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Taking dental x-rays or radiographs is essential for diagnosing dental disease and concerns. These radiographs show teeth, bones and soft tissue to help dentists determine if there are caries or hidden dental problems such as bone loss that cannot be seen when looking into a mouth. Taking dental x-rays can also help catch dental disease early to prevent pain and expensive dental treatment.

Dental x-rays use very small amounts of radiation and exposure to this small amount of radiation is safe. When a patient receives a full mouth series of x-rays, this is equivalent to radiation exposure in everyday life.

The dentist will provide a thorough examination following a routine cleaning appointment. The doctor will strive to bond with your child to achieve a lasting relationship with him or her. The exam will include exploration of the child’s mouth and gums and a discussion regarding at-home dental hygiene. If the child’s teeth exhibit decay or other problems requiring further treatment, the dentist will discuss them with you at this time. If needed, an appointment will be set for a later date.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, every child should see a dentist by the time they get their first tooth. The first dental visit should take place no later than the child’s first birthday. Helping your child get into the habit of regular dental visits early in life will set positive dental habits that will extend into adulthood. Routine dental cleanings and exams are necessary to help ensure that your child maintains a healthy mouth and good oral hygiene. Although care at home is also important, professional dental cleanings will help remove plaque build-up that can occur despite the best brushing and flossing methods.

During a routine check-up, the teeth of your child will be polished to remove any plaque build-up or tartar. Your child will be given a fun toothpaste flavor and allowed to watch a kid-friendly movie during the entire cleaning process. Our staff will also spend time going over the dietary needs of your child along with daily brushing and flossing routines. We will also give tips on how to properly brush and floss and what foods are best to eat.

Fluoride treatments at our office consist of a sticky varnish. This varnish adheres to the child’s teeth to prevent unnecessary ingestion. Fluoride treatments are generally applied at the end of each visit. They may be recommended more often if your child is especially prone to cavities. Your child is permitted to eat and drink immediately after a fluoride treatment, but you will need to avoid hard or sticky substances for four to six hours after the treatment. Fluoride is commonly used to keep children’s teeth healthy, strong and cavity-free. The dentist may discuss supplemental fluoride intake with you from sources such as fluoridated water, toothpaste and mouth-rinses.

We are strongly committed to prevention and desires to help all patients grow up cavity-free. We strongly recommend sealing your child’s teeth. The application of a sealant is one of the easiest and most effective methods available today to prevent tooth decay. Dental sealants provide a barrier to protect against cavities and can be applied to baby molars, adult premolars and posterior molars. These sealants should be applied as early as possible to help prevent the formation of cavities. Chewing surfaces are the most likely places to develop cavities because toothbrush bristles are often unable to reach into the grooves of the teeth. Sealants help preserve these vulnerable areas by protecting them from food contact and the formation of plaque. Dental sealants cost less than traditional cavity fillings and usually last for several years before needing a re-application.

When your child begins playing sports such as hockey, football and basketball, you should invest in a high-quality sports mouth guard. Sports mouth guards are responsible for protecting your child’s adult teeth from fractures caused by trauma. While you can purchase over-the-counter sports mouth guards, a custom-made mouth guard will provide superior protection to your child’s mouth. Ask our office about a custom-made mouth guard for your child.

At Cohen Family Smiles, we understand how important it is to protect your child’s teeth while maintaining a bright, natural smile. Our white fillings are an excellent solution to repair cavities and restore damaged teeth in a way that blends seamlessly with your child’s natural teeth.

What Are White Fillings?

White fillings, also known as composite resin fillings, are tooth-colored materials used to repair decayed or damaged teeth. Unlike traditional silver amalgam fillings, white fillings provide a natural look and bond directly to the tooth structure, helping to strengthen the tooth while preserving its appearance.

Why Choose White Fillings for Your Child?

• Made from safe, durable composite resin materials
• Matches the natural color of your child’s teeth for a discreet appearance
• Minimally invasive — less tooth structure is removed compared to other fillings
• Strong and long-lasting, designed specifically for pediatric dental needs

Our Pediatric Approach at Cohen Family Smiles

We specialize in gentle, kid-friendly care in Yorktown Heights, NY. Our team ensures your child feels comfortable during the filling process, using techniques that minimize discomfort and fear. Protecting your child’s oral health is our top priority.

Frequently Asked Questions about White Fillings

Q1: Are white fillings safe for children?
A: Yes, white composite fillings are made from biocompatible materials and are safe and effective for restoring children’s teeth.

