Recent Patient Reviews: January 2017

When it comes to your child, you don’t trust them with just anyone. That’s why we take providing great patient care seriously — just see what our recent patients have had to say! 

Adelberg Montalvan Recent Reviews:

“Dr. Adelberg is amazing. My two year old, who is very shy and normally cries, did not shed one tear! He's a great, thorough dentist who is meant to work with children. His office is beautiful and staff is so helpful and friendly.” — Megan G.

“There are no words to describe how wonderful the staff and doctors are at this office. They are very organized, what an amazing experience and very clean environment.” — Melissa S.

“The first time I took him to the dentist he had a horrible experience. He never wanted to go back. I took him here and the office was amazing. Dr. Ericka was phenomenal. She made him feel so at ease he wasn't scared at all. She was so great that his twin was begging for his appointment as soon as possible. So happy to have found this place and to see that their reputation proceeds them.” — Mark H.

“Highly recommend this practice. Everyone is so nice and good at what they do from the front desk personnel (Massapequa Park) to the hygienists to Dr. Ericka and Dr. Marc Bennet. Been a patient for 10 years now!!” — Sarah L.

“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.

Thank you to all who have shared their experiences with us, we always strive to care for our patients as if they were our own children and love hearing that they had a pleasant dental experience in our offices. Have you visited recently and have a story to share? Feel free to leave a review on Google or Facebook!

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.

Family Events This Weekend (January 28th & 29th)

From outdoor ice skating to indoor Chinese New Year celebrations, see below for a list of activities sure to fill up your weekend!

Celebrate Lunar New Year

Chinese New Year Celebration
Plating Fields Arboretum — Oyster Bay
Saturday  |  11am - 4pm  |  FREE - $12
LI’s 2nd Annual Lunar New Year Festival will be held at Planting Fields Park and Coe Hall Castle. Celebrate the year of the Rooster with martial arts performances, traditional cultural activities (like paper cut arts, Calligraphy, Shadow Theater play) and festival games.

Lunar New Year at the Whaling Museum
The Whaling Museum and Education Center — Cold Spring Harbor
Saturday  |  2:30pm  |  Admission + $5 craft fee
This Chinese New Year, learn about its history, play a good-luck symbol match game, write “whale” in Chinese and enjoy theme-related craft stations around the museum!

A Bright New Year
Long Island Children’s Museum — Garden City
Saturday  |  2pm - 2:45pm  |  Fee: $3 with museum admission ($2 LICM members).
Head to the LICM to learn more about the year of the Rooster, Chinese customs and celebrations surrounding the holiday. Welcome 2017 with a beautiful painted paper lantern!

2017 Chinese New Year Celebration
The Educational & Cultural Center — Stony Brook
Sunday  |  1pm - 4pm  |  Adults, $12; Seniors and children under 12, $10.
A nine-foot lion dance and martial arts demonstrations make this Chinese New Year Celebration an event to remember! Festivities include authentic Shaolin, Manhattan Taiko, craft activity for the kids, and more!

Other Fun Happenings

The Science of Snow
Children’s Museum of the East End — Bridgehampton
Saturday  |  10am - 10:45am  |  Parents with children ages 3 - 6 years, $5 for Museum Members, $19 for non-members
Who says you have to wait for snow to have yourself a snow day? Especially when you can make your own! Bring the kids for a family workshop in making perfectly packable “snow.”
 
Ice Skating 
Various locations
All Weekend
Whether you're looking for an indoor or outdoor rink, Long Island has a plenty! Plus it's a good way to get your family up and active.

Glow in the Dark Mini Golf
Monster Mini Golf — Deer Park
All Weekend  |  Little Monsters: $8.99, Big Monsters: $9.99
Stop in for 18 holes of monster themed, glow in the dark mini golf fun! Don’t forget to check out the Bone House Gift Shop for monster-gear, fun toys, glow in the dark gifts and more!

We hope you enjoy your weekend! If your child experiences any oral health problems or emergencies, please give our offices a call - we’re here for you and your child! Our practice has been providing excellent pediatric dentistry to children of Long Island for over 18 years.

7 Wellness Tips for the Whole Family

New Year’s resolutions can take a while to achieve, so don’t be discouraged! Whether your family hasn’t started making changes yet or you’re already finishing up the month strong, we have some wellness tips to help you continue to create smart habits all winter long!

