Hersch Pediatric Dentistry

Your Dig Our New Digs!

2011-06-20T12:46:00.000-07:00

Thumb sucking habits: What should I do?

2009-11-04T16:12:00.000-08:00

Thumb sucking is a common habit in young children and is often times associated with hunger, fatigue, stress, sleep, teething, and shyness. The intensity of the thumb habit and frequency of sucking as well as the pattern of jaw growth determines whether dental problems develop. Thumb habits after the age of three can result in reshaping of the jawbone (narrow upper jaw), flaring of the upper front teeth, poor tongue placement, speech issues, overbite and openbite, and airway issues.
It is important to stop the thumb habit BEFORE the permanent teeth erupt. Once the permanent first molars erupt (usually age 6), there can be changes to the direction of the growth of the jaws. If your child cannot stop by age 4, I recommend a few things. First, talk to them about the reasons for stopping the habit and encourage them when they do not suck their thumb. Set up an incentive system to reward their progress. At bedtime try taping the thumbs, duck taping a sock on their hand, or nail polish designed for this purpose.
If the thumb habit is still present at age 6, there may be some orthodontic issues developing so I recommend a consultation to find the most appropriate method for addressing the problem and reversing the dental effects.

Why are children getting braces earlier?

2009-11-04T16:08:00.000-08:00

The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends that all children receive an orthodontic screening by age 7. The permanent teeth generally begin to come in at age 6 or 7. It is at this point that orthodontic problems become apparent. Because the bones are still growing, it is an ideal time to evaluate a child and determine a long-term treatment plan to achieve the optimal result.
Orthodontic treatment in young children is known as interceptive or Phase 1 Orthodontics. At this age, the teeth are still developing and the jaw is growing making certain conditions easier to address. Before the permanent teeth come in, it may be possible to guide their eruption into better positions. For instance, a few decades ago, the solution to crowding was to extract permanent teeth. Today, we take advantage of the jaw growth potential and use a palatal expander to create the necessary room which reduces the need for extractions. Increasing the amount of bone and gum tissue also leads to a decreased incidence of gingival recession as an adult. In general, children who are candidates for early treatment have the opportunity to receive an improved long-term result and less invasive treatment during the full braces stage (Phase 2).

Summer Appointment Times

2009-05-11T09:11:00.001-07:00

Summer is quickly approaching and is a great time to get your child's teeth cleaned. As a reminder, morning appointments for routine cleanings and examinations fill up first so that families can have a fun-filled day ahead of them. Please call our office at 949-644-0611 to schedule your ideal appointment time. See you soon!

SKI WEEK

2009-02-11T10:59:00.001-08:00

This upcoming week in the Newport Mesa Unified School District is "SKI WEEK". Schools are out for the week and many families will be heading the local California mountains and various resorts around Utah and Colorado to enjoy the wonderful ski conditions that have resulted from the recent winter storms.

For those of you not skiing from February 16-20, our office will be open to see your children while out of school. Our appointment times are filling up quickly so call to schedule before we are full.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK OFF!

Holiday Food Drive

2009-02-11T10:53:00.000-08:00

Hersch Pediatric Dentistry, in conjunction with Walkow Orthodontics, hosted a food drive to benefit Families Forward of Orange County. We were able to collect hundreds of pounds of food goods and fill up an entire Suburban from floor to ceiling.

From December 12th to December 19th, we collected food at several locations throughout Newport Beach and Costa Mesa and delivered it to the Food Bank in time to help families in need for the holidays.

Hersch Pediatric Dentistry looks forward to hosting this food drive annually. Thank you for all that contributed to help families in need.

Halloween Candy Buy-Back

2009-01-26T10:20:00.001-08:00

Hersch Pediatric Dentistry hosted two events that will become annual traditions.

We hosted the 1st Annual Halloween Candy Buy-Back and the 1st Annual Holiday Food Drive.

Children in the community were offered $1.00 per pound of candy they brought into our office. The candy was then sent to Operation Gratitude to send to the US Troops around the world. In our first buy-back event, we collected just under 300 pounds of candy in one afternoon. This amount of candy was collected with only 4 days prior notice. Next year, we hope to collect 750-1000 pounds by improving our announcements and expanding our efforts.

