Pediatric Dental Specialists, supporting National Smile Month

Now that Memorial Day weekend is behind us, we thought today would be a great time to tell our wonderful patients that June is National Smile Month, and a good time to remind all our patients to practice good oral hygiene between your visits to Pediatric Dental Specialists.

Here are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health so that you may celebrate National Smile Month for many years to come:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Here's a helpful video showing you how to brush with your braces on.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth.
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks during your orthodontic treatment.
* Visit with Drs. Planells, Sanchez or Cortez regularly (usually every six months apart).

If you have questions about any of these tips, we encourage you to give us a call at (562) 377-1375.

We hope you all had a memorable Memorial Day weekend and now we want everyone to get out there and share your beautiful smiles with the world!

Pediatric Dental Specialists want to know: This Memorial Day, what are you up to?

Make no mistake about it: Memorial Day weekend is a time Americans everywhere stop and remember all those men and women who bravely gave their lives for our country. It’s also the unofficial start of summer, and for many kids, getting out of town for three days with parents after being cooped up in school or work spells sweet relief.

At Pediatric Dental Specialists, we know Memorial Day weekend is also a great time to pack up and hit the road. After all, it’s unofficially the start of summer and time for a season full of vacations, adventures and great memories with parents or friends. What are you up to this Memorial Day weekend? What will you be doing on your day off from school or work?

Whether you are headed to a barbecue, a camping trip, or just having fun in the sun next weekend, our staff would like to hear all about it! Enjoy the long weekend everyone!

Dr. Sanchez wants to know: Is your child a mouth breather?

At Pediatric Dental Specialists, we know breathing through the mouth instead of the nose may lead to trouble for kids. Now we have proof, thanks to a study published in the January/February 2010 issue of the journal General Dentistry.

Children who typically breathe through their mouth - most often kids who suffer from allergies - experience problems getting enough oxygen into their blood, a condition that affects their weight, size and sleep, which often affects their performance in the classroom and life.

Dr. Yosh Jefferson, who anchored the study, also notes that if left untreated, mouth breathing can cause dental and facial abnormalities. But there's good news: mouth breathing is a treatable condition. Doing so, however, requires early diagnosis and treatment. Since Drs. Sanchez, Planells and Cortez see their patients every six months, they may be in a position to identify the symptoms of mouth breathing.

If you suspect your child is a chronic mouth breather, please give our team at Pediatric Dental Specialists a call at (562) 377-1375.

For more on mouth breathing, we encourage you to read the rest of the Dr. Jefferson's article. For more on children's dental health, please head over to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.

Write a review of Drs. Cortez, Sanchez or Planells!

Whether you've visited Pediatric Dental Specialists for a week, months or even years, we'd love to hear your feedback about Dr. Cortez, Dr. Sanchez or Dr. Planells. There are lots of places on the Internet where you may share your reviews, but we'd like to direct you to our Google Local Page to write a review of us - it only takes a moment!

You may write your review here.

Thank you and enjoy your week!

Pediatric Dental Specialists, reminding you Mother's Day is this Sunday!

Mother's Day -- which falls on this coming Sunday -- is special to all of us, isn't it? Everyone looks forward to this day to let mommy dearest know how special she is to us. As you know, the day is observed by giving gifts, visiting our moms or taking them out to celebrate. Tell us, what are you planning on you mom's special day on Sunday?

Out of ideas? Then check out this helpful video from Good Morning America about clever, inexpensive Mother's Day gift ideas. Whatever you come up with, we're sure mom is going to absolutely love it!

-- The team at Pediatric Dental Specialists

Fun fact Friday with Drs. Planells, Sanchez and Cortez!

At Pediatric Dental Specialists, we know our patients love fun facts. The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has come up with some fun facts about orthodontics that our team and Drs. Cortez, Planells and Sanchez thought you might enjoy.

• There are nearly 4 million people in orthodontic treatment throughout the United States. Three out of four are younger than 18.

• The first mechanical treatment for correcting irregular teeth was suggested by Gaius Plinius Secundus (A.D 23-79).The American Association of Orthodontists is comprised of more than 12,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad.

• The time required to complete orthodontic treatment ranges from 12 to 36 months depending on the nature and severity of the problem.

• Of the 160,000 dentists in the United States and Canada, 8,000 are practicing orthodontists.

