Pediatric Dentistry in Westchester

How do you find the right dentist for your kids?

Our dental team understands that you want the best quality care for your child.
Dr. Polevoy and our staff provide you and your children with a compassionate and comfortable atmosphere.
When you walk into our office, you will immediately understand what separates us from the average dentist in Westchester County.

I love taking my kids to Dr. Polevoy’s office. It’s very convenient because they have 2 hygienists and can see all of my 3 children almost at the same time. It’s very convenient, especially for a busy mom like me
Anne, Scarsdale, NY.

When I brought my 6-year old to Dr. Polevoy, he had had a really negative experience at another dentist’s office. Dr. Polevoy took his time to make sure Ben felt comfortable before doing anything. He really turned my kid around!
Sandy, White Plains, NY.

We started seeing Dr. Polevoy when my children were 6 and 11. Unfortunately, the 11 year old had some cavities. I was very impressed how seriously they took it. Dr. Polevoy helped change his home habits, started him on fluoride, did sealants – and he’s been cavity-free for 5 years!
Nancy, Mamaroneck, NY

Dr. Polevoy is a family dentist, with keen interest and extensive experience in pediatric dentistry. Our office is designed to alleviate anxiety and apprehension in children and adults, and help them receive their dental care in the gentlest manner possible.

Equally important with atmosphere and excellent pediatric dental care, we devote our practice to the most modern dental technologies and advancements. We provide top-of-the line treatment in pediatric dentistry, while ensuring that you as parents stay highly informed and involved in your children’s care options.

Children Cleaning and Fluoride Visit

We strongly recommend that all children be seen at least twice a year for dental checkups, cleanings, and fluoride.
Children’s teeth are much smaller than adults’ -and even a small cavity grows quickly and becomes big much faster in their tiny teeth. That is why it is so important to detect any problems while they are small – and need easy fixes. Getting regular checkups, cleanings, X-rays, and fluoride, is the best way to ensure your child grows up with no dental problems.

Fluoride is extremely important for keeping your child’s enamel strong and resistant to decay.  Kids’ enamel is very prone to decay, and it’s especially important to protect it while their diet is high in acids and sugars.  We strongly recommend Fluoride treatments for all kids at least twice a year.  In some cases, we will recommend home fluoride treatments in addition to the in-office ones.  Fluoride rinses, such as ACT, PhosFlur, and Listerine Fluoride can help your child-grow up cavity free. However, not everyone needs them – so ask us first!

I heard that fluoride is harmful. Is it true?

If swallowed in large quantities, fluoride can be harmful, it is true. But it is extremely beneficial to tooth enamel. We will apply fluoride to teeth only, and make sure your child doesn’t swallow any of it.

What about X-Rays? I am worried about radiation.

That is a very valid concern. We are just as concerned about it, and only recommend necessary X-rays for your child, while taking every precaution to eliminate any radiation to vital areas.  And because we use digital radiology, all X-rays are done to the safest standard possible.

Dental Sealants

Dental Sealants are protective plastic coverings that are applied to adult back teeth – 6- and 12- year molars. These teeth have much deeper grooves than baby teeth, and are far more likely to develop decay. Because your child will keep these teeth all his or her life, it is very important to protect them at this vulnerable stage. We recommend that all 6- and 12- year molars be sealed immediately after they come into the mouth.

Placing a dental sealant is a quick and painless procedure.  There is no drilling or shots – just a gentle cleaning of the teeth to make sure we are not sealing any debris, and bonding the sealants in place.  Most kids are actually quite excited about the procedure – because we try to make it as fun as possible.

How long do dental sealants last?

It is not unusual to see adults with remnants of sealants on their back teeth.  However, as our goal is protect the molars during childhood and teenage years, we want to see the sealants last until 16 years of age or so.  We do not often recommend that adults have sealants.

Does my dental insurance cover sealants?

Very often, it does.  Most dental PPO insurance plans cover sealants.  Some restrictions do exist – not all teeth are covered, a tooth may not have a filling before a sealant, coverage may be once every few years, or even once in a lifetime  – every dental insurance plan is a little different.  Call us and we can often tell you exactly what your plan specifics are.

What is the recommended age to begin checkups and cleanings?

We would like to start seeing your child between 2.5 and 3 years of age. At this age, we are able to examine their teeth, and start establishing a relationship of trust that will enable us to have easy visits in the future. We may not be able to clean your children’s teeth on their first visit – but we’ll be able to see if they are developing normally, and are growing up in excellent dental health.

Should I be worried about the baby teeth? Won’t they just fall out?

Some of your child’s baby teeth will stay until the child is 12 or 13 – that is a very long time. It is extremely important to keep them healthy, as the healthy baby teeth allow for healthy adult ones.

