Q&A with Dr. Alyssa Levy

We’re proud to introduce the newest member of our staff, Dr. Alyssa Levy! Dr. Alyssa is super excited to be part of the AMPD family — did you know, her first experience in the field of pediatric dentistry began when she shadowed our very own doctors at our Nesconset location during summers home from college?!

We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Alyssa full time and to help you get to know her a bit better we decided to do a quick Q&A. Learn why she chose a career in pediatric dentistry, her thoughts on jello, and what she does in her spare time below!

Q: What led you to a career in dental, and why pediatric dental in particular?
A: After my first year out of college I decided to shadow at Adelberg Montalvan to see if dentistry was a field I would be interested in. After spending only a few days in the office, I quickly realized what an amazing profession pediatric dentistry was. I am honored to say the beginning of my journey started with this practice and I am beyond excited to continue my love for this field by joining the team as a pediatric dentist!

Q: What’s your favorite thing about working with kids every day?
A: Kids have the most amazing imagination and I enjoy being able to form lasting relationships and watching them grow.

Q: Jello, yuck or yum? 
A: Yuck!

Q: What do you do when you’re not in the office?
A: During my free time you can find me hanging out on the beach, spending time with family and friends, trying out new restaurants, and spin class!

Q: Do you have any pets? 
A: I grew up with a golden retriever named Chauncy and its one of my favorite breeds of dogs.

Q: What is your favorite vacation spot?
A: Any tropical island. My favorite trip so far has been to Hawaii!

Q: What is your proudest accomplishment?
A: Being recognized for patient care when receiving the Service Excellence Award during my time in residency.

Q: Do you like to cook? 
A: I love cooking and baking too! I learned to cook from my Italian grandmother and love making my own sauce.

Q: Would you rather swim with sharks or pet a lion? 
A: Pet a lion, they look super soft and I’m fascinated by their mane and large canines!

Q: What advice do you have for students pursuing careers in dental?
A: Stay focused and keep your eye on the prize! There are going to be many successes and struggles throughout your journey but each experience will mold you into a humbled and outstanding clinician. 

Dr. Alyssa will be primarily seeing patients in our West Islip and Nesconset office, be sure to say hello the next time you come in!

Reasons to Wear a Mouthguard [Infographic]

We encourage you to play it safe! Dental emergencies and other injuries can be prevented, with the use of a custom fit mouthguard.

Custom guards are more comfortable, don’t restrict breathing or speech, and provide the highest level of protection.

As you may know, certain sports require the use of mouthguard — like football, lacrosse, wrestling, ice hockey and field hockey. But while they’re not required for others, they should still be worn for sports or activities like basketball, skateboarding, karate, baseball or any sport that poses dangers to the mouth and teeth.

Before this upcoming sports season, be sure to make an appointment at our Mouthguard Center of Long Island! We will fit your child with a mouthguard specific to their mouth and they can choose their colors to coincide with their school, intramural, or PAL league’s uniform. Contact us at any of our three locations today for more information!

Let's Get This Straight: Q&A About Retainers

Hooray -- the time has come, your child’s braces are coming off! No more needing to avoid certain foods or use specialized tools for cleaning, but you're not out of the woods just yet. 

Children’s teeth continue to grow and shift into adulthood, which is why there is a crucial second step to keeping their smiles perfect -- retainers. Here are some answers to the most common retainer questions. 

1. Why Does My Child Have To Wear A Retainer?
Nothing is permanent in orthodontics! We help align the teeth, but they can move after braces come off -- defeating the purpose of all that hard work! Consistent retainer use will help keep their teeth straight and keep you from coming back for braces for the second time, phew!

2. What Kind Of Retainer Will They Get? 
There are multiple kinds of retainers, fixed and removable, which will be chosen based off which one is best for your child’s individual needs. 

3. How Long Will My Child Have To Wear A Retainer? 
Typically, the first six months after braces are removed, retainers should be worn every day. Over time, the teeth will stabilize, and your child can wear their retainer more infrequently -- delivering that news will be a good day!

4. How Can I Help My Child Care For Their Retainer?
First, always make sure your child is carrying the plastic case made to hold their retainer. If they are eating at school or on a playdate, you want to make sure that when they take off their retainer, it is in a safe place and doesn’t contract germs. Your child should remove their retainer before brushing in the morning and at night and clean their retainer before placing it back in their mouth. Give us a call if you have any cleaning questions.

