Blog Archive
You know that top-notch dental care for your child includes regular brushing, flossing, and dental cleanings. But did you also know that what your child eats is just as important for maintaining their beautiful smile? According to pediatric dentists Staci Brunell, DMD, and Priyanka Patel, DMD, from Yorktown Pediatric Dentistry...
When your child is young, you start brushing and flossing their teeth for them. As they age, your child can begin assisting you and eventually do their dental care independently. At Yorktown Pediatric Dentistry in Yorktown Heights, New York, our pediatric dentists, Staci Brunell, DMD, and Priyanka Patel, DMD, recommend...
As your child’s adult teeth emerge, they come into the spaces previously reserved by their baby teeth. Sometimes, though, these teeth grow incorrectly, or your child’s jaw or bite doesn’t develop as they should. When this happens, orthodontics can correct these problems and send your child into adulthood with a...
It’s that time of year again. The air is starting to cool down, the days are getting shorter, and children are returning to school. Back-to-school season is a change of routine after summer break, and that can impact your child’s dental care habits. There’s no better time than the back-to-school...
When you bring your newborn home from the hospital and are adjusting to your new family member, the last thing you might be thinking about is their oral health. But your new baby’s teeth come in faster than you’d think. At Yorktown Pediatric Dentistry in Yorktown Heights, New York, pediatric...
If you’re a parent, there’s a good chance you’ve heard about the benefits of dental sealants. These smooth coatings make it harder for bacteria to get stuck in your child’s teeth, reducing their risk of cavities. One question parents often have for pediatric dentists Staci Brunell, DMD, and Priyanka Patel,...
Your child experiences many kinds of growth in their early years. One of the early milestones you can expect is their first teeth growing in. At Yorktown Pediatric Dentistry in Yorktown Heights, New York, Staci Brunell, DMD, and Priyanka Patel, DMD, are dedicated to helping infants and toddlers get started...
When your child has healthy teeth at a young age, they’re more likely to continue to have good habits and maintain great oral health as they get older. One of the top ways to give your child a positive start in life is to help them with their oral health....
Every parent knows their child needs regular dental care to prevent cavities and other problems while preserving their child’s health and comfort. But for many kids, a trip to the dentist can trigger feelings of nervousness and fear, particularly for kids with special needs. The team at Yorktown Pediatric Dentistry...
One of the hardest parts of parenting is watching your child be in pain. A toothache is one of the most common painful medical issues a child can experience. One of the most common questions our pediatric dental team, Staci Brunell, DMD, and Priyanka Patel, DMD, gets asked at Yorktown...
As your toddler’s first teeth start to emerge, their smile looks adorable and brightens up the room. However, lurking beneath that cute smile can be hidden tooth decay and cavities. As soon as their first teeth emerge, children can get cavities. Keep reading to learn more from Staci Brunell, DMD,...
If you have a special needs child, they might need their dental visits to look different. With special needs pediatric dentistry, your child gets quality pediatric dental care in a comfortable way. At Yorktown Pediatric Dentistry in Yorktown Heights, New York, Staci Brunell, DMD, Priyanka Patel, DMD, and Gina Gill,...
Your child’s first teeth come in more quickly than you’d think. Once your child gets that first tooth, or they turn one year old, whichever comes first, they’re ready for their first visit to the dentist. The first visit to the dentist is a new experience for you and your...
The holidays are a time filled with joy and wonder for children. But poor oral health from the holiday season festivity sweets and late nights can quickly put a damper on the season and lead to tooth decay. By protecting your child’s oral health during the holidays, they’ll finish the...
If your child has teeth out of alignment, an incorrectly proportioned jaw, or other tooth or mouth issues, they might benefit from orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment fixes various tooth, jaw, and facial issues that can cause lifelong functional impairments and overall dissatisfaction. You’re probably wondering what the best age is to...
