Thumbsucking and Consequences

Thumbsucking has been a reflex for kids to soothe themselves, feel comfortable, secure or happy. Yet this can have some consequences on the child's permanent teeth. Thumbsucking and sucking on a pacifier can have the same consequences such as problems with the proper growth of the mouth and alignment of the teeth. It can also cause changes in the roof of the mouth.

According to the American Dental Health Association, children usually stop sucking between the ages of two and four years old.

If you would like to help your child stop sucking their thumb, you can try a few things.

• Praise your child for not sucking.
• Children often suck their thumbs when feeling insecure or needing comfort. Focus on correcting the cause of the anxiety and provide comfort to your child.
• For an older child, involve him or her in choosing the method of stopping. 
• We can also offer encouragement to your child and explain what could happen to their teeth if they do not stop sucking.

If you notice changes in your child’s primary teeth, or are concerned about your child’s thumbsucking consult your dentist. If you have any questions, please contact us at (562) 377-1375

National Children's Dental Health Month

Public awareness about children’s oral health is celebrated in the month of February, throughout the country.

Baby teeth are very important in a child’s dental development because they help guide the permanent teeth into place. Furthermore, because baby teeth have their own nerves, if a child develops deep cavities tooth-pain and infection may be the result. There is nothing worse than a toothache!

For that reason and more, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that all children see the dentist by their first birthday.  The dentist can guide parents through the child’s formative years and provide guidance in tooth-brushing, flossing, thumb-sucking, braces and many other topics.  Parents may obtain valuable information on teething, preventative care such as application of sealants and the importance of topical fluoride (this information may accessed through links in our website:

Many children have access to sweets in many forms.  Candy and soda or sugar in baked goods are prevalent and most common in the diet.  If the child is out of balance by not brushing well to remove plaque or not flossing, they are at a higher risk for tooth decay.  If the child is not brushing with a fluoridated tooth paste, their risk goes even higher.

Children, teens and young adults should see their dentist for their dental check-up twice a year. This is important, especially if the child is undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Though it is important to maintain good oral health throughout the year, February is the time of year we rededicate ourselves to optimal oral health. Please let our doctors or team members know if you have any questions.

Right Age for Orthodontics

What makes Pediatric Dental Specialists is the ability to meet your child's dental needs under one roof. Patients who undergo orthodontic treatment are able to have their orthodontic wires removed for dental cleanings and then have their braces adjusted during the same visit by Dr. Coretz, Dr Planells or Dr. Sanchez. This service enables you to make fewer visits to the dentist during your child’s orthodontic treatment by having all the care in one office.

At Pediatric Dental Specialist, we can successfully correct most problems regardless of the patient’s age, from children to teens to adults. However, there is a recommended age the American Association of Orthodontics recommends your child see an orthodontics. Time and age plays a big role in when and what type of treatment your child may need.

Children: 

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that all children have a check-up with an orthodontist by the time they reach age 7. This is essential for early detection of any potential problems related to his or her teeth or related to jaw growth. By age 7, most of a child's mouth should have a mix of adult and baby teeth.

We proudly serve our Long Beach community and have seen many childrens smiles blossoom and shine. Seeing an orthodontist at an early age allows us to determine how and when a child's particular jaw and/or dental problems should be corrected, if they need to be.

Check out some of our patient’s beautiful smiles. Contact us to set up an appointment or if you have any additional questions.

What Makes Us Unique?

We have been serving patients in Long Beach and the surrounding areas for over 30 years! We consider dental health to be an integral part of overall good health. Our practice philosophy is to provide dental education and treatment, as well as orthodontics, for children, teens, and those with special healthcare needs. We believe that good dental health can instill a sense of well-being, provide a lifelong smile, and promote good overall health.

Dr. Santos Cortez, Dr. Estela Sanchez, Dr. Ana Planells and Dr. Gabriela Cervantes, as well as our team, are committed to supporting and educating our patients to care for their teeth and gums and help in the prevention of dental disease. We strive to achieve this goal in an environment that is soothing and welcoming to both parents and children of all ages.

What Sets Us Apart?

We offer pediatric dentistry and orthodontics for children, teens, and patients with special healthcare needs. With years of education, hands-on training, and experience, our doctors and staff are uniquely able to meet the specific dental needs of our young patients.

We utilize digital radiographs and the latest digital impression technology, which allows us to take digital molds for appliances and retainers without the goopy, messy material used in the past.

Our dental and orthodontic charts are digital, which allows for better communication with other dental and medical doctors. This reduces the number of X-rays patients undergo, and improves communication between providers, which leads to better care.

