Our Mission

Healthy Smiles Start Here

At Little Tooth Pediatric Dentistry, our goal is to make every child feel safe, comfortable, and excited about caring for their smile. Built on a foundation of compassionate care, we specialize in pediatric and special needs dentistry, ensuring that every child receives the attention and support they need to develop a positive relationship with dentistry.

With two modern, family-friendly offices in Brooklyn and Queens, we create a welcoming environment where kids feel at ease. Our skilled team, led by Dr. Paul Zeylikman, is best known for helping patients overcome dental phobia. By combining effective behavior management techniques with modern equipment and a gentle bedside manner, we create an unparalleled experience for both patients and their parents.

From ceiling-mounted TVs to gold coin rewards from our treasure tower after appointments, every aspect of our offices is designed with children in mind, making dental care something they can look forward to. Whether it’s your child’s first visit or they need specialized care, Little Tooth Pediatric Dentistry is here to support their dental health journey and help them achieve a healthy, happy smile.

Dr. Paul Zeylikman

Dr. Paul Zeylikman, also known as "Dr. Z" at Little Tooth, is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist. He received his undergraduate education at SUNY Stony Brook with a degree in Heath Sciences, and then received his degree as a Doctor of Dental Medicine through Tufts University in Boston. He completed a General Practice Residency at Jamaica Medical Center in Queens, followed by NYU Langone in Brooklyn for his advanced degree in pediatric dentistry, where he also served as Chief Resident. Dr. Z specializes in both behavior management and special needs patient care.

A self-proclaimed "big kid," Dr. Z enjoys establishing a solid rapport with each child before their visit begins. He strongly believes in education for both the child and their families on preventative dentistry and oral hygiene in order to achieve the best possible long-term results. Making a child feel at ease in his chair is one of Dr. Z's strongest skills, as he understands the importance of making each patient comfortable with both the doctor and the treatment provided. Dr. Z is an active member of the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry and has had the opportunity to lobby for children's medical and dental coverage in Washington D.C. with Senator Cory Booker. Dr. Z is a licensed Pediatric Dentist in both New York and New Jersey, and was voted one of New Jersey's Favorite Kids' Docs in 2017, 2018, and 2019 by "New Jersey Family".

After emigrating from Russia to the United States as a child, Dr. Z grew up in Brooklyn where he still resides with his wife, their 2 girls and their Portuguese Water Dog, Homer. He enjoys playing basketball, skiing, traveling, and watching the Knicks, Rangers, or Giants in action.

Dr. Pamela Vainer

Dr. Pamela Vainer is a native of Brooklyn, NY. She completed her undergraduate education at Barnard College with a degree in Psychology and received her doctorate in Dental Surgery from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. Dr. Pamela graduated dental school with an honors in pediatric dentistry. She was the recipient of the AAPD Predoctoral Student Award, given to a single student who shows most promise in Pediatric Dentistry and the Eleanor Bushee Senior Student Dental Award, presented to a female student for outstanding leadership and academic performance. Following dental school, she completed an additional 2-year specialty training program in pediatric dentistry at Woodhull Hospital, an NYU-HHC affiliate.

Board Eligible with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Pamela is an active member of the New York County Dental Society, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association. Dr. Pamela is committed to serving the needs of her pediatric patients with patience and compassion. Her goal is to ensure her young patients feel comfortable throughout their dental visits and to have each child leave the office feeling proud and excited to return. She achieves this by taking time to get to know each individual child so that she can tailor her approach in a unique and personalized manner. She strongly believes in proper communication between the patient and the provider, as well as the parent and the provider in order to build a strong foundation of trust. Dr. Pamela takes a conservative and minimally invasive approach to dentistry focusing on education and prevention.

Aside from dentistry, Dr. Pamela enjoys baking, boxing, traveling and spending quality time with her family and friends. Her favorite superhero is Wonder Woman and she is an avid Harry Potter fan.