As children grow, they can experience all kinds of illnesses and injuries. One of your biggest roles as a parent is to determine when aches, pains, and accidents result in problems that mean your child needs emergency care. When your child’s teeth are the problem, knowing what constitutes a dental...
Finding out your child has a cavity is never any fun. Catching a cavity early, though, means less discomfort for your child, an easier treatment plan, and a lower risk of permanent problems. By knowing the early signs of a cavity, as explained by pediatric dentists Staci Brunell, DMD, and Priyanka Patel, DMD, you...
Your child’s first tooth is an exciting developmental milestone. When that first baby tooth starts to emerge or your child turns a year old, that means it’s time to schedule your child’s first visit to the dentist. When your child gets their first tooth, pediatric dentists Staci Brunell, DMD, and...
Kids are active and curious. Yet despite all the fun they have, medical emergencies sometimes happen—such as a knocked-out tooth. Whether your child has baby or permanent teeth, you should always take action if your child loses a tooth. Here’s why pediatric dentists Staci Brunell, DMD, and Priyanka Patel, DMD, from Yorktown Pediatric Dentistry in...
As your child’s first teeth start to grow in, protecting them from tooth decay and cavities is of utmost importance. One of the easiest ways to protect your child’s teeth is by getting them sealants as quickly as possible. As soon as your child gets their first baby teeth, pediatric dentists Staci Brunell,...
When your child has special needs, going to the dentist can feel like a difficult task. Dental visits can be challenging for any child, and even more barriers can be present for a child with special needs. Happily, by seeing a dentist or orthodontist who is specialized and experienced in...
Your child grows quickly in their first years of life, and many changes occur in their mouth. They start teething, their first tooth grows in, and before you know it, they have a full set of teeth. As the parent of a toddler with a new set of baby teeth,...
Braces help your child’s teeth, jaw, and bite come into alignment and can be an essential part of dental care. They also bring a significant lifestyle change, as they require daily maintenance. By learning how to care for their braces every day, orthodontic care becomes another part of your child’s daily...
Visiting the pediatric dentist is about more than just getting cavities filled. If your child has healthy teeth, the majority of their visits to Yorktown Pediatric Dentistry in Yorktown Heights, New York, will be preventive in nature. By having your child attend their recommended dental cleaning and exam twice annually, you help...
Getting a dreaded cavity means your child is in pain, getting exposed to harmful bacteria, and increasing their likelihood of having further tooth issues when they’re older. Cavities can seem like less of a big deal before your child has adult teeth, but cavities and gum disease at any age have the...
If your child starts getting wisdom teeth, develops a cavity, or has an impacted tooth, they might need a tooth extraction. Getting your child’s tooth removed can sound intimidating, but the modern extraction procedure is simpler and more comfortable than ever. Once your child gets their tooth or teeth extracted, recovery...
When your child is very small, you brush their teeth for them. But as soon as they get old enough to be able to hold a toothbrush, they need to learn how to brush their teeth by themselves. Often, getting kids to brush their teeth twice a day can feel...
If your child needs traditional metal braces to fix the alignment of their teeth, taking proper care of their teeth ensures their orthodontic treatment is more effective. By eating the correct foods while wearing braces, your child maintains their healthy teeth and avoids damaging their braces. Staci Brunell, DMD, and Gina Gill, DMD,...
When it comes to oral health, the younger you start your child, the better. Taking your child to the dentist from infancy helps their teeth and gums stay healthy, gets them used to the dentist at a young age, and starts a lifelong habit of good dental care. At Yorktown Pediatric...
Caring for your child’s dental health from infancy helps set them up for a lifetime of good oral health habits. To start your child on the best dental path, Staci Brunell, DMD, and Gina Gill, DMD, recommend booking your free well baby visit for your child aged 2 or younger. Attending a well baby...
If your child’s permanent teeth have started to come in and appear crooked or otherwise malformed, there’s a good chance your child will need braces or other orthodontics. Getting braces at the right age gives your child the best opportunity to have a straight jawline and teeth for life. Staci...