Make your child’s visit special!

As a new patient, your young child will receive a personalized book with his or her name and the name of the dentist. This book is kid-friendly and leads young children through their first dental visit and introduces them to, the dentist, dental staff, and some tools they will see during their visit. Read this to your child before his or her first visit to ease any fears.

We have a No-Cavity Club Program to reward children who perform good oral hygiene and have no cavities whereby they get entered into monthly drawings for gift cards. We also have many fun contests throughout the year to keep kids engaged and have positive experiences when visiting the dentist.

Here when you need us!

The doctors at Pediatric Dental Specialists are on-call for after-hours emergencies, including holidays and weekends. In the event of an emergency, you may contact our office to page the doctor on call, and expect to hear back within 30 minutes. The doctor will discuss the emergency over the phone and determine what action needs to be taken. Some emergency require seeing the patient in the office, other situations may be handled over the phone.

Giving Back to Build Healthy Communities

At Pediatric Dental Specialist, we believe that giving back is essential to building healthy communities. This month we are supporting the non-profit organization From Maddi’s Closet! Every time you check-in with us at our office, a donation is made to From Maddi's Closet. Benefiting children with cancer at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and beyond; bringing love, hope, and joy into their lives and their families.

“From Maddi’s Closet is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization that supports families through special projects, providing funds for hospital staff for children with special needs not being met by other assistance programs, raising public awareness, and supporting pediatric cancer research.

From Maddi’s Closet was established in December 2004; two months after the loss of Madison in October.  Madison had battled bravely for eleven months, living nine months longer than her initial prognosis.  During these eleven months, she quietly raised her family’s awareness of the “sick children” around her, pointing out ones who had no one sitting by their bedside, or one who have been having an especially hard day.  Often she would take a toy with her when she went in for treatment and give it to a child who she felt needed something to play with.

Our projects are varied, ranging from distributing new toys and hand-made blankets to each pediatric cancer patient, sharing TLC gift bags with the tending moms, and sponsoring a Craft Play Day in the cancer ward.

The funds raised by From Maddi’s Closet are used to support the special monthly projects and response to special needs through financial donations to the Pediatric Cancer Ward Emergency fund at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

Our dream is that there will be a “cure” that puts an end to children’s cancer.  We hold on to that dream and as we continue our journey, we work to support the medical community seeking better treatments and greatly improved mental and physical outcomes for these little patients.”

How can you join us in supporting From Maddi’s Closet?

Because we are a check-in 4 charity member, you can show support by simply checking-in on Facebook at our office. Each time you check-in, you participate in our donation to From Maddi’s Closet in May.

Learn more about the From Maddi’s Closet by visiting their website and social media at http://www.frommaddiscloset.org/

April's Check-In for Charity - Autism Speaks

Pediatric Dental Specialists is taking part in the worldwide support for Autism this month! 

What is Autism Speaks?
Autism Speaks is a charity with the goal to increase the public understanding and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder. Aside from the amazing outcome of this charity, they are famous for their “Light It Up Blue” campaign. Wear blue to your appointments in April to show your support for Autism Speaks.

Facts about autism according to Autism Speaks:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates autism’s prevalence as 1 in 68 children in the United States. This includes 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls. 
• An estimated 50,000 teens with autism become adults – and lose school-based autism services – each year. 
• Around one third of people with autism remain nonverbal. 
• Around one third of people with autism have an intellectual disability. 
• Certain medical and mental health issues frequently accompany autism. They include gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures, sleep disturbances, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety and phobias. 

How can you join us in supporting Autism Speaks?
Because Pediatric Dental Specialists is a check-in 4 charity member, you can show support for Autism speaks by checking-in on Facebook at our office. Each time you check-in participate in our donation to Autism Speaks in April. Another fun way to get involved is to wear blue at your April appointments!

What Type of Floss is Best?

If you’ve visited the dental care aisle recently, the sheer number of options available can be overwhelming. We often have patients ask us which floss is the “best” type of floss. In essence, all of the options on the market today do the same thing, and at the end of the day it comes down to personal preference. We’ve listed a few of the options below.  

Flossers: Flossers are small plastic instruments with a single floss strip and a pick on the opposite end. This option can be both effective at cleaning the areas in between your teeth and scraping off plaque. These flossers come in flavored varieties as well. They are a great “on the go” option.

Gentle Dental Floss: Some people will find that regular dental floss is too harsh on their gums. For that reason, several options are available that have soft coatings that are less abrasive on the gums. Typically, gentle floss is just as effective as regular floss and an ideal match for anyone looking for a more sensitive approach to flossing.

