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!