We also hosted a Food Drive to benefit Families Forward of Orange County. Hersch Pediatric Dentistry, jointly with Walkow Orthodontics, collected food at our office locations and several schools throughout Newport Beach and Costa Mesa and delivered it to Families Forward in Orange County. We collected an entire Suburban full of food. No doubt, that in this time of economic hardship, many children and families benefited from this event.

Win a Custom Surfboard

2008-04-21T13:35:00.000-07:00

Hersch Pediatric Dentistry has designed its first custom surfboard with our logo and "Spinner" character graphics for display in the office reception area. This surfboard will also be the prototype for our Summer surfboard give-away. Hersch Pediatric Dentistry will be giving one of these surfboards away by raffle.

Raffle participants will need to provide a copy of their most recent excellent report card, write a note explaining why they love Hersch Pediatric Dentistry, and send in at least 2 pictures showing Spinner stickers on personal belongings as well as providing evidence of beach or community cleanup.

Announcements will be coming in the future with the details and contest rules. The contest winner will be able to custom size his/her surfboard. Hersch Pediatric Dentistry is looking forward to a great Summer and crowning the first winner of this "Hersch Pediatric Dentistry Star Patient" contest.

Spirit Run March 30, 2008

2008-03-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

Hersch Pediatric Dentistry (HPD), once again, is a contributing sponsor of the 2008 Spirit Run. The Spirit Run is Orange County's largest children's run and benefits the schools of Newport Unified School District. HPD will be announcing the start of a few of the children's races and will have an interactive and fun informational booth as well as great give-aways.

Hersch Pediatric Dentistry has been providing patients with "Spinner" t-shirts throughout the year and will be offering prizes to children that are wearing their "Spinner" t-shirts to the event on March 30th, 2008. Last year, we had 100's of families wearing their "Spinner" t-shirts supporting the ENDLESS SMILES philosophy of HPD .

Please call our office, (949) 644-0611, to get your t-shirt and registration form if you want to participate in this year's Spirit Run.

Reduce Cavity Risk Now

2008-02-18T10:24:00.000-08:00

Did you know that caries risk can be assessed and reduced based on a short conversation with your dentist? A child's risk for cavities may be genetically linked and passed from parent to child. If one or both parents have had a history of many cavities, a child may be at risk simply by the parent passing an acid-producing bactera called Streptococcus mutans. These bacteria invade inaccesible niches where they use sugars to build plaque and generate acids that decalcify enamel. Regular consumption of small amounts of xylitol can stop these germs and prevent tooth decay. Frequent use of xylitol eventually knocks out the Strep mutans bacteria infection, reduces acid and helps to re-build enamel. 100% Xylitol sweetened gum, mints, mouthrinses, toothpastes and sprays are available for purchase along with antibiotic mouthrinses aimed at destroying these harmful oral bacteria. Early dental visits for caries risk assessment will help target patients at risk for decay.

Increase in Cavities

2008-02-15T14:06:00.000-08:00

Did you know that decay or cavities in preschool children in on the rise? The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a child first visit a dentist by one year old or approximately 6 months after the first tooth comes in. Following these recommendations helps detect early signs of dental disease and aids in the prevention of potentially painful, expensive and invasive dental problems.

HPD WEBSITE IS LIVE

2008-02-14T20:47:00.000-08:00

The new Hersch Pediatric Dentistry is "LIVE" as of this morning, Valentine's Day, 2008. Check out the link to our new informative website and feel free to give feedback by clicking on the "contact us" button on the menu bar.

www.herschsmiles.com

Hersch Pediatric Dentistry Blog

2008-02-12T12:48:00.000-08:00

The mission of this blog is to provide information and initiate conversation regarding today's Pediatric Dentistry. Hersch Pediatric Dentistry provides quality dental care for children from birth to the teenage years in a uniquely relaxing and fun environment. Our highest priority is making each and every child's visit pleasant and fun. Children are provided with fun incentives through which they can learn to love coming to the dentist and allowing them to look forward to their next dental visit. I, Dr. Geoffrey Hersch, have 3 young children (3,4 and 6 years old) and know how important it is to find a comfortable and fun place to take your child. Feel free to ask questions or comment on your child's past or future dental experiences.
http://www.herschsmiles.com