Flavored Dental Floss: Flavored dental floss will freshen your breath while you floss! We suggest flavored dental floss if it prompts you to floss your teeth regularly.

Of all of the options, it is difficult to choose the absolute best type of floss.  However, our team feels that the type of floss that works best for you, giving you the greatest chance of succeeding at regular flossing, is the ultimately best choice. For more information on floss, or flossing with braces, ask us at your next appointment. There are many ways to make it both easy AND effective.

Have a Loose Wire or Bracket?

We know even despite your best efforts, the wires and bands on your braces may come loose. If this happens, please contact Pediatric Dental Specialists as soon as possible so that we can check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, be sure to save it and bring it to the office with you.

In an emergency, you can temporarily fix the loose wire by using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to carefully and gently push the wire back into place. If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the pain until your appointment.

Don't hesitate to reach out to us at (562) 377-1375 immediately if you experience any issue with your braces. 

Spotlight on This Months Check-In 4 Charity: Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach

Just like that the warm summer months are winding down and September is here! For all of us at Pediatric Dental Specialists of Long Beach, this also means a new charity of the month! With your help we will be supporting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Long Beach.

ABOUT THE CHARITY
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Long Beach, comprised of 13 distinct facilities across the city, has been helping underprivileged youth reach their full personal and academic potential since 1939. One of the oldest, most successful youth organizations in the area, the BGCLB has served more than 220,000 youth, ages 6-18 in its 76-year history. Its mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as caring, responsible, and productive citizens. Their proven impact supports all aspects of positive youth development: Academic Success, Good Character & Citizenship, and Healthy Lifestyles.

JOIN US IN SUPPORTING THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF LONG BEACH

Pediatric Dental Specialists of Long Beach takes part in the Check-In 4 Charity program. Whenever you check-in at our office on Facebook, a donation will be generated for the charity of the month. Be sure to check-in at your next appointment and together we can give back to this amazing charity during the month of September.

August Charity Of The Month

August is here! For many, this means the end of summer vacation and back to school, but for Pediatric Dental Specialist of Long Beach, this means a new charity of the month. This month, with your help, we will be supporting Doctors Without Borders. 

ABOUT THE CHARITY
Doctors Without Borders is an international humanitarian organization founded in 1971. This charity is known to respond to emergencies around the world, saving and impacting lives daily. The funds allow the organization to impact those in need of help; they go where patients are. They generally work in conflict zones after natural disasters, epidemics, long-term care settings, and more. Funding is a crucial part of this charity as the crew works on so many projects worldwide, we want to help.

JOIN US IN SUPPORTING DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
Pediatric Dental Specialists is a Check-in 4 Charity Member. That means, whenever you check-in at our office on Facebook, a donation will be generated for the charity of the month. Check-in at your next appointment and together we can join forces to give back to this amazing charity during the month of August.

Protect Those Precious Smiles

Almost any child would say their favorite time of year is summer. Being out of school, hanging out with their friends, swimming and playing outside is what all kids dream of.  While the summer season is almost over, it can still be a great time for children to face some summer hazards, particularly for their teeth. Physical activity, tempting sweets, and lax rules can all combine to leave your child with a tooth problem they would rather avoid.

At Pediatric Dental Specialists we want every child to enjoy what's left of their summer so we offer some tips for parents on how best to protect those precious smiles.

Go Easy on the Sweets
During summer your child will have no shortage of tempting treats. The ice cream truck, picnics, birthday parties and lazy days will all have your child craving a popsicle, soft drink or candy bar. But as we all know, sugar is the number one cause of cavities and the more sugar your children eat the more likely they are to develop cavities. Monitor the amount of sweets your children eat during the summer and put a cap on excessive sugar consumption.

Mouth Guards
If your children are going to be participating in a recreational activity, such as baseball, soccer or water polo it is very important that you protect their teeth with mouth guards. Sports are great for physical exercise but can be dangerous. Foul balls, elbows, and collisions happen all the time and if your child's teeth are not protected with a strong mouth guard he could easily have a tooth knocked out. Even if the sport seems easy on the physical activity, wearing a mouth guard is good practice and will greatly reduce the chance of tooth damage.

Stick to the Rules
Summer can be an easy time for forgetting. Being on vacation and not having to abide by a strict school schedule can make kids forget a lot. During the summer it is important as a parent to reinforce proper oral hygiene including brushing teeth twice a day, using floss and eating healthy. You don't want to ruin your child's summer but with gentle and persistent persuasion you can ensure they take care of their teeth and avoid any complications.

