Protect Your Child's Precious Smile

From infancy through the teen and young adult years, trust your child's smile to our caring board-certified pediatric dentists in Staten Island, NY.

Your child's smile is priceless, and our goal at Staten Island Pediatric Dentistry is to provide dental care that keeps it strong and healthy during their childhood and into adulthood.

Dr. Michelle Flanigan and Dr. Yelena Lange are our experienced board-certified pediatric dentists. They have devoted four additional years to specialized education and training beyond dental school. Both doctors have worked in hospital settings addressing numerous childhood oral health conditions and learning specialized procedures.

We Treat Children of All Ages

We are pleased to treat children of all ages at our Staten Island pediatric dental office, from infants to young adults. Our caring dentists will help you and your child through all of their exciting developmental milestones, from baby teeth to braces.

As experienced pediatric dentists, Dr. Michelle and Dr. Yelena understand that each child is precious and unique. There is no cookie-cutter approach to working with children, but our doctors have the experience, skill, and training to enable them to understand your child, anticipate their needs, and approach them in a way that helps them feel safe and secure. We'll treat your child with empathy and compassion—the same way we would want our own children to be treated.

The Importance of Preserving Baby Teeth

It's thrilling to watch those cute baby teeth erupt one by one, and it is so important to protect them from decay. Baby teeth may last a relatively short time before they fall out, but it is crucial for your child's future oral health to preserve them until they do.

You may have heard the terms "Baby Bottle Tooth Decay" and "Early Childhood Caries." This condition refers to cavities that develop on infant and toddler baby teeth. Drs. Michelle and Yelena can help guide and teach you how to best avoid this situation that often requires some form of treatment at a very young age.

Losing a baby tooth too soon creates a space that allows surrounding teeth to shift and move. If the space begins to close, the permanent tooth that should soon erupt into the mouth will not have enough space to emerge correctly. This can lead to tooth misalignment and the possible need for orthodontic treatment in the future.

Dental Care as Your Child Grows

As your child grows, we incorporate teeth cleanings into their six-month visits. Please don't worry about what will happen if your child resists treatment! Our caring, compassionate pediatric dentists and team specialize in helping children adapt to the new experience of being in a dental office.

Their training and experience working with children of all ages and with diverse needs ensure that your child will have a great experience and get the essential dental care they need.

Preventive Dentistry for Children

As your children get older, we may recommend dental sealants and fluoride treatments to protect their oral health.

Fluoride helps strengthen teeth as they develop and helps repair teeth with decay. We can easily include a fluoride treatment in your child's cleanings without adding any time to their appointment.

Dental sealants are a protective coating that we place on the biting surface of teeth with deep grooves, pits, and fissures. These teeth are prone to attracting bacteria and plaque due to their rough and uneven surfaces. Smoothing them over with a sealant helps protect them against cavities.

ICON resin infiltration and MI Paste are treatments that help protect your child's teeth and prevent small cavities from spreading. You can learn more about these treatments here.

Protecting Your Child's Precious Teeth

Another preventive measure we recommend is a custom mouth guard to protect your child's teeth from injury. Nearly 40 percent of dental emergencies are sports-related, and a custom mouthguard provides more protection than the generic store-bought versions.

Pediatric Dental Services We Provide

Pediatric dental care starts at an early age and paves the way for a lifetime of happy, healthy smiles, laughs, and giggles. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends scheduling your child's first dental visit by age one or within six months of getting their first baby tooth. Baby teeth typically will fall out, but in some situations, they must last much longer than usual. Caring for these primary teeth is just as crucial as caring for adult teeth.

