Emergencies

Baby teeth, also known as primary teeth, play a crucial role in a child's oral health and development. However, there are many myths and misconceptions surrounding the importance of baby teeth. Let's debunk some of these myths and uncover the facts:

Myth: Baby teeth are not important because they will eventually fall out.
Fact: While it's true that baby teeth will eventually be replaced by permanent teeth,
they serve several vital functions in the meantime.

Baby teeth help children chew food properly,
which is essential for proper nutrition and overall health. They also play a crucial role in speech development, as they help children learn to pronounce words correctly.

Myth: Cavities in baby teeth don't need to be treated because they will fall out anyway.
Fact: Cavities in baby teeth can have serious consequences if left untreated. Untreated cavities can lead to pain, infection, and even tooth loss. Additionally, decay in baby teeth can affect the health of permanent teeth developing underneath.
It's important to treat cavities in baby teeth promptly to prevent further complications.

Myth: Baby teeth don't require regular dental care because they are temporary.
Fact: Baby teeth are just as susceptible to decay and other oral health issues as permanent teeth. Therefore, it's essential to establish good oral hygiene habits early on, including brushing and flossing regularly and visiting the dentist for regular check-ups. Early dental care sets the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles.

Myth: Baby teeth don't affect the alignment of permanent teeth.
Fact: Baby teeth serve as placeholders for permanent teeth and help guide them into the correct position.
If baby teeth are lost prematurely due to decay or other issues, it can disrupt the natural alignment of permanent teeth, leading to orthodontic problems later on. Therefore, it's crucial to protect baby teeth and address any issues promptly.

In conclusion, baby teeth are far from insignificant.
They play a vital role in a child's oral health and overall well-being.
By understanding the importance of baby teeth and dispelling common myths, parents can ensure their children maintain healthy smiles for years to come.

As parents, ensuring our children's oral health is crucial for their overall well-being and confidence.
While children's dental care may seem straightforward, various oral health issues can arise during their early years.
Identifying and addressing these concerns promptly can lead to better dental outcomes and a bright smile for years to come.

1. Dental Cavities:

Dental cavities, also known as tooth decay, are among the most prevalent oral health issues in children.
Consuming sugary foods and drinks, inadequate oral hygiene, and irregular dental check-ups contribute to cavities.
Regular brushing, flossing, and limiting sugary treats can help prevent cavities and maintain healthy teeth.

2. Gum Disease:

Gum disease, or gingivitis, is characterized by swollen, red, and bleeding gums.
Poor oral hygiene allows plaque to build up, leading to gum inflammation.
Regular dental visits, proper oral care, and the use of fluoride toothpaste can prevent and manage gum disease in children.

3. Tooth Eruption Problems:

Some children may experience challenges when their permanent teeth start erupting.
Crowded or misaligned teeth can affect their bite and overall oral health.
Early orthodontic evaluation can identify potential issues and enable timely intervention for optimal dental development.

4. Thumb Sucking:

While thumb sucking is normal in young children, prolonged habits can lead to dental problems. Sustained thumb sucking may cause misalignment and affect the proper growth of the jaws. Gentle guidance and positive reinforcement can help children break this habit over time.

5. Tooth Sensitivity:

Children can experience tooth sensitivity to hot or cold substances due to weakened enamel, gum recession, or tooth erosion. A child-friendly toothpaste for sensitive teeth and dental sealants can alleviate discomfort and protect enamel.

6. Tongue Thrusting:

Tongue thrusting, where the tongue pushes against the front teeth during swallowing,
can lead to orthodontic issues and misalignment. Speech therapy and orthodontic intervention can help correct this habit.

7. Dental Trauma:

Accidents or falls during play or sports can result in dental trauma, such as chipped or knocked-out teeth.
Wearing mouth guards during sports activities can significantly reduce the risk of dental injuries.

8. Dental Anxiety:

Many children may experience dental anxiety or fear, leading to challenges during dental visits.
A child-friendly dental office, communication, and positive reinforcement can help ease their
fears and create a comfortable environment for dental care.

To ensure your child's oral health remains in top condition, it's essential to maintain regular dental check-ups,
encourage proper oral hygiene practices, and address any concerns promptly.
A pediatric dentist can provide specialized care, guidance,
and preventive measures tailored to your child's unique needs, ensuring they grow up with a happy, healthy smile.

Remember, a foundation of good oral health sets the stage for a lifetime of confident and beautiful smiles.
By taking proactive steps and addressing any oral health issues early on,
you can ensure your child's teeth and gums remain healthy and vibrant throughout their childhood and beyond.