For more information about keeping your child's teeth safe and healthy, click here to visit our website. 

Meet Dr. Cervantes

Dr. Gabriela Cervantes

We are pleased to introduce the newest addition to our qualified team, Dr. Gabriela Cervantes. Dr. Cervantes joins our practice with more than 6 years of experience practicing dentistry in the Los Angeles area, after graduating from the University of California, San Francisco -School of Dentistry in 2008.

Dr. Cervantes was born and raised in Orange County, CA. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from California State University, Long Beach with a B.S. in Biology.  She went on to complete her dental degree (DDS) and graduated from the University of California, San Francisco -School of Dentistry in 2008. She completed her General Practice Residency at Harbor- UCLA Medical Center where she was “Resident of the Year”.  After practicing for six years, she was blessed to find her true passion and received her pediatric dental specialty training at the UCLA-School of Dentistry.

Dr. Cervantes is glad to be back in Long Beach serving the community. She shares our practice philosophy of providing comprehensive pediatric dentistry through working with each patient to meet the individual’s distinctive oral health goals. She brings enthusiasm, poise, and a kind, gentle nature with her to our practice. Her interests include singing, cooking, hiking, and biking with her husband and daughter. We are confident you will find Dr. Cervantes’ personality and style to complement our friendly and warm dental team.

The addition of Dr. Cervantes is exciting to us, as it allows us to better serve our patients. In late July, when Dr. Cervantes begins seeing patients, we will be expanding our schedule to provide patients with even more pediatric dental appointment options. Not only will our appointment options expand, but in the near future, Dr. Cervantes will be providing hospital dentistry at Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach to serve children with special health care needs who are unable to receive treatment in a dental office.

Please join us in welcoming her to our practice. We trust that the addition of Dr. Cervantes will allow us to not only meet but exceed your expectations. Should you have any questions regarding this important announcement, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your support.

Keep Those Smiles Safe This Spring

Spring break has passed and once again our patients are ready to begin the spring sports season! April is National Facial Protection month and because many of our patients are active athletes, the staff at Pediatric Dental Specialists encourages spring sports safety. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or parent we want to remind everyone to play it safe during organized sports to help prevent serious facial injuries that can take the fun out of the game.

Here are 4 pieces of equipment you can add to your sports bag to stay safe during the sports season.

1. MOUTH GUARDS. A mouth guard is less expensive than an injury, and not painful to your mouth or wallet. Keep your smile safe and prevent your orthodontic appliances from injury by habitually wearing a mouth guard during sports.

2. HELMETS. Helmets can greatly prevent damage to the head so be sure to always wear one when necessary.

3. PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR. Keep your 20/20 vision with sports eyewear that will keep your vision clear and your game at its best.

4. FACE SHIELDS. If you are a hockey, football, or baseball player face shields can prevent severe damage to your face.

These are all great accessories to have when playing sports. This equipment can prevent impact and damage to your head and mouth, all while not interfering with your MVP skills on the field. For more information on mouth guards or how to keep your teeth safe during sports, contact Pediatric Dental Specialists in Long Beach.

MI Paste & MI Paste Plus AVAILABLE HERE

We all know nutrients are important for your body, but did you know there are minerals that can help protect your teeth? The most popular mineral for your teeth is fluoride, but calcium and phosphate also offer several beneficial minerals for maintaining a healthy smile and your overall oral health.

What is MI Paste & MI Paste Plus?

Meet MI Paste & MI Paste Plus, a revolutionary product that benefits teeth with even more minerals than the average toothpaste. This unique topical tooth crème can be applied daily. Mi Paste Plus offers the same benefits of regular MI Paste, only it’s enhanced with fluoride.

More benefits on these products*:

• MI Paste and MI Paste Plus contain RECALDENT™ (CPP-ACP); Casein Phosphopeptide (CPP) are natural occurring molecules which are able to release calcium and phosphate ions and stabilize Amorphous Calcium Phosphate (ACP) 
• RECALDENT™ (CPP-ACP) is milk-derived with lactose content less than 0.01%* 
• MI Paste and MI Paste Plus are water-based, sugar-free topical tooth crèmes that come in five delicious flavors (melon, mint, strawberry, tutti-frutti and vanilla) 

MI Paste & MI Paste Plus is available at Pediatrics Dental Specialists- Long Beach! Watch this video for more information on this product.

*"MI Paste™ & MI Paste Plus™ Consumer Site." MI Paste™ & MI Paste Plus™ Consumer Site. N.p., 2017. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.

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!

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.

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.