Early baby tooth loss leads to adult teeth shifting into their place.  This leads to major orthodontic problems in the future.  An adult molar that’s shifted into a baby tooth spot will be difficult to move back when the child has braces.  It may seem like a waste of money to try to keep baby teeth for as long as possible – but it will be well worth it in the future.  Healthy baby teeth now – shorter braces – less time and smaller bills!

What if my child has a cavity?

Sometimes, despite all of our preventive efforts, a child still develops tooth decay.  Thanks to our painless techniques, we will aim to make this visit as comfortable as possible for the child.  Usually, the parent is the one that’s worried more.

Do you do silver or white fillings?

We do not do silver fillings on children.  While it may be a perfectly safe choice, we choose to use white fillings on the kids.

My child needs a baby root canal and a baby crown.  What is it?

Children teeth are very small.  Even a moderately sized cavity can quickly get into the nerve, requiring a root canal.  But you will be happy to know that baby teeth root canals and crowns are very different from adult ones.

A baby tooth root canal typically takes just one visit, and usually takes about 15 minutes.  A baby tooth crown is also a quick, one-visit procedure.  Children are usually very comfortable during the treatment, and there is little or none post-operative discomfort.

My Child’s Tooth Is Coming In the Wrong Spot!

About once a week, we get a phone call from a frantic parent.

“My child’s adult tooth is coming in the wrong spot!”

As soon as we hear it, we can easily fill in the blanks.

• the child is around 6 years old,
• the tooth is a lower incisor,
• and it’s coming in behind the baby teeth which are still there.
  The child’s mouth usually looks something like this.

 

We try to reassure that this is a normal process, but oftentimes the parents are unconvinced.
“You don’t understand”, they say. “It’s like there is a double row of teeth. This can’t be normal – we have to do something!”

The good news is that we don’t have to do anything it all.

Adult lower incisors frequently come in behind the baby teeth, which may seem like they are solidly in place.

And yes, the mouth might look a little weird for a while, like there’s a double row of teeth – especially if the first adult tooth is joined by the second that comes out behind as well.

Within months, the tongue, growth of the jaw bone, and the direction of the adult tooth’s eruption will move the incisor into its proper place. The baby teeth will typically fall out normally without any help.

In rare cases, as the child grows older, the baby teeth just seem to hang on. They move, and wiggle, and shake, but never really come out – and the child doesn’t want to twist them out. In those cases, we can easily remove them. They are typically so loose, no anesthesia is necessary as the child doesn’t feel it.

We rarely have to do this, as kids usually do a pretty good job practicing dentistry on their wiggly baby teeth.
We see lots of kids in our practice, and we only have to extract the baby teeth about once a year or so.
So if your kid’s tooth is coming in “the wrong spot” – there’s nothing wrong with the kid!
And if you’re freaking out about it – you’re not alone!
Of course, we’ll be happy to see your child, and make sure that all is well – if only to reassure you. But that’s OK -we don’t mind it one bit…and by the way, since it usually takes just a few minutes – there would be no charge for that visit.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is the baby tooth preventing the adult tooth from coming in the right way?

No, it doesn’t. Baby teeth cannot deflect the adult tooth’s path. The tooth will come out the way it wants to come out, and the baby tooth does not stand in its way.

But my other kids’ teeth came out normal, is there a problem?

Everyone is different. It’s just as normal for the lower adult tooth to come out behind the baby ones, as it is for it come out in their place.

Can we do anything to move the adult tooth?

There is nothing we can or should do, but nature will take care of it shortly.

If we take out the baby tooth, will the adult tooth correct itself?

Taking out the baby tooth will not have any impact on the adult one.

Does this mean that my child will need braces?

The child may or may not need braces – it’s far too early to tell at this age, and where the first adult tooth comes out has no bearing on how the rest of them will look.

I am still concerned. Can I bring my child in to be looked at?

Of course you can. We understand that sometimes, you just need to hear it from us that the weird position is completely normal. You’re welcome to call us any time – and there will be no charge for the visit.

Call us (914) 630 – 2833, or visit us at

Gentle Touch Dentistry

for kids and adults

550 Mamaroneck Ave

Harrison, NY 10528.

As a leading provider of pediatric dentistry in Westchester County, Gentle Touch Dentistry is conveniently located on Mamaroneck Avenue in Harrison. Easily accessible from Rye, Scarsdale, Port Chester, and White Plains, call on us to serve your child’s dentistry needs.
Further explore our website and then call us at our Harrison dentist office to begin a long-lasting relationship that is essential to your family’s optimal dental care!
We know that when it comes to selecting your children’s dentist in Harrison or Westchester, you have a large selection.