Giving your child the best start on their oral health starts from birth. Keeping your child’s mouth and new and future teeth healthy begins well before they show signs of their first baby tooth. As an experienced pediatric dentist, Staci Brunell, DMD, of Yorktown Pediatric Dentistry in Yorktown Heights, NY,...
While it’s important to ensure that your child learns how to brush and floss properly, sometimes those techniques aren’t enough to prevent cavities. Bacteria and food debris can easily be left behind in hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, where they form plaque and work to cause tooth decay. Dental sealants can...
The eruption of your baby’s first teeth is an important milestone that affects their physical and social development. Primary or deciduous teeth, commonly called baby teeth, impact your baby’s facial development along with the way they speak, bite, and chew. While your baby’s first teeth are temporary, caring for primary...
Like the rest of their body, your child’s teeth and mouth develop at their own rate. As a result, there’s no specific age at which everyone is ready for orthodontic treatment. In many cases, the timing of orthodontics depends on the conditions causing misalignment. While early treatment that occurs while...
Despite proof that good oral hygiene can promote healthy teeth and overall well-being, tooth decay remains an epidemic among children. About 40% of children have cavities when they enter kindergarten, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). Instructing your child with the proper techniques and monitoring their progress...
While the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children have dental exams every six months, putting that plan into action can be a challenge if your child is wary or anxious about visiting the dentist. Though you may not succeed in making it their favorite activity, you can take...
Unfortunately, tooth decay can impact your children even if you enforce proper dental hygiene and ensure they receive professional dental care. Whether cavities develop in primary or baby teeth, they shouldn’t be ignored. Dental sealants and fillings are two types of treatments that coat or shield your child’s teeth from...
Whether your special needs child requires a routine dental cleaning or treatment for an existing problem, it’s important to consider whether your dental professional can accommodate your child’s unique challenges. Taking your child to a practice that provides the physical and/or emotional modifications they need can help your child feel...
Every year, over 2 million people go to emergency rooms for tooth pain and other dental emergencies. However, since many hospitals aren’t equipped to deliver emergency dentistry, taking your child to a dental provider can give them the best chance of getting the right care as soon as possible. Emergency...
The thought of your child having a tooth removed can be alarming. However, tooth extraction, or the removal of a damaged tooth from its socket, is a relatively common procedure in children that can provide long-term oral health benefits. Understanding the techniques involved in tooth extraction can help ease your...
If your child has overcrowded teeth, they have a dental condition in which all their teeth don’t align across their upper and/or lower gumline. The affected teeth can overlap or twist within their arches, resulting in functional problems and an abnormal facial appearance. Overcrowded teeth are one type of malocclusion,...
The risk of cavities is a concern for many parents. Despite best efforts for strict brushing and flossing routines on a nightly basis, cavities can still occur. This can be due to poor brushing technique or getting off-routine for an extended period of time, such as on a trip or...
Flossing is an imperative element of your child’s oral health. While brushing twice a day certainly helps to curb cavities, your child isn’t fully in the clear until they incorporate daily flossing into their routine. This is because toothbrushes can only access the surfaces of teeth, and oftentimes, debris from...
Wondering how to give your child the best start possible in life? Teaching them to take care of their teeth, gums, and mouth is a great place to start. From your child’s first dental visit — when they get their first tooth, or no later than their first birthday —...
It is highly recommended to visit the dentist twice a year, or every six months. This ensures that any cavities or other oral-health problems will be diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. Putting off dental visits can lead to worsened problems, such as tooth erosion, nerve damage, or widespread...
A cavity refers to tooth decay that happens because of prolonged exposure to bacteria in the mouth. When dental hygiene is neglected (or, you’re eating more sweets than usual), it is easier than ever for bacteria to thrive on your teeth, which erodes the enamel and leads to decay. We...