At Staten Island Pediatric Dentistry, we recommend parents bring their children in every six months for dental exams and teeth cleanings. We offer a comprehensive range of pediatric dental services that we tailor to meet your child's unique needs:

Teeth cleanings and dental exams
Fluoride applications and dental sealants
Fillings and crowns
Laser frenectomies and release of tethered tissues
Dental emergencies
Cosmetic dentistry
ICON and Resin Infiltration for white spots and discolorations
Space maintenance
Minimally invasive dentistry and SDF (Silver Diamine Fluoride)
Gentle tooth extraction
Special needs dentistry
Orthodontics with braces and clear aligners
Custom sports mouthguards and nightguards
Sedation dentistry in the hospital operating room

Gentle Laser Dentistry for Your Child's Comfort

Dr. Michelle Flanigan and Dr. Yelena Lange are committed to staying on the leading edge of advances in dentistry. Using technology like dental lasers allows them to improve your child's comfort during treatment and achieve more positive outcomes.

Using laser dentistry means fewer shots, less drilling, minimal bleeding, and faster recovery times. Because we can work efficiently with lasers, your child can get out of the dental chair faster. Learn more about our Solea laser dentistry.

Your Partner in Your Child's Oral Health Care

At Staten Island Pediatric Dentistry, we believe that working in partnership with parents is the best way to achieve our shared goal of helping your children enjoy a childhood free of dental problems. Dr. Michelle and Dr. Yelena will take the time to explain the value of preventive dental care, the benefits of early treatment, and the importance of practicing good oral hygiene at home.

As a parent, there is a lot that you can do at home, and we will provide the guidance and information you need, including:

Recommendations for dental exams and teeth cleanings
Best oral hygiene practices and tips for getting your children to brush and floss
Guidance throughout all the stages of their dental development, from baby teeth to braces and beyond
The benefit of preventive fluoride applications and dental sealants
Nutritional guidance and support
Tips for dealing with habits like thumb-sucking and bottle feeding

Dr. Michelle and Dr. Yelena are always available and encourage you to use us as a resource if you have questions or concerns. We are here to help you!

Schedule Your Child's First Dental Appointment

We would love to welcome you and your child to our warm and caring pediatric dental office, where we offer amenities for children, including TV, the Kidzpace Interactive Gaming Systems, toys, stickers, and prizes.

Please call (718) 761-7316, and a friendly member of our team will help you schedule a convenient appointment. We look forward to welcoming you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do baby teeth really matter if they fall out?

Yes! Cavities in baby teeth can cause pain, infections, and affect spacing for permanent teeth.

How often should my child visit the dentist?

Most children need a checkup every six months. Some may need more frequent visits if they are at higher risk for cavities.

What is a pediatric dentist, and why are they special?

Pediatric dentistry is a specialty area that requires two to three additional years of specialized training beyond dental school. Our pediatric dentists, Dr. Michelle Flanigan and Dr. Yelena Lange, also participated in one-year residencies in a hospital setting.

Specialized Dentistry for Kids in Staten Island

Pediatric dentistry is a specialty area focused exclusively on children and their dental needs from infancy through the teen years. Obviously, a two-year-old with baby teeth will have different needs than an adolescent preparing for orthodontic treatment. At each stage, the pediatric dentist guides the child’s dental growth and development, setting the stage for excellent oral health in the future.

Pediatric dentists are also specifically trained to deal with children with special health care needs and work with behavioral issues.

We Also Offer Orthodontic Treatment!

A pediatric dentist can also offer orthodontic treatment, and we are pleased that our team includes Dr. Sara Skurnick, an experienced and respected orthodontist in Staten Island. Dr. Skurnik provides comprehensive orthodontic treatment for children and adults, including traditional braces and Invisalign.

With our combined specialties and comprehensive treatments, the team at Staten Island Pediatric Dentistry can treat children of all ages and with a wide array of dental needs.

Call to Schedule Your Child’s Next Dental Exam

At Staten Island Pediatric Dentistry, we are passionate about providing happy, positive dental visits for kids of all ages. Whether your little one is ready to jump up into the dental chair the first time or they need a little coaxing, we will work with their unique needs.

Please call us to schedule your child’s next dental exam and teeth cleaning. We are pleased to serve families in Staten Island, Brooklyn, Bayonne, and surrounding towns.