Dr. Nathaniel Saed

Dr. Nathaniel Saed is a dedicated and compassionate pediatric dentist with an extensive training background. He is a native of Highland Park, Illinois and son of Iranian immigrants who always supported his pursuit of becoming a dentist. 'Dr. Nate’ received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Indiana University with minors in Spanish and Psychology. He attained his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from LECOM School of Dental Medicine in Florida. He is currently board-eligible for the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

Following dental school, Dr. Nate completed a rigorous one-year General Practice Residency program at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx. Under the guidance of talented specialists, he gained extensive exposure treating adult patients with urgent dental needs. Upon graduating, he was recognized with the "Certificate of Excellence for Outstanding Performance." He subsequently completed a pediatric dental specialty residency at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, further honing his skills providing specialized care for children.

With a gentle demeanor, Dr. Nate creates a comfortable and welcoming environment for young patients. He believes in the philosophy of "prevention is the best protection" and prioritizes educational, prevention-based habits to optimize oral health on a community level. His patience, attention to detail, and technical skills distinguish him as a pediatric dentist. He is an active member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, New York Dental Association, and American Dental Association. Dr. Saed is licensed to practice dentistry in New York State and Illinois.

Dr. Nate currently resides with his wife in Manhattan. When out of the office, he is passionate about family time, the great outdoors, reading non-fiction, discovering new restaurants, and traveling.

Dr. Ziyad Effendi

Dr. Effendi, affectionately known as "Dr. E" by his patients and colleagues, loves working with children! He firmly believes that every visit to the dentist should be a highly personalized and overwhelmingly positive experience for both the child and their family. Dr. E is strongly committed to fostering a team effort toward your child's dental health, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and cooperation between children, parents, and dental professionals. By working together in harmony, most dental issues can be effectively prevented, enabling children to maintain healthy teeth and gums and to enjoy food including ice cream! Dr. Effendi eagerly looks forward to delivering the highest quality, compassionate care, and he is dedicated to helping your child's smile become healthy, strong, and beautiful.

Dr. Effendi's academic journey began with his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Texas, San Antonio. Following this, he earned his Doctorate of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, where he discovered a joy for working with children and their families to promote optimal oral health. As a dental student on a rotation treating refugee children, he discovered the profound impact a child’s smile can have not only on their self-esteem but on the entire family. Pursuing this passion, he further specialized in pediatric dentistry by completing a rigorous two-year specialty certificate program at New York University Langone Hospitals in New York, where he met and trained with Dr. Zeylikman. During this intensive program, he obtained extensive training in the full scope of pediatric dentistry, including the use of nitrous oxide, oral sedation, hospital anesthesia, and the management of special needs dentistry.

Dr. Effendi is committed to lifelong learning and professional development. He enjoys furthering his knowledge by being actively involved in various professional dental societies, serving on committees, and participating in continuing education courses. He is currently board-eligible and holds memberships in several organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the New York Dental Association, and the American Dental Association.

Outside of his professional life, Dr. Effendi cherishes spending time with friends and family. He has a passion for traveling, exploring new places, and enjoying all that New York City has to offer.

In-House Technology

Elevate Your Child's Dental Care with Innovative Technology

Patient care is our top priority, and we go above and beyond to ensure your child's smile remains healthy and bright. In pursuit of this, we have integrated cutting-edge dental technology into our practice to enhance your child's comfort and well-being during each visit.

Some examples of our innovative technology are:

Sedation Dentistry
Soft Tissue Laser
Digital X-Rays

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Financial Options

Easy & Affordable Payment Options

We accept most traditional insurance plans, including Anthem, Guardian, Ameritas, Cigna, United Healthcare, Delta Dental, Aetna, MetLife, and many others. For a complete list of the insurance plans we accept, please visit our financial options page.

No insurance? Not a problem!

We offer financing options and an in-house membership plan for patients without dental coverage.

See Financial Options