What does TMJ stand for?

To understand TMJ disorder, we must first understand
what TMJ stands for ( temporomandibular joint )

It connects your jaw to the skull at the side.
When functioning properly, you can chew, speak, yawn,
sing, laugh, and smile.

What is TMJ disorder?
It may be difficult to determine what the exact cause
of TMJ disorder. A persons pain may be a result of
jaw injury, arthritis, genetics, or a combination
of these.

Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders may include:

✔️ Difficulty chewing
✔️ Joint lock - Creates difficulty for opening and closing the mouth
✔️ Pain ache around the ear
✔️ Jaw pain or tenderness
✔️ Aching facial pain
✔️ Pain spreading from face to neck
✔️ Clicking sound when chewing or opening mouth
✔️ Clenching and grinding teeth ( This can happen even without
✔️ TMJ disorder. Bruxsim can be the culprit )

Make sure to see a dentist if your child experiences
these symptoms.

We are here serving Paterson, Passaic, and Hudson NJ,
Dover NJ, and the surrounding communities.
We offer comprehensive oral health
services ranging from routine cleanings to emergency treatment.

We are committed to creating a warm, welcoming environment
to keep all members of the family comfortable in the office.
Paterson (973) 742-4200
Passaic  ( 973) 574-1000
Union City (201) 325-8444
Dover   (973) 891-4015

Find reviews and updates on Facebook,
learn more about our practice online,
or give us a call

Dental Emergencies happen more often then you may think.
Below are some dental emergencies that you should not ignore.
Sometimes a toothache may seem harmless but it should not be
left unattended to. Below we will explore briefly what the common dental emergencies are, prevention and who to contact.

7 Common Dental Emergencies
1. Toothache
2. Chipped or broken teeth
3. Knocked-out tooth
4. Lost filling or crown
5. Broken orthodontic
6. Gum Abscess
7. Pulpal abscesses
8. Bleeding and pain after a tooth extraction
9. Pain of biting

Prevention
1. Use a mouth guard
2. Watch what and how you eat
3. Don’t chew on anything else such as biting nails
4. Contact your dentist or visit the emergency room

Emergencies as we can see, vary. It may involve swelling, bleeding
and severe pain from a variety of causes.
It is imperative to have treatment from a dental professional for
diagnosis and treatment.

We are here serving Paterson, Passaic, and Hudson NJ,
Dover NJ, and the surrounding communities.
We offer comprehensive oral health
services ranging from routine cleanings to emergency treatment.

We are committed to creating a warm, welcoming environment
to keep all members of the family comfortable in the office.
Paterson(973) 742-4200
Passaic ( 973) 574-1000
Union City(201) 325-8444

Find reviews and updates on Facebook,
learn more about our practice online,
or give us a call (973) 742-4200

About Our Practice
Smile Central Dental has always emphasized that outstanding people are the key to our success. Our strength and future growth depend on the contributions made by our team and each person within our organization. To ensure continued success, we feel it is important that all employees understand our policies and procedures. We hold them to that standard and they perform to the highest level.
Our staff is dedicated to serving our community and providing the very best care.

Mission Statement
Smile Central Dental’s mission is to enhance the life of anyone we come in contact with. We accomplish this by educating both children and parents on the importance of their dental health, eradicating cavities on our beloved patients, and providing all members of our team with an opportunity to grow personally and professionally. All this while proudly serving the communities we are in that have given us the opportunity to do what we love.

Children's general Dentist Location:

Smile Central Hudson County
Address:
3196 Kennedy Boulevard
3rd Floor
Union City, NJ 07087

Phone: (201) 325-8444
Fax: (201) 325-8447

Office Manager: Inocencia Troncoso
Current Operation Hours

About Our Practice
Smile Central Dental has always emphasized that outstanding people are the key to our success. Our strength and future growth depend on the contributions made by our team and each person within our organization. To ensure continued success, we feel it is important that all employees understand our policies and procedures. We hold them to that standard and they perform to the highest level. 
Our staff is dedicated to serving our community and providing the very best care.

Mission Statement
Smile Central Dental’s mission is to enhance the life of anyone we come in contact with. We accomplish this by educating both children and parents on the importance of their dental health, eradicating cavities on our beloved patients, and providing all members of our team with an opportunity to grow personally and professionally. All this while proudly serving the communities we are in that have given us the opportunity to do what we love.