Q2: How long do white fillings last?
A: With proper care, white fillings in children can last many years, but regular dental checkups help monitor their condition.

At Cohen Family Smiles, we know how important it is to protect your child’s teeth and help maintain their healthy smile. When a child’s tooth is too damaged by decay or injury for a filling, pediatric crowns provide a durable and safe solution designed especially for young patients.

What Are Pediatric Crowns?

Pediatric crowns are tooth-shaped caps used to cover and protect damaged or weakened baby teeth. They restore the tooth’s shape, strength, and function, helping prevent further decay or damage until the permanent tooth erupts.

Why Choose Pediatric Crowns for Your Child?

• Made from durable, safe materials like stainless steel or tooth-colored resin
• Protect teeth from further decay and help maintain proper bite alignment
• Designed to fit comfortably and look natural in your child’s mouth
• Preserve space for adult teeth to grow in correctly

Gentle Care for Kids at Cohen Family Smiles

Our caring and experienced team in Yorktown Heights, NY, specializes in making dental treatments comfortable and stress-free for children. We use gentle techniques and kid-friendly approaches to ensure your child’s visit is positive and reassuring.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pediatric Crowns

Q1: When does a child need a pediatric crown?
A: Pediatric crowns are recommended when a tooth is extensively decayed, fractured, or after root canal treatment to protect and restore the tooth.

Q2: Are pediatric crowns safe for children?
A: Yes, pediatric crowns are made from safe materials and are a common, effective treatment in pediatric dentistry.

At Cohen Family Smiles, we are committed to preserving your child’s natural teeth whenever possible. When decay or injury affects a baby tooth’s nerve, baby root canal therapy (also called pulpotomy or pulpectomy) is a safe and effective treatment to save the tooth and prevent premature tooth loss.

Why Baby Root Canal Therapy is Needed

A cavity involving the nerve, or pulp, of a tooth may cause excruciating pain for your child. Although painkillers like ibuprofen may temporarily relieve discomfort, the pain will recur until the underlying infection is treated. When the nerve is infected, treatment is essential to restore your child’s oral health.

Pediatric root canal therapy is designed to maintain the integrity of the affected tooth to prevent premature loss. Early loss of back teeth (primary molars) can lead to problems with the eruption and alignment of adult teeth. Proper root canal therapy helps avoid difficulties such as crooked or impacted permanent teeth.

Dental caries (cavities) and traumatic injury are the main reasons children require pulp therapy. Due to the loss of tooth structure in teeth needing root canal therapy, full coverage restorations such as pediatric crowns are often necessary to protect the tooth.

What is Baby Root Canal Therapy?

Baby root canal therapy involves removing the infected or damaged pulp from a baby tooth while preserving the remaining healthy tooth structure. This treatment helps alleviate pain, eliminates infection, and maintains the tooth’s function until it naturally falls out and is replaced by the adult tooth.

Gentle and Child-Friendly Care at Cohen Family Smiles

Our caring team in Yorktown Heights, NY, uses gentle techniques and advanced pediatric dental technology to ensure your child’s root canal therapy is comfortable and successful.

Frequently Asked Questions about Baby Root Canal Therapy

Q1: Is baby root canal therapy painful?
A: The procedure is done under local anesthesia to minimize discomfort, and most children tolerate it well.

Q2: How long does a baby tooth treated with root canal therapy last?
A: The treated tooth usually lasts until it naturally falls out to make way for the adult tooth.

At Cohen Family Smiles, we understand that damaged front teeth can affect both the function and appearance of your child’s smile. For fractured or chipped permanent teeth, especially common in adolescents, dental bonding offers a quick, effective, and minimally invasive cosmetic solution.

What is Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding is a procedure similar to a filling but does not involve removing any decayed material. Instead, a tooth-colored resin is carefully applied to the damaged area to restore the tooth’s shape, strength, and natural look. This procedure is ideal for repairing minor fractures or chips without extensive treatment.

Why Choose Dental Bonding?

• Quick and painless procedure
• Preserves healthy tooth structure since no drilling is involved
• Matches the natural color of your child’s teeth
• Helps restore confidence with a beautiful smile

Why Choose Cohen Family Smiles for Bonding in Yorktown Heights, NY?

Our gentle and experienced pediatric dental team ensures your child feels comfortable during bonding treatment. We use safe, high-quality materials designed for lasting results tailored to your child’s needs.