• The cement that attaches the braces to the teeth is now made with a special fluoride-releasing substance.

• Wires activated by body heat used in today's braces originally were developed by NASA for use in the space program.

• In addition to alleviating or preventing physical health problems, orthodontics can boost self-esteem as treatment aligns teeth, jaws and lips.

• Famous orthodontic patients include: Dr. Joyce Brothers, Hale Irwin, Cher, Diana Ross, Phyllis Diller, Chelsea Clinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Daisy Fuentes and Brandi.

Might you be a teeth whitening addict?

In an age—and culture—where looks matter as much as anything in life, and at a time when a set of beautiful white teeth might be the difference between getting that great job, more and more people want to look and feel great. But can there be too much of a good thing when it comes to teeth whitening? Dentists everywhere are reporting a spike in patients' complaining about irritation and bleeding gums, translucent teeth and excessive teeth sensitivity, especially to cold food and drink items.

Our friends at WebMD have written a helpful article on teeth whitening addiction, and we encourage you to give it a read if you suspect you may have a teeth whitening addiction. Or you may give us a call for more info!

Ask Pediatric Dental Specialists: What, exactly, is malocclusion?

Malocclusion, or what Drs. Planells, Sanchez and Cortez call “bad bite,” is the improper alignment of teeth and/or jaws. When your teeth and jaws are not properly aligned, it may impact your bite, the ability to properly care for your teeth, your gum tissue health and even your appearance.

Most people experience some degree of malocclusion, but it generally is not severe enough to require corrective measures. If your malocclusion is serious enough, however, treatment at Pediatric Dental Specialists may be necessary to correct the issue.

Drs. Planells, Sanchez and Cortez will tell you that untreated malocclusion can lead undesirable mouth problems, including tooth decay, gum disease, chipped and cracked teeth. The most common solution for malocclusion, of course, is orthodontic treatment. The actual course of treatment, including the length of time you will require braces, will be determined by severity of your malocclusion.
At Pediatric Dental Specialists, we use the most advanced technology in the field in order to ensure that you receive the best possible results. If you have any questions about malocclusion, please give us a call and we’ll try to answer any questions you may have.

Helping kids overcome fears of the dentist, from Drs. Planells, Sanchez and Cortez

Some children have fear when it comes to visiting the dentist. Our team at Pediatric Dental Specialists found a great article over the weekend on how to help children overcome fears of the dentist, courtesy of our friends at WebMD.

Making your child feel comfortable when they visit Drs. Planells, Sanchez and Cortez is a huge reason to take your child to a Pediatric Dentist instead of a regular dentist. Our team at Pediatric Dental Specialists excels at making children feel comfortable visiting the dentist. In fact, most of our patients look forward to their next visit!

Cavities and your child, from Pediatric Dental Specialists

Our team at Pediatric Dental Specialists read an interesting article this morning pertaining to cavities and how bacteria spreads from parents to children, and thought we'd share the news with you, our valued patients and parents.

According to the MSNBC article, Streptococcus mutans, or MS, is a bacterium that can pass from person to person through the transfer of saliva, and is the main culprit. Bacteria have been known to spread through blowing on babies' foods, sharing household utensils and even kissing your little one. In fact, a 2008 pediatric dentistry study showed “strong evidence demonstrated that mothers are a primary source of MS colonization of their children; a few investigations showed other potential sources … notably fathers.”

Out staff knows tooth decay is caused by a combination of factors, including the transfer of infectious saliva, genetics, oral hygiene, and feeding practices, such as letting your baby constantly suck on a sippy cup full of juice or milk or other sugar-laden liquids.

Drs. Sanchez, Planells and Cortez would like for you to read the article and learn a bit more about the transmission of bacteria and how it might impact your child. If you have any questions about bacteria or your treatment at Pediatric Dental Specialists, please feel free to give us a call at (562) 377-1375.

Tell Drs. Sanchez, Planells and Cortez what’s on your mind!

By now, you probably the drill: Each week, our dedicated staff at Pediatric Dental Specialists write about topics related to orthodontic care and your health, including innovative dental and orthodontic treatments offered at our office. This week, we thought we’d ask our loyal patients: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the always-changing field of dentistry and orthodontics? What would you like us to focus on our blog going forward? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask Drs. Sanchez, Planells or Cortez but haven’t found the time?

