Joanne Oppenheim, Marilia Montero & Mary J. Hayes

Our office provides specialized dentistry for children and adolescents in a warm, caring and “child-friendly” environment. As pediatric dentists, our 2-3 years of additional training after dental school has prepared us for the unique dental needs of each child we serve. We focus on preventive care to help each child grow a healthy smile that will last a lifetime. Our office serves infants, children, teens and children with special health care needs in the Chicago area.
The best time to schedule your child’s first dental appointment is just after their first birthday. The baby will stay on the caregiver’s lap the entire appointment. Our goal is to start proper dental care from the time the first teeth start to erupt. We will explain how to brush the baby’s teeth, discuss nursing and bottles as well as finger or pacifier habit. Ideally, this appointment is scheduled in the morning.
There are times when a new born is having difficulty with nursing. The lactation consultant may send the parents to our office and recommend treatment with the tissue (frenum) under the tongue. By removing this frenum (frenectomy) the baby has more movement of the tongue and helps with nursing.
With our young patients, apprehensive patients or patients unable to cooperate with usual dental care, we offer sedation dentistry.