Schedule Your Dental Bonding Appointment Today

If your child has a chipped or fractured tooth, contact Cohen Family Smiles in Yorktown Heights, NY to schedule a dental bonding consultation. Restore your child’s smile quickly and effectively with our expert care.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dental Bonding

Q1: How long does dental bonding last?
A: With proper care, dental bonding can last several years but may need touch-ups over time.

Q2: Is dental bonding painful?
A: Dental bonding is a painless procedure that usually does not require anesthesia.

At Cohen Family Smiles, we provide expert pediatric tooth extractions to safely remove severely decayed or problematic teeth in children. Whether a tooth is too damaged to restore or needs to be removed as part of orthodontic treatment, our gentle team ensures your child’s comfort throughout the procedure.

Why Are Pediatric Extractions Needed?

Extractions are often necessary for pediatric patients to address:

• Teeth with extensive decay that cannot be restored

• Orthodontic issues requiring removal of certain teeth to allow proper alignment

Comfortable Care with Nitrous Oxide and Local Anesthesia

To help your child stay calm and comfortable, we commonly recommend nitrous oxide (laughing gas) along with local anesthesia. These options minimize anxiety and pain, making the extraction process as smooth as possible.

Why Choose Cohen Family Smiles for Pediatric Extractions in Yorktown Heights, NY?

• Experienced pediatric dentists skilled in gentle extractions
• Use of sedation and anesthesia tailored to your child’s needs
• Focus on creating a positive, reassuring dental experience
• Convenient location serving Yorktown Heights families

Schedule Your Child’s Pediatric Extraction Consultation

If your child requires a tooth extraction, contact Cohen Family Smiles in Yorktown Heights, NY to schedule a consultation. We will develop a personalized care plan focused on your child’s comfort and oral health.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pediatric Extractions

Q1: Is a tooth extraction painful for children?
A: We use local anesthesia and nitrous oxide to ensure your child feels little to no pain during the procedure.

Q2: How long does it take to recover from a pediatric extraction?
A: Recovery usually takes a few days, during which we recommend soft foods and proper oral hygiene to promote healing.

If a baby tooth is lost prematurely, the dentist may recommend a space retainer to preserve the gap for the adult tooth. Space retainers help prevent shifting of the teeth and the crowding of adult teeth.

If your child has a habit of sucking the thumb, fingers, pacifiers, lips or tongue, he or she may be causing unconscious damage to the oral structure of the mouth. Abnormalities include an improperly shaped mouth, protruding teeth and bite shifting. Traditional counseling methods and positive reinforcement strategies are commonly used to combat these problems, but they are not always successful. Our dental office offers many types of custom-designed oral appliances that can help your child stop these harmful habits when traditional methods fail to work. We will never make your child feel bad or embarrassed by his or her habit. Instead, we will offer positive encouragement to help your child feel empowered and in control. These motivations will help your child want to stop the harmful habit.

It’s never too early to keep an eye on your child’s oral development. The dentists can identify malocclusion (crowded or crooked teeth) or bite problems and actively intervene to guide the teeth as they emerge in the mouth. Interceptive orthodontic treatment can prevent more extensive treatment later. The dentist checks the progress of your child’s bite and jaw development with routine dental examinations. This early assessment of your child’s teeth may prevent extensive orthodontic work in his/her future.

If your child is experiencing a true dental emergency, We can be reached at 914-245-2965. We are available to handle emergency situations for our patients 24/7. If your child appears to be suffering from injuries that extend beyond the mouth, call 911 or take your child to the emergency room.

If your child has a toothache, clean the affected area with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Rinse the mouth vigorously with warm water and use dental floss in the surrounding areas. If your child needs a pain reliever, administer Tylenol or Motrin according to the package directions. Do not place aspirin on the tooth itself or on the gums. If the face is swollen, apply cold compresses and contact our office immediately. A swollen face could indicate a serious problem requiring immediate attention.

Baby teeth are not reinserted into the gums as this can cause harm to the permanent teeth

Many children sustain facial and dental trauma from sports-related injuries and other accidents such as riding into a stationary object on a bicycle. If your child has sustained an injury, remain calm. If your child has knocked out a permanent tooth, prompt attention is necessary to maintain the life of the tooth. We may be able to treat the injury at our office, although less severe cases may be able to be treated at home until you can find time to come in. If your child is suffering from an injury that goes beyond the extent of the mouth or other oral structures, call 911 or take your child to the emergency room.