5. Will A Retainer Hurt Them? 
Each retainer is custom fit to a child’s mouth. If they continuously wear it when they are supposed to, it should fit comfortably and not hurt. If your child moves away from the consistent use of their retainer, their teeth will shift, and the retainer will feel tight in their mouth. Help them to remember they can avoid any discomfort and keep their beautiful smile if they consistently wear their retainer.

If you have any other questions or concerns regarding your child’s orthodontic health, please give our offices a call!

Fun Facts About the Tooth Fairy

Have you ever wondered where the Tooth Fairy came from? Or what she looks like? You’re not alone! In fact, the story of the Tooth Fairy varies depending on who you speak to. 

While we don’t have all the answers, we did want to provide you with a few this National Tooth Fairy Day. See below for some fun facts about our fairy friend:

The Tooth Fairy is younger than you may think!
When it comes to American mythology, Santa can be traced to 280 CE, the Easter Bunny - the 1700s, however the very earliest reference of the Tooth Fairy wasn’t until 1908 when featured in the Chicago Daily Tribune!

Losing baby teeth has been long celebrated.
Although the concept of the Tooth Fairy is much more recent, the world has celebrated loosing baby teeth for centuries. In some cultures, the celebration involves throwing baby teeth on a roof or into the sky and asking for a new one! In other cultures, children were warned of the “tooth troll” who will come for them if they don’t brush.

But what does the Tooth Fairy look like?
The Tooth Fairy is certainly very elusive. Is she dainty, resembling Tinker Bell and carrying a wand? Or perhaps she is actually a he, like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in Tooth Fairy! Other cultures believe the Tooth Fairy is actually an animal, or that s/he employs animals to help (like Santa’s elves) — more on that below!

Sometimes, the Tooth Fairy is a little mouse!
With all the children across the world and all the missing teeth, it’s not surprising the Tooth Fairy may need some help. In parts of the world like South America and Asia, the Tooth Fairy has been known to send a little mouse to collect teeth — leaving a small treasure behind. Different areas of the world call him Ratón Perez or just little mouse. Instead of hiding the tooth under their pillow, children may put the tooth in a slipper or under their bed.

What does your household think of the Tooth Fairy? Share your thoughts with us on Facebook! 

Adelberg Montalvan specializes in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and welcoming environment, in three different Long Island locations. We understand that kids may fear the unknown, which is why we understand that what we do impacts a child's life forever – so we try to make things fun!

Brace Yourself: Braces-Friendly Recipe Ideas

It happened, your child got braces, and now their life is ruined -- their usual words, not ours, of course. 

When your child gets braces, they may feel as if their food choices are limited. And while yes, some snacks should be avoided you can rest assured that there are still plenty of braces-friendly options:

Breakfast Pancakes

A huge breakfast favorite and luckily kids with braces can still eat them! Change up the recipe for a more healthy alternative. TIP: Replace syrup with applesauce. Syrup is high in sodium, sugar, and carbohydrates -- yuck!

Smoothies

A great breakfast for brace-filled mouths on-the-go! Check out these delicious smoothie recipes and keep these tips in mind to keep your smoothie healthy.

Cold Pasta Salad

This can be prepared in a variety of ways with many different ingredients. Your child can enjoy this dish for lunch and/or dinner! Don’t forget: stay clear of hard vegetables that may hurt your child’s mouth. 

Acai Bowls

Acai bowls look good and taste even better! These delicious small berries are packed with antioxidants, amino acids, and essential fatty acids you didn’t know your child needed in their life! Be sure to try one of these recipes.

Lasagna

A delicious dinner dish for kids and they will love to make it with you too! Keep this dish on the light side with whole wheat noodles and lean ground beef.

Frozen Banana “Ice Cream”
This is a healthy alternative to actual ice cream -- dairy, fat, and sugar-free! 

Foods to AVOID:

• Hard nuts, candies, fruits (apples and pears)
• Hard vegetables (carrots and corn on the cob)
• Chips
• Pretzels
• Taco shells
• Pizza crust
• Sticky stuff like taffy, gum, or caramels
• Foods that are high in acidity that could cause discoloration (lemons, limes, or sodas)

For more braces-friendly recipes and orthodontic tips, check out our Pinterest page! 

