the land can change as waters rise. Ice Orbs: See how astronauts might look for signs of life hidden on a frozen planet. Imagining Life: Imagine a faraway planet and the alien life you think inhabits it. Learn more here!

Take a Photo with the Easter Bunny at Smith Haven Mall
(~8 minutes from our Nesconset location)
The Easter Bunny Photo Experience is open and this week is your last chance to capture those keepsake photos! Head to simon.noerrbunny.com to reserve your appointment for a photo with the fluffy one ahead of time.

Are you planning to attend any fun events or activities? Share with us on our Facebook page!

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.

$1,000 High School Senior Scholarship

Have you heard? We’re proud to bring back our scholarship contest for a SECOND year! From all of us at Adelberg Montalvan, we’d like to extend our congratulations to all of our graduates. Knowing that we’ve cared for many patients from their cribs through college years, we want to recognize this milestone and award THREE lucky individuals a $1,000 scholarship for the upcoming school year! See below for more details.

Enter to Win a $1,000 Scholarship

The criteria:

• You must be an active patient in our practice
• You must write an essay about how our office has inspired you
• You must be a graduating senior

We will choose one essay in each location. The winning essay will be featured on our social media channels along with a photo of the winners. Deadline for submission is Wednesday, June 15. Please include the office location where you are seen and submit your essays to AMPDscholarship@gmail.com!

Looking for some inspiration? First, view our essay writing tips in our blog here then take a look at last year’s scholarship winners for some inspiration.  


 

Thanks again to all who submitted their essay last year and good luck to all graduating seniors submitting an essay this year. We can’t wait to read your stories!

Adelberg Montalvan specializes in caring for children’s teeth — from their first visit through their college years. If you are in need of a local pediatric dentist and/or orthodontist, look no further. Give one of our three convenient Long Island locations a call today to learn more!