Let us know and we’ll try to answer any questions you may have for us!

Ask Pediatric Dental Specialists: Are retainers really that important?

If you recently completed treatment at Pediatric Dental Specialists, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Drs. Planells, Sanchez or Cortez will provide you with retainers. After braces are removed the teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime. Here are some things to remember when you receiver your retainers:

* Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise.
* Take your retainers out when eating...and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)
* Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and only a small amount of toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water.
* When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case.
* Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practicing speaking, reading, or singing aloud to get used to them quicker is a good idea.
* Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, give us a call immediately.
* Try to remember to bring your retainers to your appointments.
* Retainer replacement is expensive...with proper care they will last for years!
* Remove retainers when swimming or during any sporting activity in which the retainers could fall out and get broken or lost (cheerleading, basketball, etc.) or when you should be wearing a mouth guard (football, soccer, etc.).
* Keep retainers away from hot water, pockets, the washing machine and napkins.

We hope this helps! You can always contact our team if you have any questions!

What are patients saying about Pediatric Dental Specialists?

Drs. Planells, Sanchez and Cortez deliver the highest quality orthodontic care in a personalized environment here in Long Beach. Our dedicated team makes orthodontic treatment fun and enjoyable. Just see what our patients have to say!

"Dr. Planells understands and is comforting to children who get stressed out at the dentist's office." ~ Karen B.

"Dr. Sanchez is professional and friendly. The kids are very comfortable with her." ~ Anna S.

"I like the friendly staff. The dentists are very professional." ~ Justin C.

"My children are comfortable at the office and with their dentist. They have received excellent dental care and have not had any cavities." ~ Nicholas B.

Keep the great reviews coming! You may post a review of us on our Google Local page or on our social networks! We appreciate all of our patients!

March is National Nutrition Month! From Pediatric Dental Specialists

You might recall our last blog post, in which we discussed February being National Children's Dental Health Month. Well, March is here, and that can only mean one thing: National Nutrition Month®. Every March, our team at Pediatric Dental Specialists and thousands of dentists and hygienists celebrate National Nutrition Month. This March, Drs. Planells, Cortez and Sanchez want you to think obesity, diabetes and periodontal disease, and how healthful eating and physical activity may improve periodontal health. Our team at Pediatric Dental Specialists know small changes can make a big difference, and the American Dietetic Association (ADA) has some advice on ways to start improving your diet:

• Focus on fruits and veggies: Add a serving each day to one meal and increase it every few weeks. Adding more of these foods into your diet is important whether you buy frozen, fresh or organic.

• Think local: From farmer’s markets here in southern California to community-supported agriculture, you have many options to find new, fresh foods in your area.

• Make calories count: When you are choosing between options, focus instead on the one with more of the vitamins and nutrients that you need. Sometimes, foods with fewer calories aren’t always the healthiest options.

• Test your taste buds: Expand your horizons. Try a fish you’ve never eaten before or find a new vegetable recipe. By testing yourself, you might find new health favorites to add to your regular grocery list.

• Trick yourself with treats: If you have a sweet tooth, have fruit and yogurt for dessert instead. If you want a snack in the afternoon, enjoy some trail mix or nuts.

If you have additional questions about periodontal disease or keeping yourself healthy, please give us a call!

Pediatric Dental Specialists, supporting National Children’s Dental Health Month

For 60 Februaries, the American Dental Association, or ADA, has sponsored National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. National Children's Dental Health Month began as a one-day event in 1941 in a Cleveland clinic. In 1981, however, the program was extended to a month-long celebration known today as National Children’s Dental Health Month.

Each February, Drs. Sanchez, Planells and Cortez, as well as thousands of other dental professionals focus on the preventive oral care of America's children. Our staff wants you to remember developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. Has your child visited Pediatric Dental Specialists the past six months? If not, it’s time to give us a call and schedule an appointment!

The importance of mouth guards, from Pediatric Dental Specialists

At Pediatric Dental Specialists, we know how important it is to protect your face while playing sports. The spring months bring an increase in outdoor activities and a greater chance of damaging your precious mouth and pearly whites. Our team also knows sports-related injuries are common among children. (According to the American Association of Orthodontists, 70 percent of parents said their biggest worry is that their child will get hurt while playing sports).

