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Creating Happy Smiles

Story by Krista Martinelli

Coming soon on this website…See the video of Dr. Tomer Haik’s Top Ten Tips for Parents to Help with their Children’s Dental Success!

When you walk into the pediatric dental office of Dr. Tomer Haik, you enter a fun, colorful place with video games and movies, pictures and paintings and lots of smiles. Everywhere you look, there are elephants, giraffes, lions and monkeys, and warm smiles. More importantly, you are greeted warmly by the staff and it just gets better when your child gets the pleasure of spending time with Dr. Haik. He is personable, silly, charming and everything that a parent could ask for when it comes to making their children feel at ease.

“It’s very rewarding to see the smiles coming from kids and their parents. My goal is to help families overcome the anxiety and fear that is sometimes associated with going to the dentist,” says Haik.

Dr. Tomer Haik, The Kids Teeth Doctor

Located on 441 just one mile south of the Mall at Wellington Green, The Kids Teeth Doctor office takes patients from birth to 18 years of age. From routine check-ups to cleanings to extractions, Dr. Haik cares for all varieties of young dental issues.

“Dentistry has evolved into a more preventative approach, instead of just treating a problem when it arises.” Haik stresses the importance of children visiting the dentist by the time of their first birthday and getting check-ups every six months. What’s most important is establishing a good routine.

“Education is one of the most important things that we do in this office, and education is the backbone of prevention.

At the Kids Teeth Doctor office, Dr. Haik and his staff encourage parents to accompany their child during treatment. “The #1 rule for every pediatric dentist to keep in mind is,

Jungle theme throughout Dr. Haik's office, on the walls and everywhere you look

‘How do you expect children to react when they’re vulnerable lying on their backs, and there is a stranger with a mask on his face hovering over them? It is a very uncomfortable feeling for any child. So the goal is to treat children clinically and psychologically, doing everything possible to get rid of the natural anxiety that occurs, and it starts from the moment a child walks through the office doors. Dr. Haik and his staff aim “to treat every child as if he were their own.” They tend to take a slower pace and not rush the children too.

“At the end of the day, if we get an anxious child walking into the office and see him leaving happy and giving everyone high-fives, it’s very rewarding!  Filling a tooth is not so much the challenge, cultivating strong positive attitudes about oral hygiene and the dentist requires greater efforts!”

Here’s what one happy parent has to say about her experience with Dr. Haik.  

“As a mother of three young children, I have visited my share of pediatric dentists.  I can now say with certainty that I have officially found my family dentist in Dr. Haik!  I have NEVER experienced the professional warmth and gentle yet thorough care as I have with him and with his staff.  He practices prevention, routine care and most importantly non-aggressive, non-invasive age-appropriate dental treatments. I have recommended him to all of my friends and clients and they love him too,” says Veronica Moister.

Dr. Haik started his own practice after working at three other pediatric offices in Florida and not being 100% satisfied with the way things were being done.

Dr. Haik in the front of his office on 441, just South of Forest Hill Blvd.

Dr. Haik and his wife Shari are the proud parents of a boy (almost four years old) and a girl (almost two). “They are truly the biggest reward in my life,” says Haik. “Also they instruct me in how to have this practice.”

The staff at his office is “dedicated and caring,” according to Haik. He is pleased with the way that they uphold the ethics he wants to carry out in running the practice. They are always trying to make the patient as comfortable as possible, from the moment of walking into the office to the moment of walking out.

Here are a few pediatric dental care tips from Dr. Haik. Note: He will be sharing more tips in approximately one month in the form of a fun video on this website!

·         It’s important to take your child to the dentist by their first birthday.

·         All kids should see a pediatric dentist. Pediatric dentists are trained to treat the “whole child” and see the big picture of the child’s development, more than just “treating baby teeth.” Note that not all children’s dentists are pediatric dentists.

• If your experience at any dental office does not appeal to you, seek a second opinion. Don’t be afraid to ask about your child’s treatment, and never be afraid to ask about your child’s well being, especially if you are not in the room with him/her.

Video games along one wall entertain kids, especially when their siblings have an appointment.