If your child’s permanent tooth has been avulsed (knocked out), follow the steps below to attempt to reinsert it.

• Hold the tooth by the crown. Avoid touching the root.
• Rinse the tooth with salt water or milk. NOTE: Do not use water to rinse the tooth.
• If the root is intact, try to reinsert the tooth into the socket. If unable to do so, place the tooth in a glass of milk and take it and your child to the dentist immediately.

If your child has knocked out a baby tooth, take him or her to the dentist as soon as possible.

The dentists are committed to providing dental care to your child in the most compassionate and comfortable way possible. Many children are nervous about going to the dentist for the first time and may have unique dental problems that exacerbate their worries. These fears can be easily relieved by using routine strategies, but more advanced techniques are sometimes needed to help the child relax and trust the dentist. Part of pediatric dental training includes early childhood development and childhood psychology. Our staff is well-versed in effective behavioral management techniques. Please feel free to discuss any concerns or behavioral problems with our staff. We encourage open communication between the doctor, the patient and the parent.

This type of sedation is given as an inhalational agent, where the child wears a mask on their nose, which delivers the nitrous oxide. The patient inhales the agent and exhales the agent without processing the agent. This means they breathe it out the same way they breathe it in. This type of sedation is good to use with children who may have slight anxiety, or have limited work that needs to be done.

Nitrous oxide acts to change the nitrogen levels in the body, and creates a slight “happy” feeling in children. It does not put your child to sleep. Once your child is on 100% oxygen, they will have no residual effects. Nitrous oxide is the safest drug that we have in anesthesia and dentistry.

This type of sedation is good to use with children who may have slight anxiety, or have limited work that needs to be done.

Having orthodontic treatment in childhood is ideal in order to take advantage of a youngster’s natural growth processes to help move the teeth into proper alignment. Like the rest of the body, the teeth and jaws are now changing rapidly. So at this time it’s possible (for example) to create more room for teeth in a crowded mouth by using a “palatal expander” to rapidly widen the upper jaw. This phase of growth modification can shorten overall treatment time and ensure the best result if additional orthodontic appliances are needed.

Adult Orthodontics
But remember, healthy teeth can be moved at any age, so you’ve never “missed the boat” for orthodontic treatment. In fact, about one in five of today’s orthodontic patients is an adult. Several new technological developments — including tooth-colored ceramic braces, clear aligners and invisible self ligating — have made orthodontic appliances less evident, and enhanced the treatment experience for grown-ups. Before treatment, adults are carefully examined for signs of periodontal (gum) disease, which will be brought under control before treatment begins.

When you imagine someone wearing braces, you probably picture small metal brackets bonded to the front of the teeth, with a thin wire running through them. This time-tested style remains very popular — but it’s no longer the only option. Clear braces use brackets made of ceramic or plastic which, except for the slim archwire, are hardly visible. Lingual braces are just like traditional metal braces — except they’re bonded to the back of your teeth (the tongue side) so that no one can see them.

Removable clear aligners are an alternative to fixed orthodontic appliances. They consist of a series of clear plastic “trays” that fit over your teeth exactly; each one moves your teeth a little bit, until they are in the proper position. Whether fixed or removable, each type of appliance may have advantages or disadvantages in particular situations. After a complete examination, the best treatment options for you will be discussed.

Once your orthodontic treatment is completed, it’s extremely important to wear a retainer as directed. That’s because teeth naturally tend to drift back to their original locations — which is the last thing you want after you’ve gone to the trouble of straightening them! Wearing a retainer holds your teeth in their new position long enough for new bone and ligament to re-form around them, and helps keep your gorgeous new smile looking good for a lifetime.

Orthodontic treatment can resolve a number of bite problems, which often become evident by around age 7. These include underbite, crossbite or excessive overbite, where upper and lower teeth don’t close in the proper position; open bite, where a space remains between top and bottom teeth when the jaws are closed; and crowding or excessive spacing, where teeth are spaced too close together or too far apart.

To correct bite problems, teeth need to be moved — but doing that isn’t as hard as you might think! Teeth aren’t fixed rigidly in their supporting bone; instead, they’re held in place by a hammock-like structure called the periodontal ligament, which is very responsive to forces placed on the teeth. Orthodontic appliances move teeth by careful application of light, constant pressure. This force can be applied via metal wires that run through small brackets attached to the teeth (braces), or via the semi-rigid plastic of clear aligners.