Parents know that the most important way to promote good oral health and prevent cavities in their children is to make sure the flossing and brushing regiment is done daily and consistently. Many parents struggle with this because kids simply don’t want to - which only becomes harder as they...
There is one dreaded line we all wish to avoid when we’re at the dentist’s office: “You have a cavity.” Getting a filling is probably low on your child’s list of things they’d like to do on any given day, which is just one of the reasons why it’s important...
It’s a moment that happens to many parents - you’re helping your child to brush their teeth or floss, and you spot it: that white spot on one of your child’s teeth, which is one of the earliest signs of a cavity forming. Or, your child may be complaining about...
Routine dental visits are an important part of your child’s health and can set the stage for positive dental health and hygiene throughout their lives. Your first visit will likely focus on ways you, as a parent, can help keep your child’s teeth and gums as healthy as possible. Once...
Dr. Jeff Recognized Among Best Pediatric Dentists in Westchester County One of our proudest achievements is being voted as a top pediatric dentist in Westchester Magazine’s “Best of Westchester” for the past 12 years, which is why we’re excited to announce that we’ve made the list yet again! Each year, Westchester...
If you have a child or young adult you care for with special needs, going to the dentist may be a source of anxiety or fear for them as well as you. Dental cleanings and other services can feel invasive and can lead to sensory overload. It is important to...
Children are not born with a fear of the dentist. Research shows that parents, and other individuals, strongly influence how a child acquires fear. For example, if a parent, grandparent, sibling, or caregiver has had a bad dental experience, it is very possible that they will transmit apprehension and fear to a...
As Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” What a great motto when it comes to kids dentistry and maintaining a healthy smile! Being a proactive parent can help keep your child’s teeth strong and healthy in the long run since it’s way...
Yes, it’s true, most baby teeth are going to fall out eventually. They are replaced by permanent teeth usually between ages 6- 12. Unfortunately, losing baby teeth can be stressful for children and parents. Here is what you can expect when your child starts losing baby teeth. When Will They...
Baby pacifiers can be an important tool for you to navigate through the late nights and difficult realities of life with a newborn. There are so many pacifiers available to choose from at baby stores and online. Some of the pacifiers even have orthodontist recommendations or approval to address concerns about how...
The back-to-school rush can get hectic, and it’s easy to let things slip. By starting to re-introduce the school year routine now, the transition from summer days at the beach to sitting in a classroom can be easier and almost pain-free. Here are five tips from Dr. Jeff to make...
Dentophobia (fear of the dentist) is one of the most common phobias in our society. Many adults already feel some level of anxiety during an appointment, so when it is time to take our children to the dentist, how can we alleviate their fears? Here are a few ways to...
Dental clinics and large group practices come in a few forms. Some are corporate chains, while others are big group practices with many different dentists seeing your child. While most dentists who work in large practices are dedicated to their work, they are often overwhelmed by the sheer number of...
As school ends and thoughts turn to plans for summer camp, now is an excellent time for all children to receive a dental checkup. Regular dental checkups are crucial for children as well as adults, as they allow us to catch small problems before they escalate. Along with a checkup,...
The staff at Jeffrey Ginsberg, DMD Pediatric Dentistry is thrilled to announced that Dr. Jeff was recently named a Favorite Doc by Hudson Valley Parent magazine! The award was given due to his remarkable commitment to exceeding expectations for each and every family. This came as no surprise to those...
If your child’s first dental visit is coming up, it is normal to be nervous, especially if you are not quite comfortable with dentists yourself. Yet the first visit is a wonderful time to build relationships and positive associations that will serve your child well throughout his/her entire life. We...
Since baby teeth fall out, many parents do not see the point in worrying about them. Yet a shocking 60 to 90 percent of kids develop at least one baby tooth cavity. Untreated dental issues in childhood can lead to permanent damage, but good oral health habits that are established...