1. Plan an active vacation. With winter recess around the corner, plan an adventure the whole family can enjoy! Head to your favorite ski lodge and hit the slopes or head south for some warm weather activities.
2. Drink more water. Water is not only good for keeping smiles healthy and bright, but it also helps with daily bodily functions like digestion. Staying hydrated helps prevent fatigue, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, and can make skin look better!
3. Take a family fitness class. Just because the temps are low doesn’t mean sitting around indoors is your only option. Plan to take a family fitness class to get the blood pumping! Yoga and Zumba are great classes that can accommodate all skill levels. Not your family’s style? Spend an afternoon ice-skating or playing laser tag instead.
4. Try a new healthy food. Instead of sticking with what you know, branch out! Encourage your family to try something different in the produce aisle.  Leafy vegetables like chard, collard greens, and endives help provide your body with necessary vitamins and minerals to improve oral health!
5. Meditate for 10 minutes. With work deadlines and tests at school, de-stressing can sometimes be hard – but it’s still important! Encourage your family to clear their minds daily. Try apps like Headspace or Smiling Mind (more family/child geared) to help guide you.
6. Go to bed early. Getting a full night’s sleep does wonders for your mood and immune system. Encourage your family to hit the hay a little earlier than normal to make sure everyone is getting a full seven to eight hours of shut eye.
7. Toss the toothbrush! If you haven’t changed out your toothbrush in a while, now is the time! Toothbrushes should be replaced at least every three months (or sooner if the bristles are frayed). If you can’t remember the last time you changed your family’s brushes, switch them today – we’ll remind you again come spring cleaning!

Looking for more health and wellness tips? Take part of Parents Magazine’s Healthy Family Challenge!

Help keep your family’s smiles bright in 2017, schedule your next appointment with us today! We specialize in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and caring 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!

4 Ways to Reduce Sugar at Breakfast

Breakfast, the most important meal of the day has also become known as the most sugary meal! Thanks to certain cereals, juices, and spreads — children are consuming half of their daily sugar intake first thing in the morning.

We all know the effect sugar has on teeth, so in an effort to help keep sugar in check for your family here are 4 ways you can reduce sugar during breakfast! 

1. Choose cereal carefully. Most cereals on the market that are aimed at kids are loaded with sugar, giving them an immediate sugar rush first thing in the morning! To help your children avoid a mid morning sugar crash, be sure to read nutrition labels carefully. Options like Cheerios (1g of sugar per serving) and Kellogg’s Unfrosted Mini Wheats Bite Size (1g of sugar per serving) are better than popular choices like Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes (11g of sugar per serving) or Kellogg’s Fruit Loops (10g of sugar per serving).

2. Avoid juices. While fruit juice does have some vitamins and antioxidants, it contains no fiber and as much sugar as a soft drink! Instead, keep fruit juice consumption to a minimum and serve your family water or milk with their breakfast. Milk not only helps your bones but the calcium helps protect teeth against gum disease and keeps your mouth strong and healthy!

3. Beware of breakfast pastries! Donuts, muffins, crumb cakes, etc., are all easy grab and go options that can also be loaded with sugar. Instead, consider baking your own treats over the weekend for the week ahead! Try these Whole Wheat Strawberry Banana Muffins (7 g of sugar) with no butter, refined flour, or refined sugar!

4. Choose savory breakfasts. Go savory instead of sweet! Savory breakfasts that provide a good mix of protein, veggies, and flavors are sure to keep your family full until lunchtime. Consider eggs with whole grain toast topped with avocado or these Mini Bacon and Cheese Frittatas that can be made in advance and frozen.

If you have any questions about how to better care for your child’s oral health - give any of our offices a call. Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dentistry has three convenient Long Island locations. We specialize in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and caring environment. Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for updates and industry news!

How Does Sugar Affect Teeth?

You hear it time and time again, eating too much sugar can lead to a cavity filled mouth — but exactly how does that happen? The sugar itself isn’t what causes damage, rather it’s the process of what happens to the sugar once consumed that does.

Learn more about the effect sugar has on teeth below. 

How do you get cavities?

Your mouth is naturally full of bacteria, many of which are good for your oral health! Harmful bacteria comes into play when sugar is present. This bacteria feeds on the sugars in your mouth to create acids that destroy the protective outer layer of your teeth — known as tooth enamel. Cavities are created by these acids and without treatment can seriously hurt your tooth!