5 Must Know Travel Dental Care Tips

Have some upcoming vacations planned? We have five dental care tips you should know before you go.

1. Make time for a dental visit.
We know how exciting it is to go on vacation. We also know how much prep work goes into getting the whole family ready to go. While this may not be your first thought, it’s a good idea to schedule a dental visit with us before departure. This way we can look for any possible issues and treat them before you leave.

2. Be prepared for a dental emergency.
From toothaches to chipped teeth, it’s important to know what to do in the event of a dental emergency:

• Toothache: Try and find the source of pain, look for any swelling, redness, or discolorations. Rinse with a warm salt water solution. Check and see if food is lodged between teeth causing pain and remove it with floss.
• Chipped Tooth: Try and save any tooth fragments and rinse with warm water. If there is any swelling, apply a cold compress to relieve pain.
• Knocked Out Tooth: If a permanent tooth is knocked out, timing is crucial. Hold the tooth by the crown (not the roots) and try to place back in its socket if possible. If unable to reinsert, put the tooth in a container of milk or water and contact us immediately.

It’s also wise to keep an emergency dental kit on hand, including gauze, wax (for braces), pain relievers, floss, and our contact information!

3. Know how to protect your toothbrush on-the-go. 
A wet toothbrush in a closed in area is a recipe for disaster (hello bacteria!). So before you pack away your brush, allow it to air dry completely. Consider a travel brush case as it has small holes for proper ventilation. And of course, keep the case clean — wash thoroughly before and after to rid any dirt or bacteria that may be lingering.

4. Bring some sugarless gum.
Chewing sugar-free gum not only helps to relieve air pressure while flying but can be a huge help in cavity prevention. Chewing gum increases saliva production which in turn works to wash away any cavity-causing bacteria. Pro tip: look for the ADA seal on packs of gum for a truly tooth-friendly product.

5. Don’t skip your routine.
It’s easy to fall out of your brushing and flossing routine when you’re not in your own home. Don’t beat yourself up! Just make sure you get back on track — brushing for two minutes twice daily and regular flossing — once vacation is over.

There you have it — five quick tips for travel dental care. For questions or concerns regarding your family’s dental health this season, give us a call or click here to request your appointment» 

Reasons To Get a Custom Fit Mouth Guard

When it comes to sports (competitive or recreational), safety is of utmost concern -- and mouth guards are one of the most important pieces of sports equipment your child needs to stay safe! 

In fact, according to the American Dental Association, an athlete is 60 times more likely to suffer harm to the teeth if they aren't wearing a mouth guard. 

Mouth guards are essential in helping to minimize the risk of broken teeth and injuries to the lips, tongue, face, or jaw during play. 

But with all the options out there - how do you choose which is best for your child? Consider the facts:

• While less expensive, generic boil-and-bite mouth guards can restrict breathing and speech. Additionally, they are difficult to adapt to orthodontic appliances. Custom mouth guards, however, are designed to uniquely fit in an athletes mouth, with no interference with speech or breathing.
• Does your child have braces? A custom fit guard can give them the protection and comfort they need in a mouthpiece.
• Custom guards are designed for optimal oxygen flow while providing the most protection and comfort. This helps an athlete enhance their performance and endurance on the field.
• Stock guards cannot be modified to fit an individual’s mouth and can only stay in place when the mouth is closed. Custom fit guards are made from an impression of the athlete’s mouth taken at a dentist’s office.

While any mouth guard is better than no mouth guard, we encourage you to look into the custom fit option for your athlete. At Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental, we offer our very own Mouth Guard Center for this exact reason. We will fit your child with a mouth guard specific to their mouth, and they can choose their colors to coincide with their school, intramural, or PAL league’s uniform. Contact us at any of our three locations today for more information!

Looking for an awesome summer camp for your athlete? Check out Long Island Youth Football Player Academy! All camps are led by USA Football certified coaches who truly believe that each player should be able to learn the fundamentals of football while maintaining a safety first outlook. We're so proud to be a premier sponsor of such a wonderful camp.