Children's general Dentist Location:

Smile Central Dental
Dentist, Paterson, NJ
Orthodontics, Paterson, NJ

Address:
140 Market Street
Paterson, NJ 07505
Orthodontics Center - 2nd Floor  (x 21 or x22 )
Children's general Dentistry - 3rd Floor
Treatment - 4th Floor

Phone: (973) 742-4200
Fax: (973) 742-4997

Paterson - Dental Office Manager: Cristal Jimenez

Paterson - Ortho Office Manager: Maria Gutierrez

Current Operation Hours

About Our Practice
Smile Central Dental has always emphasized that outstanding people are the key to our success. Our strength and future growth depend on the contributions made by our team and each person within our organization. To ensure continued success, we feel it is important that all employees understand our policies and procedures. We hold them to that standard and they perform to the highest level. 
Our staff is dedicated to serving our community and providing the very best care.

Mission Statement
Smile Central Dental’s mission is to enhance the life of anyone we come in contact with. We accomplish this by educating both children and parents on the importance of their dental health, eradicating cavities on our beloved patients, and providing all members of our team with an opportunity to grow personally and professionally. All this while proudly serving the communities we are in that have given us the opportunity to do what we love.

Children's general Dentist Location:

Smile Central Passaic
Address:
625 Main Ave
Passaic, NJ 07055
Children's general Dentistry - 3rd Floor

Phone: (973) 574-1000
Fax: (973) 574-1001

Office Manager: Esther Toledo
Current Operation Hours

Have a fever? Wondering if it's Covid-19 or Toothache?
Since Jan of 2020, Covid-19 has caused fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. Because you may already be aware of the symptoms of covid-19, and that's good, but it can make you panic.

Having a fever can make most people believe they or their children have covid
but having a fever can mean several other reasons such as a dental infection.
Let's read more to have a better understanding of the differences.

=========================
First, here is a list to understand the symptoms of covid-19.
Knowing the common symptoms is very important.

Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

If you are experiencing these, stay as safe as possible, practice social distancing, and get tested. It is important to also limit your contact with the outside world to avoid being affected and spreading the virus respectively.

=========================
How do we determine if it is a toothache?
Here are the common symptoms of a toothache:

Pain in a tooth
Persistent throbbing or aching in a tooth
Sensitivity to hot or cold foods/drinks
Sensitivity to pressure when chewing
Swelling in the face or cheek
Tender/swollen lymph nodes under the jaw or in the neck

These symptoms create discomfort in the mouth. So self-monitoring for these signs can be very helpful in distinguishing a toothache from covid-19.

=========================
When to visit the dentist for emergencies

If you feel your child has a toothache, please call the dentist right away.
Your child may have an infection. Infection can spread through the face and even the
body if left untreated.

1. 140 Market St, Paterson, NJ 07505
Children's Dentistry - 3rd Floor
Orthodontics Center - 2nd Floor
Treatment Center - 4th Floor
(973) 742-4200

2. 625 Main Ave
Passaic, NJ 07055
Children's Dentistry - 3rd Floor
(973) 574-1000

3. 3196 John Fitzgerald Kennedy Blvd
3rd Floor
Union City, NJ 07087
(201) 325-8444

We have re-opened!
This blog article was an older update upon the Covid-19 crisis.}
You can call to schedule appointments once again!

We want to make sure we do our part in providing helpful information for everyone.

In an effort to support national efforts to fight the COVID- 19 pandemic, our practice is taking the following steps to help assure your health and well-being and that of our community:

We are following directives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a way to limit patient and staff exposure to this virus. Your health, and the health of our dedicated staff, matters to us.

The safety and well-being of our patients continue to be our primary concern. We will continue to monitor the status of COVID-19 nationally and within our community and keep you up-to-date regarding our plans to reopen for business as usual.

Current Status:    As of  Tuesday, April 14, 2020
At Smile Central Dental, the safety of our patients, team members, and community is our first priority. Throughout the past weeks, we have carefully followed developing information regarding COVID-19.

At this time, we have decided that it is in the best interest of our patients, team members, and community to NOT resume routine dental care for the next few weeks. We will continue to treat patients who require urgent care, please call the office and follow the instructions if you have a dental emergency.

_________________________
Canceled Appointments:
We are assessing the situation daily and will communicate regularly with our patients. Please note that all appointments for the month of April and May are canceled. We are hoping to resume treating patients for routine care in the month of June, providing that health and government authorities consider it safe to do so.

We will contact all patients to reschedule their appointments once we have a definite re-opening date.

We hope that you and your family remain safe and healthy during this challenging time.
Sincerely, The Smile Central Dental Team.