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Q: When should my child’s first dental appointment be?

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A: Many parents question when they should bring their child in for their first dental appointment. There are many differing opinions regarding this question, but the general consensus is prior to your child’s first birthday. You may think this is a little early because a one year old only has around eight teeth in their mouth, but this appointment involves more than just teeth. The following is a list of goals we hope to accomplish when starting a child’s dental visits early in their life:

Dental Exam
Yes, as always the dentist wants to check how many teeth have erupted and the condition they are in. Plus, we’ll still do a little cleaning on those teeth!

Establish the Dental Home
Our goal is not only to build a relationship with your child, but also with you. As your family dentist, I want you to stay in our practice’s dental family for a very long time. The dental chair may not be the most fun place to be, but by starting early your child can learn the chair isn’t a scary place. They can have fun, go for rides in the chair, and have their teeth cleaned. With each subsequent visit your child will feel more comfortable. Lastly, by starting early with PREVENTATIVE treatment and cleanings, the risk of cavities and dental ailments decrease. Remember, the major dental care is done by you at home!

Teach the Parents
As a new parent, everything is a learning experience, and my wife and I have amazing parents, doctors, and friends who we are constantly asking questions to make sure we are doing everything to keep our baby healthy and happy. The same thing goes for dental care, luckily I’m a dentist so I actually have the answers to this one! We want to make sure you are equipped with all the knowledge necessary to keep your child’s teeth pristine and functioning perfectly.

In the end we all want the best for our children, especially when it comes to their health! So bring your child to the dentist and make sure those teeth are healthy so that you can spend your next Saturday night laughing and giggling with your little ones!

drsilvermanassociates.com 

Silverman & Associates University Dental Family Dentistry

Bellmore - 2592 Merrick Rd., Ste C, 516-781-9700

Bayside - 43-07 214th Place, 718-225-0515

Hello readers of The Herald!

My name is Dr. Matthew Siegel and I am a general dentist currently practicing at Silverman & Associates in Bellmore and Bayside. I grew up in Marlboro, NJ before becoming a Terp at the University of Maryland where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Science with an emphasis in Microbiology in 2008. Following college, I spent a year at the University of Connecticut Health Center studying gender differences in stroke and co-authored several publications. I then attended dental school at New York University, where I earned the Dr. Bernard E. Rudner Memorial Award for Demonstrating Superior Performance in Providing Oral Comprehensive Care and Administering a Dental Practice. I graduated dental school in 2013 and spent the next year at Lutheran Medical Center for a one year General Practice Residency. At the end of my residency I was honored to be awarded Resident of the Year. After all these great educational experiences I joined my father-in-law, Dr. Barry Silverman, at Silverman & Associates.

Dr. Silverman has been in practice for over 30 years in Bayside and over 15 years in Bellmore. He has spent his whole career only providing the best dental care in a comfortable, calm, and fun environment. The fun environment means a lot to me and I was excited to join his practices in the summer of 2014.  At Silverman & Associates family is very important to us, as you can see we are father-in-law and son-in-law working side by side. With that in mind we treat all of our patients like family as well.  Another goal of ours is to be your “one stop shop” for all your dental needs. We have three general dentists, two endodontists, one orthodontist, four hygienists, the best assistants, and the friendliest front desk staff ready to help you and all your dental needs. We can guarantee that you will always be greeted with a smile and treated with only the finest of dental care.