So, how can these acids be stopped?

Fortunately, there is a natural process of demineralization and remineralization (think of it as a tug-of-war) that occurs in the mouth. As these acids attack the important minerals in your tooth enamel (demineralization), your saliva plays a key role in their restoration (remineralization). Saliva contains minerals like calcium and phosphates that help repair teeth! But limiting your sugar intake is key to giving your saliva a chance to fix any damage.

How else can I help remineralize tooth enamel?

Aside from limiting sugar, stimulating saliva flow! This can be done by chewing sugar free gum or gum that is sweetened with xylitol. Also, incorporating more fibrous veggies and fruits into your diet can help bathe your teeth in saliva and thus, important minerals.

Milk, cheese, and other dairy products are good sources of calcium and phosphates as well. Finally, fluoride is another mineral that can repair weakened enamel so be sure to brush two minutes, twice a day with ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste.

Add regular dental visits with Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dentistry into the mix and your family has the best chance of winning the battle against tooth decay! With three convenient Long Island locations, we specialize in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and caring environment. Contact us to request an appointment today!

Preparing for Your First Dental Visit with AMPD

New Year, New Smiles! As we focus on healthy habits for 2017, we want to make sure your dental health is top of mind - especially for little ones.
 
When it comes to tiny teeth, we (along with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) recommend a child’s first dental visit happen by age 1. If your child is at the age, here’s what you can expect during your first visit with us:
 
Meeting the Adelberg Montalvan team: Your child will meet with our staff to familiarize themselves and learn about what we do! We’ll answer any questions and provide demonstrations as needed. We’ll also meet with you - the parent - to review the medical/dental health history form.
 
The New Patient Exam! We encourage you to join your child in the room during the exam. This way, you are able to see how we work with your child and also allows us to discuss our findings directly with you. We’ll perform a thorough neck and head examination and evaluate your child’s teeth and gums. If no treatment is needed, we’ll make sure their tiny teeth are cleaned properly and provide a fluoride treatment! Note: X-rays are only taken if necessary, which we will discuss with you.

For more information, take a look at our YouTube video to learn more about infant oral exams and early intervention from Dr. Marc!

If you are a new patient to our practice, as a courtesy we’d love to extend you our offer of $105 off your new patient exam, cleaning and fluoride! This coupon is valid at any of our three Long Island locations. Contact us today and fill out the new patient form. We look forward to meeting you and your child for your first appointment!

Helping Your Kids Make New Year’s Resolutions

New Year’s resolutions aren’t just for parents – kids can also work to better themselves in the New Year as well. Help get the entire family involved in the New Year, New You mentality by following these steps before the ball drops!

Be a Role Model
Just like you’re a dental health role model for your kids, you need to practice what you preach when it comes to resolutions. Sit down with your kids to discuss their goals for the year, and how as a family you can all motivate each other to keep them.

Help Guide Them
The best way for your kids to take ownership and learn how to plan, is by creating resolutions themselves. As a parent, you can absolutely give guidance by making suggestions, but it’s important to ask them what they want for themselves and listen to their responses. Guide them with broad categories – school goals, friendship goals, family goals – but let them fill in the specifics!

Pick a FEW Goals
It’s easy to come up with a laundry list of things to work on, but in the end – it’s harder to actually follow through throughout the year. Help your kids narrow down to two or three goals that are realistic and age appropriate. And then teach them how to…

Take Baby Steps
It takes a long time to create a habit – which may discourage your child if their resolution is to keep their room clean. Instead, help them plan how they can take baby steps to achieving their goal. One week, your child should remember to always put their shoes away, the next week to make their bed, and so on. By creating small, actionable steps, you’ll help keep your child engaged in their goal. Remember to acknowledge how they’re doing throughout the year!

Make Resolutions Together
In a time where families can live isolated lives, resolutions can help bring families together. Perhaps as a family you resolve to give back – each month sit down and brainstorm how you can do so. From donating old clothes to volunteering at a local charity – there are countless ways you can work together to meet a goal! One of our favorite family resolutions – resolving to brush for two minutes, twice a day, and floss regularly!

From all of us here at Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental, we wish you and yours a Happy and Healthy New Year! 

Resolve to keep your family’s smiles bright in 2017, schedule your next appointment with us today! We specialize in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and caring 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!