That’s why the team at Pediatric Dental Specialists are doing our part to spread the word that facial sports injuries can be avoided simply by reminding your kids to wear mouth guards. In fact, our staff will do impressions that will look like exact replicas of your mouth!

In addition, the AAO has provided the following tips for keeping your kids safe on the field. Please remind them to:

• Wear mouth guards during contact sports
• Wear a helmet
• Stretch before and after a game or practice
• Wear protective eye wear
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
• Be observant—even as a spectator

All of these can reduce injuries. Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Be sure to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements we are trying to achieve. Lastly, please give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at Pediatric Dental Specialists.

Ask Pediatric Dental Specialists: When should my child come in for a visit?

At Pediatric Dental Specialists, we believe a child's first visit to the dentist should be enjoyable and positive. The more you and your child know about the first visit, the better you will feel. Children are not born with a fear of the dentist, but they can fear the unknown. And that's precisely why our team at Pediatric Dental Specialists makes a practice of using pleasant, non-frightening, simple words to describe your child's first dental visit and treatment. We want you to feel at ease from the moment your family arrives at our office.

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), children should visit Drs. Cortez, Sanchez or Planells by their first birthday. It is important that your child's newly-erupted teeth (erupting at 6-12 months of age) receive proper dental care and benefit from proper oral hygiene habits right from the beginning. For more information on the advantages of pediatric dentistry at Pediatric Dental Specialists, please give us a call today to schedule an appointment.

24/7 access to your account at Pediatric Dental Specialists

At Pediatric Dental Specialists, Drs. Cortez, Sanchez and Planells embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative dental and orthodontic treatments that we offer, our high-tech web site and social networks, or our modern office conveniently located in Long Beach and serving surrounding communities.

Did you know that patients at our office have access to their account, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on our web site? You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

Just see what a few of our patients are saying about this service!

"Provides service for the busy working parents and is perceived as state of the art in the dental business." ~ Remy S.

"Not all dentists have this fast convenient service to check everything online. You don't need an actual person on a phone when your in a hurry. Thanks." ~ Sebastian P.

"It's great...I enjoyed the reading the info. on the doctors and that is has the appointments, financial info., etc. What a great idea. I wish every Doctor's office would do it!!!!! Kudos to you!!!" ~ Lori M.

"Quick and easy." ~ Joshua G.

You may sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking the "Patient Login" button at the top of our homepage. Please call the team at Pediatric Dental Specialists if you have any questions!

Pediatric Dental Specialists want to know: What do you love about our community?

Pediatric Dental Specialists, located in Long Beach and serving surrounding communities here in southern California, is situated around some pretty unique neighborhoods. Each is special with its own personality, created by the people and places (and our fantastic patients) living within.

Today, Drs. Planells, Sanchez and Cortez thought we'd ask: What are your favorite things about southern California? Is there a local event you attend every year? Do you have a favorite eatery? Favorite local getaway? Please feel free to share some information about your favorite local hang-outs, and everything you love best about “your neck of the woods.” And, who knows, we might post your response on our social networks!

Pediatric Dental Specialists, helping distinguish the myths & facts of orthodontics

The team at Pediatric Dental Specialists know there are quite a few myths about orthodontists circulating around these days. But before you buy into those myths, we should get the facts! We recently came across a great site that helps set the record straight: Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have some excellent information on the myths and facts of orthodontics. We encourage you to check them out today!

If you have any questions about orthodontics or your treatment here at Pediatric Dental Specialists, feel free to give us a call.

What puts you at ease at Pediatric Dental Specialists?

Dr. Planells understands not everyone is thrilled to see their dentist. But she wants you to know that our team strives to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit. We’d like to know: What is it about Pediatric Dental Specialists that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our pleasant environment or our friendly staff?

Let us know by posting here or by giving us a call!

Pediatric Dental Specialists want to know: What are you up to in January?

The New Year is here, and, believe it or not, we’re only a couple months away from spring! The doctors and our staff at Pediatric Dental Specialists want to know: What are you doing in January? Any big winter break plans? Anything exciting going on in your life?

If you have any photos or videos that you would like to share with us, please send them our way or call our office and ask how! We also hope you all had a happy and safe holiday season!

Have a great rest of the week!