And what is the key to proper teeth brushing for kids, according to Dr. Haik? Surprisingly, it’s good parental supervision.  Dr. Haik recommends that parents get involved and stay involved brushing and flossing their children’s teeth into the  mid-teen years. “The problem is that when they are too young, they don’t know how to brush their teeth well, and when they get a little older, they don’t want to brush their teeth well.”  Kids are not patient enough about brushing their teeth by themselves until their mid-teens. “Kids rush and it needs to be monitored,” says Haik.

Coming on November 1^st!

In an another effort to contribute to the community, last year Dr. Haik threw an “after Halloween” party in a Wellington park, which will now be an annual event. On the first Sunday after Halloween (and this year it will be Sunday, November 1^st), Dr. Haik’s office presents “The Healthy Smiles Family Fun Day.”

“We collected 250 pounds of candy last year from parents and we sent it to our troops overseas,” says Haik. The concept is that kids give up some of their candy, preventing a few cavities. Meanwhile, they get to enjoy a bounce house, face painting and some other fun activities for the whole family.

     The Kids Teeth Doctor

     Tomer Haik, DDS, PA

     Specializing in Dentistry for Infants, Children and Adolescents

     3319 State Road 7 (Route 441), Suite 213, Wellington, FL 33414

     See our “AW Coupons” link on this website for a coupon!

     Phone: 561-333-8441

       www.young-smiles.com

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Autism Action Groups

 New Support Group for autistic children takes action!  

 By Kristine Messenger

                When it comes to making a difference in the community for children with autism, there are no limitations. The following groups in particular have set their sights higher than most. They are not just talking about making changes, they are making changes!

                Royal Palm Beach residents Linda Boucher and Tamara McKlveen of the newly formed support group Autism Action Group and Andrea Thompson, president of The Other Side of The Fence joined forces to make their dreams of, “no limitations,  find your key to success” come true!

               These three women and other group members took it upon themselves to form a much-needed support group and not-for-profit organization to help families facing autism in the Western communities.

                It is not hard to see their determination when you meet these women. Their time and effort to make things happen is very apparent as each member brings their own talents to the table. They are parents and grandparents who are raising children diagnosed with autism. Not only are they trying to find help for their own children and grandchildren, they are trying to help other families in the process too.

            Unfortunately at this time, the obtain services in our community are few and far between. Most of the group members also agree there are little to no “affordable” services. So, in April of this year the groups came together and started to take action, seeking solutions.

Skyler: Diagnosed with autism, safer thanks to Project Lifesaver

             All group members are now on a mission to help bring financial, educational, emotional, and therapeutic services to the area. It was not a hard decision for them to make. They saw a need to help support children with autism and went for it.

              Andrea Thompson, president of The Other Side of the Fence says, “The Other Side of The Fence was born from a need for my son, and for other children with autism. I felt like autistic children and their parents are actually standing on the other side of the fence. Our children deserve services that are convenient and affordable in the community. My mission is to help provide affordable services and help educate individuals with autism and related disabilities. My vision is to open a therapeutic and educational center to service individuals with autism and their families, regardless of their financial abilities. I know this organization can become a success if not only families with autistic children come together, but every member of our community takes the opportunity to help. To put it simply, I am a mother of a child with autism who cannot find affordable services for my son.”

             Linda Boucher of the Autism Action Group writes, “As with any disability, autism presents some very unique circumstances for those affected and their families. It didn’t take me long to realize that families in our community really didn’t have a place to go, or someone to talk to about these special challenges. Unless you are going though it yourself, it is very hard to grasp the gravity of what is really happening both physically and emotionally to the people involved. The support group, ‘Autism Action Group’ is a place to start. It is a place where people can talk to each other who have been there, and who they can relate to without a lot of explanation.

           At the present time our group meets every other week at The Old Wellington Mall @ 8:30 am. [Call for exact dates and locations.] It is my hope as membership increases (currently we are a small group, and steadily growing!) we will be able to add meeting times and places accordingly, so more people can participate.

            We have banded together with The Other Side of The Fence. In doing so, we hope to combine our efforts to promote positive change. Most families affected by autism are currently driving as far as Jupiter and Boca Raton to find care for their children and young adults. We want to bring help and awareness to those living here! We want to create an environment with a sort of ‘one stop shopping place’ here in the western communities.

            As of today, there are 1 in 150 children being diagnosed with autism. When a family first learns of their child’s diagnosis it can take weeks, months, or longer to find which treatments are available, and where they are located. At the very least, it is our goal to make finding the information and services more accessible.

             People in our area can help by educating themselves about autism, and understanding that people with autism are a part of this community. Children affected with autism are not “bad” kids. They are very smart and loving children. Unfortunately, most individuals with autism have difficulties communicating with others. They express themselves differently and are not always able to understand socially acceptable behavior.

  Not only does Linda dedicate her time to the support group, she has also taken on another huge responsibility. In June, Linda met with Michelle Damone,

Executive Director of Project Lifesaver of Palm Beach County. Together they set up one of the first Project Lifesaver managing agencies in Royal Palm Beach. The site is located at Palms West Presbyterian Church in Loxahatchee Groves.

              Project Lifesaver of Palm Beach County is making great strides toward bringing

Jupiter Police Department Training with the Sheriff for Project Lifesaver

 their program to the area.  It is a public safety program used to locate missing persons due to wandering because of dementia, Alzheimers’s disease, autism, or related disorders. A transmitter (wristband) similar to a wristwatch is placed on the participant. Each transmitter has an assisted radio frequency inside. If that person becomes lost or wanders off, they can be tracked through the Palm Beach Sheriff’s office 911 center.  To date, hundreds of officers have been trained, including many from their K9 department. Once a person is deemed eligible for the project, he or she will then be connected with a local managing agency and an initial assessment will be made. Information is then collected, including a current photo, and is stored in a private data base which is accessed by law enforcement in case of an emergency. A monthly battery change is mandatory, and at this time a fee is charged to cover costs. Currently grants and fund raising efforts are being made to provide participants in financial need with wristbands. To date, Project Lifesaver is offered in 45 states and the country of Canada.

               Linda’s grandson was a participant of the PLS program in VA. When her daughter and grandchildren moved to Royal Palm Beach, they wanted to continue to be participants of the program. However, after trying to find a local managing agency, they learned that Project Lifesaver was just in the beginning stages here in Palm Beach County. While speaking with others parents, Linda quickly realized she was not the only one looking for a managing agency. After contacting Michelle Damone, within a few months she was able to get permission to have the site at her church, and the managing agency was established.

           “Project Lifesaver saves lives; I didn’t want to hear about another tragedy if it could be prevented,” says Linda Boucher.

Personal Note: I can’t thank Linda Boucher, Michelle Damone, and the West Presbyterian church for all their energy and time spent to make the PLS Royal Palm Beach managing agency a part of the community.

           Project Lifesaver has given my family the extra peace of mind we have been looking for. It gives me a sense of pride knowing we have such committed people working together to help save lives.

            Many thanks to Andrea Thompson for taking the initiative to begin her dream and start making possibilities for the future a reality.

                                                                  Kristine Messenger

Upcoming Event to Benefit Project Lifesaver

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*Donations needed:

We need the community to come together and help us make a difference - Will you please be a part of our success?

*Volunteers and sponsors, and donations are needed to help provide services and keep ‘Autism Action Group’ and ‘The Other Side of The Fence’ a success. For more information on current fundraising events, volunteering, meeting dates and times, Project Lifesaver Of Palm Beach County, or to join this support group please contact the following:

The Other Side of The Fence:

Andrea Thompson, President

561-452-3900

Andrea.thompson30@yahoo.com

Autism Action Group:

Linda Boucher or Tamara McKlveen

561-790-6751

MemberServices.TheOtherSide@gmail.com

Project Lifesaver Of Palm Beach County:

Michelle Damone

561-753-6053

www.pbcprojectlifesaver.org

Kristine Messenger is the author of her first book, an autobiography titled “Somewhere Between Here and … Autism, Laughing with Angels, Dancing with Butterflies.” Visit her website for more information on the book and on her life’s journey, as a parent and as an advocate for autistic children.

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